Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Club

The Island, Waterford
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Waterford Castle Hotel

• Secluded island heaven.
• 18 hole championship golf course.
• Gourmet award-winning dining.

We recently had a really unique ‘Island Experience’ when visiting one of the country’s great castle hotels. Taking the ferry across to the island hotel was the beginning of a fairy-tale experience that was rich in history and legend, and then further enhanced by a most memorable dining experience. All the modern luxury hotels in the world could not match this place for atmosphere. Dating back to the Norman occupation of Ireland in the 11th century it was a former home of the powerful Fitzgerald family. Throughout the grey stone castle there are antiques redolent of an elegant past, and a carved granite archway leads to the grand entrance hall, where a blazing fire warmed our welcome. With open fires and family portraits and warm oak, cool marble and elegant antiques, we really felt like the lords of the manor during our stay.

ACCOMMODATION AT WATERFORD CASTLE

We stayed in the Presidential Suite and had spectacular views over some of the 310 acre gardens. We had the most comfortable four-poster bed in our huge room which was high-ceilinged with marble-fireplace and antique furniture. There were portraits of past presidents adorning the walls, including Mary Robinson who smiled down on me as I sat at a beautifully carved wooden antique desk by one of the windows. The bathroom was out of this world – a Jacob Delafon stand-alone bath, and the prettiest hand painted toilet and wash-hand-basins ever! The room was full of soft lighting and the antique cast-iron windows set in original stone opened to the splendour of the surrounding grounds. We enjoyed evening views over the estate and river and watched the cute baby deer with their sweet doe-eyes graze peacefully all around the grounds. In fact when we went for an evening stroll we came quite close to these adorable creatures, who appear well used to human visitors and not particularly bothered by us at all.

THE ISLAND LODGES

We spent another night in one of the luxurious Waterford Castle Lodges. There are forty-eight in total, mostly three bed-roomed with two having four bedrooms. We found them really comfortable, spacious and luxurious with lots of glass show-casing the surrounding scenery, sophisticated design and exceptionally stylish furnishings. Great for families who want a luxury ‘home from home’ but also perfect for groups of friends who may be attending a wedding at the Castle. While ours had three double rooms, there were also three bathrooms, so privacy and full facilities would make these lodges great value for a group of friends to share. Of course for people who love golf, and that is the real jewel in the crown on this island, staying in one of these lovely lodges guarantees the fairways on your doorstep and the time is your own. While the lodges are situated in a secluded enclave they are just short stroll from the Golf Club, driving range and just a few minutes walk to the Castle itself.

DINING AT WATERFORD CASTLE

It was a great delight to enjoy some fine cooking under the stewardship of Head Chef Michael Quinn who has been at the helm at Waterford Castle for ten years now. We enjoyed tasty dishes in the cosy Fitzgerald Room and excellently creations in the more formal Munster Room. Michael Quinn’s culinary experience around the world and in Michelin starred kitchens shines through with great flair and passion.
Dinner in the oak-panelled Munster Room was as atmospheric as it was epicurean, and indeed the service was perfect. We enjoyed a lovely table in the corner of the room and service was friendly and attentive. Lighting was soft with individual small lamps and warm dark oak panelling making it a relaxed and romantic ambiance. We enjoyed an Amuse Bouche of crab meat and creamy mayo, and went on to enjoy starters of Scallops and a very tasty Haddock Risotto. We followed that with the most succulent venison and juicy meaty monkfish – two delightful dishes. The wine list was well balanced and comprehensive and we opted for a delightful New World Pinot Noir from Tindall in New Zealand which brought a lovely spicy depth to our respective dishes.
To work up an appetite for breakfast the next morning, we set off on a bracing walk around the golf course, and were amazed to see so many golfers at such an early hour enjoying the beautiful island. But then this is no ordinary course. A more perfect setting for a championship course could not have been imagined, even in a country that seems to have been designed by nature for the game of golf. The design uses the natural lies of the land to fashion this island golf course, and each hole offers a different challenge, a change of direction and a captivating view of the surrounding countryside.
Our breakfast before we left was delicious, and I loved the fact that we ate in the bright breakfast room, as distinct from the warm dining room for dinner. So many hotels do not distinguish between the two distinct atmospheres for these very different meals, and it is a pleasure to find one that does. And then it was out through the carved granite arch and studded oak doors, back down the tree lined driveway to the water’s edge where the island ferry took us across the channel of centuries and back to the present. A fairy-tale experience it certainly was!