The Casey family's striking dark green and red hotel is just outside Baltimore and enjoys dramatic views over Roaring Water Bay to the islands beyond.
Opened by Michael and Ann Casey in 1975 and now helped by their son Dominic as Manager, it has been ingeniously developed over the years to add more accommodation and extend the ground floor public areas towards the back, taking advantage of the view over well-kept gardens - including a kitchen garden that supplies seasonal produce to the kitchens.
Some bedrooms also have wonderful views and they are quite comfortably furnished, with all the necessary facilities, including full bath and over bath shower in the compact bathrooms.
Casey's of Baltimore also offers a range of accommodation alternatives outside the main hotel building: The Cottage (five compact one bedroom apartments, situated alongside the hotel, each with en suite shower and mini kitchen); The Townhouse (spacious suites six minutes' walk away near the harbour, with en-suite shower, sitting room and outdoor seating area but no view, continental breakfast provided or full breakfast available at hotel; most recently, close to the hotel, The Lodge was opened in 2016 offering three luxurious seaview rooms and breakfast in the hotel.
The cosy old world bar, Caseys Cabin (traditional music), and friendly staff create a relaxed atmosphere and, as well as the spacious Baltimore Room Restaurant with sea views, there are well-organised outdoor eating areas for bar food in fine weather. Careful sourcing has always been the policy at Casey's, with seasonal local foods taking centre stage, and all suppliers are fully credited. Local seafood is the speciality, of course, and especially mussels from their own fish farm in Roaring Water Bay, but Head Chef' Victoria Gilshennan's menus always offer plenty of other choices, including at least one vegetarian dish - and their own organically grown salads and vegetables are used whenever possible.
The drinks list reflects the same philosophy - the house wine, Chateaux De Tourtes Vineyard, is only available at Casey's of Baltimore and an unusual USP that will interest beer lovers is that Casey's lays claim to being Ireland's first Brew-Hotel. The nano-brewery West Cork Brewing Co. was launched here by Dominic Casey, Henry Thornhill and Brewer Kevin Waugh in December 2014 and their two beers, Sherkin Lass Pale Ale and Roaring Ruby Dark Red Ale, are proving a great success.
