Irish Eyes

November 9, 2008 By: Pamela McCourt Francescone Luxury Travel Advisor

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The K Club (www.kclub.ie) is Ireland at its most beautiful, blending heritage and elegance with excellent service in a stunning rural setting. Sitting in the spacious lobby and looking out across the 500-acre estate, we decided there really are those “Forty Shades of Green” Johnny Cash sung of. The Arnold Palmer and Smurfit championship golf courses shot the resort to international prominence when they hosted the Ryder Cup in 2006; however, the K Club is not just golf—it also offers a wide range of activities and experiences like riding and fishing, gourmet dining and luxurious treatments in the K Spa.

 

 

 

 

The elegant lounges on the ground floor are handsomely furnished with paintings and antiques and art lovers will be dazzled by the Yeats Room, which has the world’s largest collection of the Irish Impressionist artist’s paintings. Art historians give lectures for individuals and groups on the in-house art and on Irish architecture. Ask Head Concierge Billy de Bertraut (billy.debertraut@kclub.ie; 011-353-1-601-7200) to arrange the lectures and also to set up tailor-made programs for clay pigeon shooting, horse riding, fishing, shopping in the nearby Kildare Village outlet mall and city and airport transfers. He can also arrange private jet and helicopter services at Baldonnell airport, which is 12 miles away.

 

When the present owners bought the 19th-century French château-style Straffan House they added another wing which is a mirror image of the original, so there is no need to ask for the old or the new wing as it is impossible to tell them apart.

The 60 Superior, Deluxe and River Rooms and the nine Suites all differ in size, shape and décor, but they are all graciously elegant with an abundance of period furnishings and modern amenities. They have extremely large marble bathrooms, with those in the Superior Rooms standing out for their hand-painted walls, which feature a range of different themes. All bathrooms have double sinks and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries, but there are Joe Malone products in the Imperial and Viceroy Suites.

 

We particularly liked room No. 72, a Deluxe Room on the ground floor which has elegant bay windows, and room No. 44, which has a bathroom down a few steps and a separate shower stall—not all rooms have one. Tip: For extra atmosphere and for honeymooners, ask for one of the Deluxe Rooms with a four-poster bed and views of the front Italianate gardens. The four 614-square-foot Liffey Suites have separate living rooms and views of the hotel’s private stretch of the River Liffey and of the 17th-hole of the championship Ryder Cup Palmer Course. For the best sunset views, ask for one of the Liffey Suites or room Nos. 74 and 85.

The seven Hotel suites have interconnecting living rooms and they all connect with deluxe rooms to create two-bedroom Suites. The Imperial and Viceroy Suites have separate bedrooms and living rooms; the Imperial is the larger of the two and has a long dinner table in the living room. But, unlike the Viceroy, which has the tall windows that are standard throughout the hotel, the views from the Imperial are impeded by smaller high windows. Additionally, the inward- sloping walls give it a slight attic feel.

General Manager and CEO Michael Davern (michael.davern@kclub.ie; 011-353-1-601-7201) says advance bookings are advisable, especially for the Liffey Rooms and the suites. The best contact for all bookings is Reservations Supervisor Lorraine Galvin (lorraine.galvin@kclub.ie; 011-353-1-601-7200).

The Bylerley Turk Restaurant, named after a famous race horse, offers some of the finest dining in Ireland. Executive Chef Finbar Higgins’ (finbar.higgins@kclub.ie) new private wine cellar tour and dining experience is set to become one of Europe’s most exclusive dining outing. We suggest reserving tables well in advance.

The 23 Garden Apartments, accessed by a covered walkway, have one or two bedrooms, living and dining areas and fully equipped kitchens. These are less plush than the rooms in the old house but have all amenities and are to be recommended for families and groups. The Kids Klub offers welcome relief for parents who want to cool out, play golf, go to the spa or do some shopping, with a drop-off service from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. that includes entertainment, games and special seasonal activities.

Contact Spa Manager Phionna Flynn (phionna.flynn@kclub.ie; 011-353-1-601-7330) for enquiries regarding the K Spa, which offers full–day and part-day spa experiences as well as a full range of treatments. The spa also has an infinity pool, Jacuzzi, outdoor hot tub and steam rooms.