These hotels are selected for an attention to aesthetics, such as interior design or architecture, and are sure to ensconce in the luck of the Irish at every turn.
High summer holidays are in full swing, and while many feeds are filled with the diamond-like sparkle of Mediterranean waters, the green shores of Ireland continue to enchant travelers from around the world. With its lush beauty, unique culture, and old-world charm, Ireland proves to be a bucket list destination time and again.
“The greenery of Ireland shines in the summer sun and on clear days the coastal route is truly sublime,” says Michelle Maguire, CEO of Ireland’s Blue Book, an organization formed in 1974 with 11 founding members to ensure the economic well-being of some of Ireland’s most historic properties.
“Ireland’s extensive history fascinates me every day,” Maguire continues. “You can walk anywhere and stumble across a 12th-century castle or a three-thousand-year-old settlement like Brú na Bóinne.”
Although if this summer season doesn’t bring you to the shores of the Emerald Isle, Maguire touts fall as equally spellbinding.
“Ireland evolves in the fall, becoming a place of magic and mystery. With the weather cooling and the autumnal fog rolling in, Ireland’s scenery becomes all the more dramatic,” she says. “Standing atop a cliff with blustering winds and crashing waves, you can see how the writers throughout the ages have been inspired.” She also adds that festivals such as Bram Stoker Festival play into the season’s mood, as do the cozy fires that warm up Irish pubs.
If Ireland is on your travel hit list consider these properties which have been selected for their attention to aesthetics. Whether it’s through thoughtful interior design or landmark architecture, they are sure to ensconce you in the luck of the Irish at every turn.DROMOLAND CASTLE
Spread across 450 acres and only 15 minutes from Shannon Airport, Dromoland Castle is Ireland’s answer to Versailles. Indeed, the design of its gardens is directly based on Louis XIV’s palatial masterpiece, but this property has its own history which dates back to the 6th century when it was the home to direct descendants of one of the last kings of Ireland, Brian Boru.
While steeped in architectural splendor and flanked by a spectacular landscape, Dromoland Castle is central to a plethora of activities both on and off the property. From golf, horseback riding, and falconry (all available onsite), it’s a stone’s throw from Irish wonders such as the dramatic 1,553-mile route along Ireland’s west coast dubbed the Wild Atlantic Way, small fishing villages to enjoy a local catch, two UNESCO World Heritage sites (the Cliffs of Moher, and the moon-ish, limestone landscape of the Burren National Park formed 320 million years ago), and Bunratty Castle, built in 1425 and the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland.
That is all to say this hotel, which is a collection of suites and staterooms, also possesses all the spoils one would imagine from a world-class spa featuring Dr.
