This four-star hotel on the edge of Portlaoise town dates back to the 1970s and - having been bought by the Galway businessman Pat McDonagh in 2015 - it is now part of his S0 Hotels group, well known for their friendly welcome and good value.
Just off the M7 and close to main routes for the Hidden Heartlands, the location has a lot going for it and it is a good choice for events and conferences as well as a great base for family getaways. It's just a short walk to the town (15 minutes) and, with good on-site amenities and excellent attractions and activities nearby - including Emo Court, Heywood Gardens, horse racing, golf, bowling, Kildare Village and the remarkable Solas Eco Garden Centre - there's no shortage of things to do.
The communal areas are spacious and very well maintained, as are the pool and leisure club, while free WiFi throughout and ample free parking (both above and below ground) are among the hotel's many other practical bonuses.
Bedrooms are also spacious, extremely comfortable and have been smartly refurbished in a contemporary style with immaculate bathrooms and lots of throws and lamps for soft lighting. There's a good choice of room types too, ranging from suites to interconnecting family rooms, all with good amenities including WiFi and Netflix on large smart TVs as standard.
As well as having an especially well earned reputation for weddings and conferences, The Killeshin offers good casual dining - which makes their well-priced residential packages very attractive - and it is a popular spot for locals to meet up for a meal in Cedar Rooms Restaurant or the Cedar Bar, where the welcome will be warm and the food satisfying.
Head Chef Roland Lukaszewski’s menus are crowd-pleasing with an emphasis on big flavours and generous portions, but there is real finesse in the cooking and his thoughtfully presented food looks as good as it tastes. Ever-popular steaks are always an excellent choice here and other signature dishes include Kilmore Quay Cod Tempura and Wicklow Rack of Lamb. Desserts - perhaps including Gateau Royale (a more-ish triple layer chocolate sponge) and Lemon Mille Feuille with lemon curd and cream - are accomplished and clearly made in-house.
The Killeshin's Afternoon Tea is also recommended and a good breakfast is served too - a well stocked buffet, plus table orders for cooked dishes - and caring service is a strong point throughout the hotel, with smartly presented and well trained staff always keen to please.
So, all round this is a well-run, well-maintained hotel and its 4-star rating is well deserved.
