Cahernane House Hotel - Killarney, Ireland
Killarney has always held a special place in my heart. My first introduction to this Irish village was through the song “Christmas in Killarney.” My love for the ballad led to a Christmas trip in 2014 filled with music, laughter, and realizing Christmas is NOT the time to travel to Ireland. I had no idea five years later I would call Dublin home, and while COVID put a slight damper on my Ireland trips, the lifting of restrictions has every single weekend from now until August booked to see as many sights possible. My first weekend leaving Dublin county led me back to Killarney, and to one of the most spectacular hotel stays I’ve had in Ireland at Cahernane House Hotel.
I would love to tell you that I found this hotel all on my own, but it was a find in Ireland’s Blue Book, a brochure-sized literal blue book of Ireland's best hotels and country houses. Cahernane House Hotel caught my eye as places to stay in County Kerry, and I immediately fell in love with the grey stone façade covered in lush green ivy. Before the travel restrictions allowing people to leave their county were even lifted I made the booking with my fingers crossed. Luckily, it worked out.
The hotel is about 10 minutes from Main Street Killarney, but you are transported to another time and place the moment you turn into the gravel drive. I pulled in at dusk, right when the stained glass windows above the main entrance to the hotel started to glitter in the evening light, and the bright white wrought iron lawn furniture cast a glow over the manicured green grass. The first impressions on presentation alone were nothing short of breathtaking.
As soon as I stepped through the front door, I was greeted with a bright smile and warm demeanor. Mary manages all the check-ins and check-outs and is an absolute delight. She already had my key out and ready. She then explained all the hotel procedures for a safe stay and took my breakfast reservation and confirmed dinner reservations for the following evening. The process was seamless, less than five minutes tops, but Mary made me feel immediately welcomed as if we were old friends. In fact, smiles and service would continue to be the hallmark of my stay.
The historic house dates back to 1877 and recently underwent a complete renovation in 2017. But don’t worry, the upgrades only made the property more spectacular. The interior still feels old with rich colors of evergreen, sapphire, ruby, and turquoise flanked by crystal chandeliers, dark wood furniture, and leather loungers. I booked a garden view room with a patio overlooking the back lawn and picturesque views of Killarney National Park.
The stay included a full breakfast each morning, and while there were several hot and cold options, I felt the full Irish breakfast was necessary. A full Irish breakfast includes: bacon, sausages, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, baked beans, black pudding, and toast. After a half-day of excursions, coming to the blog soon, I needed to shower and glam for a three-course dinner in the hotel restaurant. After not eating in a restaurant for the past six months, being able to order a pre-dinner cocktail, appetizer, wine with dinner, main course, and finish off with a dessert was a novelty I was deeply missing. The food was INCREDIBLE. The head chef, Eric, hails from County Cork, and every single dish was delectable and beautifully presented. It is no wonder Cahernane House has been awarded two AA Rosettes for culinary excellence. The magical evening ended with a full belly and shimmering eyes. I ordered one last glass of prosecco to take into the glass atrium and watch the sunset over the Killarney mountains.
I would be remiss not to praise the staff at Cahernane House. It is clear from check-in to check-out that they love the property and love what they do. Every member of staff I interacted with was a joy, and they went above and beyond no matter how big or small the request. Every single detail of this property will have you feeling like Lady Mary Crawley. This hotel is NOT for the traveler who wants to be out and about all day. The property is a country retreat in every sense of the word. If you are looking for days filled with long walks, lunch on the terrace, a good book in the library - look no further. If you want style, grace, and service, served on a silver platter, look no further than Cahernane House Hotel.