Press Releases From Blue Book Houses

Coach House now open at Cahernane House Hotel Killarney, Co. Kerry

20/05/2019

International hotel management and hospitality company, PREM Group, has completed its latest renovation at its property in Killarney, Cahernane House Hotel.  The stunning Kerry country house hotel now boasts 8 new luxurious bedrooms which are situated in the former, Coach House at the property.  This once modest stone cut building was originally built in 1877 to house the grand horse drawn carriages and related tack belonging to the residents of Cahernane House. Hewn from local Kerry, Grey Sandstone, the building looks the same on the outside as it always did… however, inside a different scene awaits.

Interior designer, Julie Goggin together with architects, Moloney O’Beirne was commissioned to reimagine and reconfigure the old 19th century stone cut building.  The design team wanted to make sure the building remained true to its history and time but would have all the comforts that a modern day, discerning hotel guest would expect.

Now, completely reconfigured, each room is bespoke with feature wallpapers, luxurious fabrics and original Irish antique furniture. Some of the bathrooms have free-standing claw foot baths while others feature huge walk-in rain showers and handmade tiles.  The décor of each of the 8 rooms was inspired by nature and pays homage to the native Kerry flora and fauna.  One of the rooms depicts the wildflowers of Kerry while a blue toned bedroom displays peacocks hiding 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 bolder, 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. It’s a really quiet space, completely separate to the main building, you wouldn’t hear a pin drop here, it’s just the perfect place to retreat from the world and really switch off.”

PREM 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, deep in the heart of the building was added. The Cellar Bar is open each evening and also serves evening food for both hotel guests and non-residents.

Aside from completely renovating The Coach House major works have also been completed in the main Manor House.  The elegant Drawing Room, overlooking Killarney National Park, The Library and The Atrium have also been completely reimagined. 

The Library now boasts 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.

Meanwhile, the handsome Drawing Room has become one of the most popular rooms in the house and is an elegant space to sink into a deep sofa while enjoying afternoon teas and sweet treats.  It has a more feminine look than that library and been painted in a pale yellow with a rose colored fabrics and paper providing a pop of colour and warmth throughout the room An elaborate over mantle frames the marble fireplace while luxurious fabric wall panels placed on either side of the chimney breast add depth.

The light filled Atrium has also been refurbished and the results are stunning. It has been 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.  At the heart of this light flooded space is an ancient olive tree which once had its roots in Sicily and will now hopefully bear fruit in its new sunny home in Killarney.

The house itself was built in 1877 by Henry Herbert and his wife 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’.

Emer Corridan, General Manager of Cahernane House Hotel, said; “We are so thrilled and proud of the works, our guests just love it and every time I walk into one of the new rooms or spaces I see something new that has just caught by eye, that might be a little pattern on a wallpaper or the way the sun moves around the rooms.  It’s a little bit of heaven on earth here at Cahernane House, it’s just beautiful”

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.

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 renovations at Cahernane House Hotel are just one of the large capital projects being carried out by PREM Group, who also operate more than 38 properties throughout Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK. The group recently finished renovating and extending some of its other properties including The Hoban Hotel, Kilkenny, Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort, Wicklow and The Osprey Hotel in Co. Kildare.

 

The property is a member of 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.

For more information on Cahernane House Hotel or to make a booking see www.cahernane.com

-ENDS-

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