International hotel management and hospitality company, PREM Group, is working on the latest renovation stage of its property, Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry. The group purchased the hotel in 2016 and since then has already spent over €6.5 million on the property in a bid to return the luxury mansion house to its former glory. The initial renovation programme saw all the bedrooms in the original house being renovated as well as the creation of a stunning dining room which is now home to the 2 AA Rosette, Herbert Restaurant. Last summer all 28 rooms in the Garden Wing were redesigned and an eclectic bar, The Cellar Bar was added.
The property has been closed since December in order to allow a further €1.3 million renewal programme to be carried out over the winter months bringing the total renovation figure to €7.8 million. The former ‘Coach House’ will now become home to 8 new luxurious bedrooms while the elegant Drawing Room, overlooking Killarney National Park, The Library and The Atrium are all being completely reimagined. The work on The Library and The Atrium will be completed before the property reopens on the 8th of March while the work on The Coach House is expected to be completed by May of this year.
Interior designer Julie Goggin has been commissioned with the interior design while architects, Moloney O’Beirne have created the design on The Coach House. The 8 bedrooms in The Coach House are situated in a stand-alone building which is adjacent to the Manor House. The original 19th century stone cut building was most likely originally built to house horse-drawn carriages and the related tack. Now, completely reconfigured each room is bespoke with feature wallpapers, luxurious fabrics and original Irish antique furniture. Some of the bathrooms will have free-standing claw foot baths while others feature walk in rain showers and handmade tiles. The décor of each of the 8 rooms have been inspired by nature and pay homage to the native Kerry flora and fauna. One of the rooms depicts the wild flowers of Kerry while a blue toned bedroom displays peacocks in the undergrowth of a lush garden. “The colours and fabrics selected for The Coach House are very different to that of the Manor House”, said Julie Goggin, “we chose jewel like palates that would envelop the senses in order to create rooms that would be conducive to sleep and to really create private sanctuaries for guests.”
The Library in the Manor House is also being completely refurbished and will boast a dramatic peacock plumage inspired wallpaper in a nod to the heritage of the house as a fine country residence where the exotic bird was a familiar sight at many stately homes. The Library will include original antiques and paintings and contains an ornate original fireplace.
Meanwhile, The Drawing Room will become one of the most elegant rooms in the house and will be used to serve delicate afternoon teas and sweet treats. It will be painted in traditional period tones which will set the stage for some stunning original furniture and Victorian pieces. An elaborate over mantle will frame the marble fireplace while luxurious fabric wall panels will be placed on either side of the chimney breast.
The light filled Atrium with its impressive double height ceiling which forms the central hub of the hotel and links the Garden Wing with the original Manor House will also be refurbished. It will be painted in a dark forest green to reflect the palate of the natural setting outside and the views of Killarney National Park beyond the gardens.
The house itself was built in 1877 by Henry Herbert and his wife with Catherine. Each of the five main rooms on the ground floor contain historical artefacts and original antiques including items such as the Herbert Family Crest which is depicted above the front door of the hotel and is reference to the original owners of the house. Many of the original pieces from the house remain in Cahernane House Hotel today, including the wooden staircase, the Killarney Davenport table in the lobby and the pillar caps in the lobby, which feature the first letters of each of Henry’s first four children’s names. His fifth child, Gwendolyn, was born the same year the house was built (August 1877) and the story goes that Gwendolyn’s ghost still roams the house on occasion.
Located just outside the centre of the thriving town of Killarney, the 48-bedroom Cahernane House Hotel is still far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Kerry’s major urban centre to offer a secluded and tranquil getaway. Situated on 6.4 acres of verdant grounds and on the edge of the Killarney Lakes and Killarney National Park it is often referred to as Ireland’s own, ‘Downton Abbey’.
Jim Murphy, CEO of PREM Group which owns the property said the works have been a real labour of love and remarked that it was imperative that the house should be preserved and renovated in a truly sympathetic manor. “The initial phases of work carried out by PREM Group began almost immediately after we purchased the property, and this involved putting on a new roof, replacing all mechanical and electrical installations and complying with fire and safety regulations throughout. We were very conscious to restore and refresh important historical features and many of the eye-catching parts of the house, such as the original sash windows, which were painstakingly restored and given a new lease of life”.
The redevelopment of the property is aimed at attracting clientele from the wedding, incentive and special occasion markets, while the presence of a two AA Rosette winning restaurant ensures that visitors to the hotel enjoy the finest cuisine served up by Executive Head Chef Eric Kavanagh.
