By Barry Coughlan
The Castlemartyr Resort in east County Cork continues to pick up credits after being named as best Irish 5-star hotel at this year’s Irish Hotel Awards, building on past gongs achieved for excellence and high class service in the industry.
The awards were announced at a bustling ceremony in The Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone, where 400 hospitality industry professionals gathered to pay tribute to the winners of several categories.
However, Castlemartyr won the most coveted prize of the year in the luxury sector of the industry, and also picked up the Spa Experience of the Year, while just down the road in the nearby seaside resort of Garryvoe, the Garryvoe Hotel, a 4-star neighbor, was named the Coastal Escape of the Year and the Wedding Hotel of the Year.
Further success came to other Cork hotels. The Best Breakfast Experience was said to be in the central Metropole Hotel, while the best Business and Conference Hotel of the Year award was given to the Radisson Blu and Spa on the outskirts of the city.
The awards are given out after visits to each property which undergoes a 280 point report/examination compiled by researchers spanning all departments of the hotel.
Open since 2008, the stately Castlemartyr Resort is nestled into 220 acres of Irish woodland, with the hotel itself a revamped grand 17th century country manor house sitting in the shade of the ruins of an 800-year-old-castle. It’s a historic property as the castle was built by The Knights Templar under Richard Earl de Clare, known as Strongbow.
It was also the hotel that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were rumored to have stayed at on their honeymoon to Ireland in 2014.
It features The Restaurant, a spot serving modern Irish cuisine and the Knights Bar, as well as a Health Club and activities such as tennis, kayaking, cycling, archery, croquet on the lawn, clay pigeon shooting and more.
The Lake Hotel in Co. Kerry was named the 4 Star Hotel of the Year, while the Abbey Hotel in Co. Dublin was named the 3 Star Hotel of the Year.
Kilkea Castle in Co. Kildare was named the Castle Hotel of the Year, while Delphi Lodge in Galway’s Connemara was awarded the gong for Gourmet stays.
For those looking to capture a romantic weekend away, or planning for a wedding in the near future, the awards offered up their pick of the best hotels in that area.
Garryvoe Hotel was named the Wedding Hotel of the Year, while The Lodge at Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo scooped the prize for Romantic Hotel of the Year.
Speaking about the event, Shane Smith, Director of NI Media who runs the Irish Hotel Awards said: “It’s been a while but we’re back with a bang. The turmoil that we’ve all been through was like nothing any one of us could have possibly imagined but thankfully the industry is getting back on its feet. This is of course great news for the sector and the standards that are being met, particularly considering staff shortages are simply outstanding.”
Irish Hotel Awards Winners
5 Star Hotel of the Year- Castlemartyr Resort
4 Star Hotel of the Year- The Lake Hotel
3 Star Hotel of the Year- Abbey Hotel
2 Star Hotel of the Year- Murray’s Doonmore Hotel
Fine Dining Experience of the Year- The Lake Hotel
Boutique Hotel of the Year- Hyde Hotel
Castle Hotel of the Year- Kilkea Castle
Coastal Escape of the Year- Garryvoe Hotel
Country House Hotel of the Year- Mount Falcon Estate
Romantic Hotel of the Year- The Lodge at Ashford Castle
Wedding Hotel of the Year- Garryvoe Hotel
Intimate Wedding Venue of the Year- Killeavy Castle Estate
Dog Friendly Hotel of the Year- Inn on the Coast
Family Hotel of the Year- Dingle Skellig Hotel
Golf Experience of the Year- Ocean Sands Hotel
Gourmet Getaway of the Year- Delphi Lodge
Hotel Bar of the Year- Killarney Towers Hotel
Hotel Restaurant of the Year- Titanic Hotel
Local Hotel of the Year- Longcourt House Hotel
Newcomer of the Year- Elephant Rock Hotel
Rising Star of the Year- Abbey Court Hotel
Self-Catering Property of the Year- Waterford Castle
Irish Brand Hotel of the Year- Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Cork
Excellence in Service Award- Clayton Hotel Charlemont
Great Irish Breakfast Award- The Metropole Hotel, Cork.
Social Media Marketing Award – Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Sligo
Spa Experience of the Year- Castlemartyr Resort
Airport Hotel of the Year- Shannon Springs Hotel
Business & Conference Hotel of the Year- Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Cork