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A property of historical and architectural significance - and one with many treats to discover within, as well as in the surrounding area - Cashel Palace was acquired in 2016, after a long closure, by the Magnier family of the nearby Coolmore Stud, which (among many other claims to fame) was famously HRH Queen Elizabeth's only private stop on her State Visit to Ireland in 2011. One of Ireland’s best-loved hotels since the 1960s, and originally an archbishops' residence, Cashel Palace is a large, graciously proportioned Queen Anne-style manor house dating from 1728. Set well back from the road in the centre of Cashel town, it backs onto Ireland’s most iconic medieval site, the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick converted the King of Munster to Christianity - and there is private access for guests.
Since then they have invested in restoring the property elegantly, with an eye to comfort and relaxation as much as respect for history, and developing the amenities expected by today's guest. These include a magnificent spa with an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, seaweed baths, treatment rooms and a hair and beauty salon among the many facilities offered.
The lovely reception rooms and some of the spacious, beautifully furnished and very comfortable bedrooms overlook the gardens and the Rock of Cashel at the rear, and there's an interesting range of room types - including a Gate Lodge Suite and a Manager's House with four interconnecting rooms.
Overseen by Director of Culinary, Stephen Hayes, the dining and bar arrangements are also unusually diverse, with the main dining room, the vaulted Bishop’s Buttery, offering lunch and dinner every day and the Blue Room serving full Afternoon Tea (and breakfast), while the Garden Terrace also serves light snacks and drinks daily (weather permitting). The atmospheric Guinness Bar on the lower ground floor is also a popular destination, while resident guests can retire to the Cocktail Bar. Next door, many visitors will already be familiar with the excellent casual dining at Mikey Ryan’s Bar and Kitchen (see separate entry). A brilliantly reimagined traditional pub with entrances from both the main street and the hotel, it opened before the pandemic and quickly became a favourite for its combination of old-world Irish pub and stylish contemporary outdoor and indoor dining.
But most importantly, with two welcoming log fires at reception and the warmth of hands-on service from well known General Manager Adriaan Bartels and his team, Cashel Palace still exudes that old fashioned atmosphere and hospitality that modern hotels simply cannot emulate. A favourite short break destination for Irish guests once again, it is also perfect for a longer stay, providing visitors from abroad a luxurious and yet homely base for exploring the heart of rural Ireland, with its outdoor pursuits, beautiful landscapes and unique culture, including some outstanding food producers - notably the nearby Cashel Blue Cheese, of international renown.
