Primely positioned by the Rock of Cashel, the recently revamped Cashel Palace in Co. Tipperary is a must-visit on your next trip to Ireland.
Keen to lap up some of Ireland’s ancient history? You’re in luck. If you’re also seeking to update your Irish racing knowledge – Cashel Palace is owned by the renowned horse trainers, the Magniers, of Coolmore – well, you’ve just doubled your pot. Horsey touches abound here – spot The Upper Glasses, a black and white photograph by Arthur Steel taken in 1977, which hangs in the corridor, greeting (and inspecting) guests as they pass – but in an understated way. Still, the overarching theme is one of warmth and traditional tastes.
The Vibe
A decadent, yet approachable, grand manor in the heart of town.
The Rooms
There are 42 bedrooms and suites in all, including The Gate Lodge, which sits apart from the main hotel and offers guests an added sense of seclusion. We stayed in a spacious Garden Suite, which is part of the hotel’s new wing. Boasting a separate bedroom and living area, there’s ample room here for working (note the sizeable booth-style seating/table which can moonlight as an office if required), vegetating (engulfing sofas and XL beds await), and so on. Interiors are by London-based Emma Pearson, who places focus on quality fabrics and textiles, offering a paired-back country feel which is understated and cosy in equal parts – think ecru walls and navy fabric headboards with burgundy piping. Big lamps dispel a warm glow, and simple patterned soft furnishings add a timid playfulness. Added pluses: a walk-in closet and a kitchenette with tea and coffee making facilities. In the bathrooms you’ll find luxurious products by Memo Paris in Irish Leather, naturally.
The Little Extras
Mini bars are stocked with locally sourced snacks (wonderfully salty crisps and creamy chocolates await) and beverages, such as zingy lemonade.
The light-filled spa is a serene spot to while away a few hours, rotating between the indoor and outdoor pool, thermal suites, and treatment rooms. There’s also a gym if you’re not set on remaining in a floating and/or horizontal state for the duration of your time here. Overlooking the gardens, five metres of the 17-metre pool are outdoors – for those seeking further al-fresco spa time, book an outdoor bathing ritual. Our choice: the seaweed bath. Submerge yourself in a bath of organic, hand-harvested Atlantic seaweed for 40 minutes to ‘remove unwanted toxins and alleviate aches and pains’. Alternatively, book a holistic therapy treatment with Bamford.
The Food + Drink
Breakfast is served in Queen Anne Room – expect a menu spanning fresh fruit salads, accompanied by Hayes farm yoghurt, and mulberry granola, to brioche French toast, and a generous continental platter. Lunch can also be taken here, or in the sub-terra dining space, The Bishop’s Buttery.
Plating up contemporary Irish cuisine, Executive Chef Stephen Hayes’s menu offers diners a real taste of Tipperary. Located in Ireland’s Golden Vale, the culinary team have ‘an abundant larder of ingredients’ to work with. We dined at The Bishop’s Buttery for dinner and opted for the Table D’hôte Menu at €85pp. Commence your meal with fresh bread paired with marvellously salty Irish butter, quickly followed by a selection of inventive petite fours – the foie grois charading as cherries was particularly clever. Next, it’s on to starters of seared scallops and bluefin tuna, followed by a generous portion of pan-roasted halibut and the beef fillet. Dessert options prove tempting, with Tipperary whiskey baba getting top marks from us. An atmospheric spot comprising of stone slab floors, pendant lights, mottled mirrors, and vaulted ceilings, centred with a large open fire at the room’s axis, this space is likely to be at its most inviting come autumn/wintertime.
The Guinness Bar has a convivial feel, welcoming hotel guests and locals alike to sit a while (on leather-accented booth seating) with a pint of Guinness, surrounded by framed illustrations, dark woods, and unexpected clashing fabric accents. For a different vibe, enjoy a post-dinner tipple in the Residence Bar on the ground floor – you won’t go far wrong with their Negronis.
The To-Do List
The hotel has a dedicated Equine Concierge, who can curate equine adventures for guests across Tipperary’s Thoroughbred Trail.
Rugby match on the TV? Head to Mikey Ryan’s Bar & Kitchen (also owned by the Magniers) which sits adjacent to the hotel, order a round of the black stuff and soak up the atmosphere.
Any Questions or Tips to add?