Adare Manor

Adare Manor was built through the mid-nineteenth century by the Earls of Dunraven as a neo-Gothic 'calendar house' — local lore counts its 365 leaded windows and 52 chimneys — on the banks of the River Maigue in what is often called Ireland's prettiest village. A root-and-branch restoration completed in 2017 rebuilt the manor to a standard few historic hotels anywhere can match, adding a discreet bedroom wing, cinema and ballroom without disturbing the Gothic drama of the original.

The Great Hall's vaulted gallery, carved stonework and roaring fires set a tone of high romance, and rooms layer velvet and marble over the old bones with real generosity. Dining peaks in the Oak Room, the manor's fine-dining flagship, supported by a convivial carriage-house brasserie and one of Ireland's most indulgent afternoon teas in the Gallery.

The estate's 840 acres hold gardens, woodland walks, falconry and the Tom Fazio-redesigned golf course that will host the 2027 Ryder Cup — the engine of the resort's global profile. A serene spa and a village of thatched cottages at the gates complete the picture. Adare is the new benchmark for the Irish country-house hotel.