Last month I had the honor of escorting a fantastic group of travel advisors to our properties in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Starting at The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin, we then made our way to The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast, The K Club in Kildare and finally to Aghadoe Heightsin Killarney. I was very proud to show off these top notch properties which consistently improve each and every time I visit. I am always impressed by our 4 Irish members, and this occasion proved no different.
On this trip we were thrilled to be joined by Flay Muellenbach of Travel Edge's Atlanta office (pictured 3rd from right above). Flay, a true professional and great addition to the group, was gracious enough to write the below "Just Back" article for your review. We hope you enjoy reading about our journey through Ireland and that it inspires ideas and itineraries for your own clients.
Interested in learning more about these Irish treasures? Then join our webinar tomorrow, May 22nd at 12 PM EST and hear directly from each General Manager on how they support the travel advisor community.
Please know that we are always available to be of service to you and are happy to answer any questions you may have.
In early April we started our journey in Dublin, staying at the lovely Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin. We were greeted by the warm and welcoming staff, including General Manager Fergal O'Connell and Director of Sales and Marketing Bronagh Kelleher. This is a lovely hotel right on St. Stephens Green and walkable to most of the sights. The rooms are large and well appointed. They are going to undergo a major renovation soon which should make this gem even more beautiful. Be sure to dine in their lovely fine dining restaurant Glovers Alley.
We enjoyed 2 days of touring with our lovely guide Josephine, seeing such sights at Trinity College and the Book of Kells, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison and now fascinating museum where many Irish revolutionaries, including the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, were imprisoned and executed.
On day 3 we set off for Northern Ireland where we checked into the recently redone Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast. We were greeted by General Manager Cian Landers (pictured right) with a "bottle of bubbly" in the lovely lobby. This hotel is well located with an amazing staff and very comfortable rooms.
The highlight of Belfast was the Titanic Experience. It is very well done and gives you such insight into the real story behind the Titanic. We also visited iconic sights on the scenic North Coast, such as the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Giants Causeway, which is the backdrop for many scenes in Game of Thrones.
Next we traveled to The K Club in Kildare, home of the Ryder Cup in 2006 and famous for its two golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer. This gorgeous country estate is only 30 minutes from Dublin Airport making it an ideal place to begin or end your trip (they even guarantee early check in for North American arrivals).
The expansive grounds allow for many outdoor activities including falconry, horseback riding, clay shooting and fishing, and their 20,000 sq. foot spa is a great place to relax. In addition to the main hotel, there is also Straffan House – an exclusive use home on the grounds of The K Club that is ideal for large groups. In the evening we went over to The Straffan Inn, the town pub also owned by The K Club, where we enjoyed jovial live music.
The highlight of my stay at K Club was touring the Irish National Stud Farm and Japanese Gardens, where many champion racehorses have been bred. In spring there are many newborn foals to be seen! The grounds were glorious to explore and the horses magnificent.
Our last stop was in stunning Killarney at Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa. This property is just outside of town with breathtaking views over vast lakes and mountains. Renowned for outstanding service, luxurious accommodation, exquisite contemporary dining and an award-winning Spa, Aghadoe Heights certainly met all expectations. I especially like that all rooms have a lovely patio or balcony to take in the scenery.
Over our last few days, we toured the Wild Atlantic Way with special visits to Dingle Peninsula, a local leather craftsman and a famous pottery studio (where we made our own pottery). Upon our return to the hotel, we were escorted up to the Penthouse where we drank champagne while making our own loaf of Irish bread. What a fantastic way to end such a delightful trip.
