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The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort

This new luxury hotel and golf resort is set in the Laois countryside, just off the main Dublin-Cork road (N7). It is a very large development and as time progresses the landscaping is softening the hard edges.

An impressive atrium sets the tone as you enter the hotel and, with a bifurcated staircase, crystal chandeliers and marbled floors, this lobby is designed to impress; other public areas are spacious and furnished in a similar style. Generous accommodation is in sumptuously furnished suites and guest rooms, which are extremely comfortable - and have beautiful bathrooms with separate shower and free-standing bath - although, surprisingly, some rooms do not have a view.

But exceptional leisure facilities are the trump card at this hotel - as well as golf, there is a health club & spa (linked to the hotel by a tunnel), indoor and outdoor bowls, tennis, a 4-mile floodlit walking and jogging track around the golf course - and much more; new facilities are being added all the time.

Fine dining is offered in The Arlington Rooom (see below), and an informal option is available at Soloriens Steakhouse & Italian Restaurant.

Conferences/Banqueting (500/400); business centre, free broadband wi/fi. Children welcome (under 5s free in parents' room, cot available free of charge, baby sitting arranged, playroom). Destination Spa; leisure centre (pool, fitness room, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room); championship golf (18); coarse fishing; walking.

Rooms 98 (3 suites, 10 junior suites, 10 junior suites, 5 family rooms, 5 disabled, 88 no smoking). B&B €162.50 pps, ss €100. Wheelchair Friendly.

Arlington Room Restaurant:

Generous tables, crisp white linen and fine porcelain set the tone for a relaxing experience in this comfortable and well-appointed restaurant.

Head chef Mark Kirby offers a wide-ranging 5-course dinner menu which is also priced by course, allowing an element of á la carte flexibility; it includes some less usual dishes such as a starter of pan-fried loin of rabbit on a wild mushroom risotto, with crisp pancetta and thyme jus, and interesting vegetarian choices.

The house speciality is grilled brill with prawn risotto, with spinach purée & morel cream, but Irish beef and poultry is also well represented. Excellent home-baked breads are a highlight, also delicious desserts including a hot 'Heritage Soufflé' with your choice of liqueur and, in addition to an Irish farmhouse cheese selection, there's a warm French cheese trio (Roquefort with basil, goat's cheese toast and warm camembert); lovely petits fours and and attentive service add to the occasion.

A good, if rather expensive, wine list offers plenty of choice by the glass and several half bottles.

Seats 100 (Private room available seats 45), D daily 7-10 (Sun to 9.30); Set D €65 (Also priced by course). Piano Sat 8-11, air conditioning; House Wine about €23. Children welcome but not after 8. Hotel closed 24-26 Dec.

*Food also available in: Greens golf club restaurant (High season 7 days 7-9.30); Soloriens Italian Restaurant & Steakhouse (Wed-Sun 6.30-10) and The Hotel Bar 12-7 daily, includes outdoor seating on patio for 40. 12 Self catering houses available.

* The Heritage Hotel Portlaoise (see entry) is an older sister to the Killenard hotel in Portlaoise town centre.

Hotel closed 24-26 Dec. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser. Heli-pad.

Directions:

M7 exit no. 15 to Killenard