Emer Corridan, General Manager of Cahernane House Hotel, said; “We have had a busy winter getting all the works completed on time for our reopening on the 8th of March and are really delighted with progress to date. We all feel very connected to the building, it is part of the heritage and history of Killarney and Kerry and once the latest works are completed it will be one of Ireland’s finest hotels.”
The renovations at Cahernane House Hotel are just one of the large capital projects being carried out by PREM Group, who also operate more than 50 properties throughout Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and the UK. The group is also renovating and extending some of its other properties including The Aspect Hotel, Kilkenny, Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort, Wicklow and The Osprey Hotel in Co. Kildare.
It has been an exciting 12 months for Cahernane House Hotel which was recently accepted into Ireland’s Blue Book and the prestigious Condé Nast Johannsen’s Traveler Guide. The hotel also won an International Gold Award of Excellence for the best 4-star hotel in Ireland from CIE Tours International in January of this year.
The property will reopen on the 8th of March 2019. For more information on Cahernane House Hotel or to make a booking see www.cahernane.com
-ENDS-
For further press information, photography or to interview Jim Murphy CEO of PREM Group or Emer Corridan of Cahernane House Hotel contact Aileen O’Brien, O’Brien PR (045) 407017 or (086) 8403624 aileen@obrienpr.com
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About Cahernane House Hotel
The 4-star Cahernane House Hotel was originally built in 1877 as a family residence for Henry Herbert at a cost of £5,992. The original plans were to build a mansion three times the size of what it is presently, but the next generation of the Herbert family fell on hard times and let the property out as a hotel. As a result, the property feels and looks more like a grand, country, private residence rather than a hotel.
Located just outside the centre of the thriving town of Killarney, the 48-bedroom Cahernane House Hotel is still far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Kerry’s major urban centre to offer a secluded and tranquil getaway. It is located on 6.4 acres of verdant grounds and overlooks the stunning backdrop of the Killarney Lakes and Killarney National Park.
The house itself is reminiscent of times gone by and the charm in which it was built upon in the 1800s has never been lost despite the changeover of owner’s numerous times throughout its history. There are five main rooms on the ground floor of the property; the Pembroke Suite, the Herbert Restaurant, Drawing Room, Library and Reception. Each of these rooms contain historical artefacts and original antiques including items such as the Herbert Family Crest which is depicted above the front door of the hotel.
Upon entry visitors will notice a stunning Killarney Davenport desk which was built circa 1880 and carries pictures of nearby Glena Cottage, Muckross Abbey, Ross Castle, the Old Weir Bridge and the Bricin Bridge. A Queen Anne fireplace that was originally part of the Herbert’s Queen Anne style house is located in the reception and was originally built circa 1750, the original fireplace is still in working order and is lit daily. Imposing bronze statues are located within the reception, and these were originally brought to Cahernane House Hotel by Vincent and Min Albericci who bought the house in 1940.
There are 12 rooms located in the original manor house and each are packed with individual charm and character showcasing period features such as sash windows, high ceilings or elegant mouldings. All rooms in the original house are individually named after people and places connected with the house, such as James Fuller, the architect, or Patricia Newling, an owner with an interesting past in the 1950s.
The Garden Wing of Cahernane House was constructed in the 1960's and has since been completely refurbished. It incorporates 28 beautiful rooms, decorated and styled in keeping with country manor traditions.
The Herbert Restaurant is the main Dining Rooms in the Cahernane House Hotel and seats up to 80 people. The fine dining cuisine is prepared by the Executive Head Chef Eric Kavanagh using locally sourced produce. Eric brings extensive experience from a career that includes award winning establishments such as Longueville House in Mallow and Sheen Falls in Kenmare. Cahernane House Hotel holds two AA Rosette for excellence in cuisine and has received glowing reviews from renowned food critics such as Lucinda O’Sullivan and Georgina Campbell.
The house is adjacent to Killarney National Park, Ireland’s largest national park which is surrounded by mountains and lakes and inhabited by natural wildlife. There are also numerous historical buildings in the park such as Muckross Abbey – a 15th century monastery – and Muckross House, a building that is intertwined with the history of Cahernane House due to the Herbert family.
Horse riding treks and fishing activities that take place on the grounds of Killarney National Park can be arranged by the hospitality team and there are also a wide range of splendid golf courses in the region which Cahernane House have links to.
Cahernane House Hotel has changed hands on multiple occasions in the last 115 years, beginning with the leasing of the hotel for almost 40 years from 1902. It was sold for the first time in 1940 to Vincent Albericci, and the property passed through the hands of another five owners before it was purchased by PREM Group in 2016.
