Owner, Kim Hebert, recently set off on an unforgettable adventure to Ireland with her husband, Andrew, and two oldest children. Their travels led them to the captivating Adare Manor a place where history and elegance intertwine magically. They soaked in the breathtaking architecture, wandered through lush gardens, and enjoyed impeccable service and family fun that made their stay one they wont soon forget.
“You have to see it, to believe it” – a travel cliche that’s as old as time, yet perfectly fits my initial thoughts of the Adare Manor. When entering the grounds, you are immediately shifted to a different era. The level of luxury is top notch, but theres also a sense of peace and simplicity (which is exactly what these two tired parent of three were looking for). This property transports you, it’s hard to put into words, it’s just a feeling you get that is truly something special.
The History
Built in the 1830s by the 2nd Earl of Dunraven, Windham Hand Quin and his wife, this manor is considered “A Calendar House”. A unique design which includes 365 leaded windows, 52 ornate chimneys, 7 all stone pillars, and 4 separate towers. This rare design incorporates the days, weeks, and seasons of the year. The manor has been home to the Earls of Dunraven until the early 1980s. Since that time, it has been increasing in popularity and host to many European events and thousands of vacationers around the world.
About
The drive into the gates and toward the manor is such a charming welcome. You are guided into the grounds through an archway making the arrival as grand as they come. Despite arriving in a rental
SUV, freshly decorated by jet lagged toddlers, we were greeted with wonderful Irish hospitality, making
us feel right at home.
Things We Loved
The 840-acre property provides a multitude of activities for adults and children alike. The Padel Club is home to the fitness center, courts, golf simulator, spa and pool. If you are wanting a little more adventure, fishing, biking, and archery are available — just to name a few.
Our first taste of Adare Manor activities was the highly anticipated falconry. Our “falconer”, Liam, was a wealth of knowledge. We truly appreciated his patience as we met and held 5 different species of birds. “Olaf” the snowy owl was Margo’s personal favorite, while “Noddy” the dark breasted barn owl was a favorite of Thomas. Mom and dad were blown away with the full grown American bald eagle, “Saoirse”. I still get the chills thinking about it. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience!
During the early days of Adare Manor, the horse drawn carriage was a part of everyday life. Now, it is a
unique experience and one of the best ways to get the lay of the land and learn more about the manor house. The kids and I took a morning horse drawn carriage throughout the property and learned all about the history of the Manor and surrounding areas. Our timing could not have been better, as we approached the end of our ride, we were able to watch dad hit his final shots on to the 18th green!
Despite what he may try to claim, this was by far Andrew’s favorite part of the trip. He was able to tee off early and play this once in a life time golf course. Each golfer is set up with an personal caddie to walk them through the course and help navigate each shot. Golfers are greeted about an hour prior to tee time. The green fee includes a tour of the clubhouse and use of the practice facilities prior to your round. Each hole is picturesque as the course winds along with the beautiful River Maigue, and finishes up with with a stunning view of the manor behind the 18th green. The course as we see it today was designed by Tom Fazio in 2017, with a pure intention of one day hosting a Ryder Cup. That vision will come to life in 2027, when the best golfers from the United States and Europe take the stage for the cup.
Inside the clubhouse sits a wonderful bar and lounge area. Perfect for after-round drinks, pre-dinner
cocktails and even a quick lunch. The Lounge area was perfect for the kids, as we were able to have a cocktail and snack, and let them relax in a comfortable atmosphere. The Carriage House adjoins the bar and lounge area, where we had one of our dinners!
When talking about meals at Adare Manor, the breakfast can not be forgotten. It was so special and so delicious! I am usually a morning room service kind of gal when on vacation, but this spread got me out of bed, daily! The room service was another top item for our little ones — we had popcorn and ice cream delivered every night!
The view from our deluxe room was of the formal French gardens, filled with immaculate
landscaping. This is where Thomas and Margo enjoyed running and exploring. As we walked along the
walled garden, we stumbled upon Adare Manor’s Enchanted Forest. This trail was filled with fairy tales, fairy housing, and little adventures. This was easily was Margo’s favorite part of our entire trip. She could not stop taking about the “fairy forest” and looked for one in each of the towns we visited after Adare Manor. Following our adventures through the ‘fairy forest’, we took the complimentary shuttle to the outside gates of the manor. There we were able to venture to Adare Village. We enjoyed our walk down the street of this quaint little town and wandered into “Aunty Lena’s” for a quick bite to eat. The kids loved the chicken goujons (similar to chicken tenders), while mom and dad enjoyed a Guinness (or two).
Our time at Adare Manor was absolutely a dream! My kids still talk about Adare “Manners” and the memories are some we will cherish for many years to come!
