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Set in one of West Cork's most desirable locations, the O'Donovan and Barrett familes' immaculately maintained hotel is magnificently situated overlooking the Atlantic Ocean just outside the quaint town of Clonakilty.
Now in third generation ownership, it has been run as an hotel since 1948 and, thanks to careful planning, the location has been used to full advantage so that most of the spacious and thoughtfully furnished bedrooms have sea views - and guests also have a seaview terrace to relax on in fine weather, and access to the hotel's own stretch of foreshore as well as the adjoining 9 hole golf course.
The original character of the old house marries well with newer additions, and modern Irish art and classic furnishings in the bar and lounge areas convey an understated sense of contemporary style that is very relaxing and allows the stunning setting to be the star.
Serving high quality locally sourced food is a point of pride and the extensive bar menus offered daily are just as interesting as the more formal meals (dinner, Sunday lunch) offered in the contemporary seaview dining room, Adrift Restaurant.
"A sense of place by the sea using the finest ingredients from West & County Cork" is how they introduce the bar menu and it pretty well sums up the food philosophy of the whole hotel.
You'd be hard pushed to find a better collection of suppliers listed on any menu - superb Hereford beef, puddings and pork sausages, for example, from MJ O' Neill's butchers in Clonakilty, which was established in 1919 and still has its own abattoir...also puddings from the world renowned Clonakilty Black Pudding Company, of course, and poultry from another highy respected and long established Clonakilty family business, Shannon Vale Foods which was founded by the O'Regan family when they arrived here in 1885.
And then there is the area's wonderful fresh and smoked fish and seafood from Glenmar Shellfish (of The Fish Shop in Union Hall) and Sally Barnes's renowned Woodcock Smokery - and terrific organic seasonal produce grown by producers like John & Sara Devoy and Jonathan Doig (Narmada Organics), both near Rosscarbery...The list goes on, and it is magnificent - and better still, the menus match up to their ingredients, offering a wide range of familiar and creative dishes to suit every taste and every mood.
But good food is only one aspect of the story in any hotel and, living up to the highest of the expectations that tend to be attached to family owned and managed hotels, Dunmore House Hotel is renowned especially for it’s welcoming atmosphere and personal service.
So, with hands-on owner-management, a high standard of maintenance and housekeeping, and professional, friendly staff making this an exceptionally pleasing hotel, it should be no surprise to find that returning guests make up a high proportion of their business.
