Quite recently re-opened, following restoration and a luxury redesign which has put The House at the very heart of a new Carton House experience for guests to enjoy, this stunning porperty is now is currently flourishing under the management of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
Once the residence of the Dukes of Leinster, the main house is an imposing mansion designed in Palladian style by the renowned architect Richard Castles, and built around 1740. It is set in one of Ireland’s finest country estates - and home to two championship golf courses.
No guest could fail to be impressed by the building itself, which is vast yet very elegant - and, together with a wonderful range oif outbuildings, it has been skilfully adapted to its current use through a stimulating combination of old and new. It is a natural choice for major corporate events and meetings, and would make a wonderful venue for special occasions of all kinds - these are, after all, uses that are not so very far from its previous life of entertainment on a grand scale - but it also has great appeal for private guests, including families.
Public areas include a whole series of grand rooms, including The Duke’s Rest (Wine Tasting, private dining) and The Gold Salon (one of several Afternoon Tea venues), each more impressive than the last. The wide range of dining options offered by Executive Chef Charles Degrendele and his team includes fine dining (and Sunday Lunch) in the opulent Morrison Room and several appealing informal alternatives, including Kathleen's Kitchen in the old kitchens (with vast cast-iron stoves still in place), the indoors/outdoors Courtyard Bar for lighter bites and The Carriage House gastropub in the golf courtyard.
The especially desirable staterooms and suites in the main house have retained many original features, but the accommodation is mainly in a spacious new Garden Wing that has been designed and built in sympathy with the original mansion. The style is luxurious and contemporary, pleasingly bold in scale and with some appropriately regal colours - and, of course, rooms have all the little luxuries including robes and slippers and a minibar, as well as coffee machines, air conditioning, laptop sized safes and in-room entertainment with LCD TV. Some rooms have balconies or terraces and options include all the required variations on queen and king beds, also family rooms.
Sporting activities are central to Carton House (home from home for the Irish rugby team), and are a major attraction at this stylish destination so close to the capital - as is the hotel’s Spa and Wellness Centre which is housed in an atmospheric 18th century mill building and offers a full range of premium beauty and health treatments, an 18m pool, children’s pool, jacuzzi, sauna & steam room, gym with cardiovascular & strength equipment and a juice bar. There are also two outdoor tennis courts, personal training and a wide range of specific training lessons.
Prices are not unreasonable for a hotel of this calibre, and promotional offers are often attractive.
The Morrison Room:
In a famous and exceptionally beautiful room overlooking the golf course and gardens – and designed with very large windows to take full advantage of the setting - the fine dining restaurant is in classical style, with pristine white linen and simple, elegant table settings. Sunday Lunch is also served here but it is mainly an evening restaurant and a visit here will always be worthwhile for the overall experience.
In this stunning setting, Head Chef Adam Nevin and his keen young team can enjoy flexing their culinary muscles while presenting local ingredients (and other fine Irish seasonal produce) as an exciting 8-course tasting experience - while also offering table d'hote menus that make for wonderful special occasion dining yet are very kindly priced for an experience at this level. The team clearly relish showcasing fine foods from some of Ireland's most talented and dedicated artisan producers - who are proudly credited on the Supplier List. Adam Nevin - a Maynooth native who trained originally at Ballymaloe Cookery School before working at The Shelbourne in Dublin and a number of top UK kitchens including Tom Kerridge’s Pub, The Hand and Flowers - returned to his home town in summer 2023 to take on the role of Head Chef at The Morrison Room, and has been making waves here ever since.
* Informal dining options are also available at Kathleen's Kitchen (in the old servants' kitchen); The Courtyard Bar (with outside seating); and The Carriage House gastropub at the Golf Club which is open to visitors as well as members.
