The Gate Lodge at Coolmore
Romantic regency escape for two
Book this homeCounty Kilkenny
This is a quaint and cosy traditional gate lodge, custodian to the exclusive Coolmore estate, where a bleached white exterior and tastefully renovated interior preserve its unique style.
Surrounded by 250 acres of rolling parkland in the picturesque Nore valley, the cottage lies within easy reach of Dublin, Waterford, and perhaps the best golfing Ireland has to offer.
A compact and intimate home
In smaller homes, utilities require clever stowage, and so it is that you unknowingly pass the well concealed laundry facility when you step through the entrance lobby and enter the living room.
Under-floor heating guarantees wall to wall warmth.
A high stool dining bar informally separates the snug seating area, complete with wood burning stove, from the compact oak kitchen.
The double bedroom is as sumptuous as it is simple. A wall of convenient wardrobe space spans the short lobby leading to the pearly white shower room.
Outside
The Gate Lodge is situated at the start of a tree lined avenue that introduces the Coolmore Estate. The immediate garden is lawned and defined by low box hedges. Internal roadways on the estate are mostly roller skate smooth asphalt, but there are some 4kms of beautifully brick-paved walks which are ideal for jogging and cycling.
Otters, badgers, Irish hares and red squirrels, foxes, river birds are among the native wildlife to be spotted along the tranquil valley. Fishing rights extend to a mile of the Nore, single bank, with eight pools noted for salmon, though these are subject to licensing requirements and by arrangement.
Elsewhere you will pass a Stonehenge folly of more recent construction, adjacent to the brick paved heli-pad of the same era.
Facilities
The Lodge has a Weber barbecue, smart TV, excellent mobile coverage, and internet. By arrangement there is use of the tennis court and a mile of fishing rights.
Note that there is a separate Cottage on the demesne that sleeps four, and is listed elsewhere on this Unique Irish Homes website.
Restrictions
Smoking – No, sorry!
Parties – The owners regret Stag, Hen, Wedding or 21st parties are not admissible.
Allergy Warning! Please note that this is a Dog Friendly Home. If you intend bringing a dog, please tell us about him/her when booking.
The main house has a magnificent 3 acre walled garden which the gardener may give you a tour of. There is also an Astroturf tennis court which is available by arrangement.
Provisional Booking Form
This Home is normally only let by the week, except as follows:
Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday.
Holidays’ Dates for 2023 are priced as following:
Easter Weekend 7th- 10th April 2023 – €795
Halloween 27th- 1st October 2023– €795
Christmas 23rd to the 28th Dec 2023 – €795
New Years’ 30th December 2023 to the 2nd January 2024 – €795
A refundable breakages deposit of €250 is payable with the rental amount will be refunded within seven days of departure.
| All Year | €795 per week | Weekends and Mid-Week stays €475 |
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Your travel arrangements are important, so all provisional bookings are double checked with the owners to ensure that your plans do not conflict with theirs, this can take up to 24 hours, but we haven’t forgotten about you.!
Provisional bookings will be followed up by email, at which point we can answer specific queries you may have, verify your booking and request a deposit to confirm.
Please note that all unconfirmed provisional bookings will expire after 3 days.
If your preferred dates are not available, please click here to review all houses that match your dates.
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Reviews
We had a lovely time away…
so relaxing in such beautiful surroundings. The Gate lodge was gorgeous, Charlie enjoyed the garden & lovely walks. The weather wasn’t bad & Hugh was able to barbeque! It was really just what we both needed. Fiona was so helpful. Thank you both so much for all your input.
Mad, July 2020
What a unique way to ring in the new year!
I just wanted to let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed our weekend in the Gate Lodge, Coolmore. The cottage is beautifully appointed and cosy. There was a luxurious welcome basket also.
Noreen Keane, January 2017
I cannot speak highly enough
of the booking experience and the gate lodge at Coolmore. Everything has been exceptional, and the Coolmore property and estate experience was outstanding. We are so pleased to have discovered your website and hope to be able to use it again. Many thanks for all your help.
Peter, July 2022
10 out of 10!!
From beginning to end you have been wonderful to deal with, and when we unfortunately had to change our dates you were so helpful and accommodating. The staff at the Lodge were brilliant and nothing was too much trouble. We were greeted with a wonderful Welcome Pack – which was much appreciated at 8pm on a rainy Sunday night!!
The sun then shone on us and we had a great week in Kilkenny. We also visited Bassetts in Thomastown for dinner (which was recommended) and had a fabulous evening there too!
One tiny bit of feedback re the Lodge – there was no mirror in the bedroom – which would have helped when needing to dry my hair – but honestly it was no trouble doing it in the Living room!!!
We have told our family and friends how wonderful our trip was, and my parents are seriously thinking of booking the same for next year. Thank you so much.
Emma, Jonny & Frankie-Dog, UK, June 2019
Out & About
This region has a rich and ancient heritage of Dukes and Earls, Bishops and brewing. There’s so much to taste and see, we just can’t list them all, so here are a few of our favourites…
Here are some of our favourites…
- Mount Juliet perfect fairways
- Potter around the Nicholas Mosse pottery
- Wander around Kilfane gardens and waterfall
- Climb up Mount Leinster
- Dine a la Campagne
- Take a tour around Smithwicks brewery
- Go down a cave at Dunmore
- Go below on a famine ship
- Trace your Kilkenny roots
- The Centre for Craft and Design
- Remember The Whitehouse architect
- Paddle past Coolmore
- Get your heart galloping at Gowran park
- Pop into the Left Bank for a pint
- Cycle along the Nore
- Go gardening at Woodstock
Festivals
- August – Kilkenny Arts Festival
- April /May – Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival
- October – Savour Kilkenny Festival of Food
- June – Cat Laughs Comedy Festival
- August – Graignamanagh Town of Books Festival
The Locality
The Gate Lodge was original constructed in 1850 and served as a home to the gatekeeper and his wife who was the cook in the main house
Thomastown at 5km upstream is the nearest town to Coolmore. There are two large supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and a selection of craft shops to browse.
Photo Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese
At one stage there were 12 water-powered mills, for grain and cloth, working locally. Several mills can still be seen upstream from the bridge in Thomastown.
Photo Humphrey Bolton
A replica famine ship, the Dunbrody, is now berthed on the quay in New Ross and offers visitors an insight into life as a passenger during the 19th century when emigration to America was at its peek.
Photo Suckindiesel
Dysart Castle, clearly visible around the estate, was the birth place of George Berkeley. George, the eponymous philosopher of Berkeley University California, was active in the first half of the 18th century.
The medieval city of Kilkenny – 25km distant – is often referred to as the Marble City due to its unique black marble mining. It is the smallest city in Ireland.
Photo Sabrina O’Brien
Work on Kilkenny Castle was begun in 1204 and took 9 years to complete. The Castle became the seat to the Butler family, a very powerful dynasty who lived there until 1935.
Lady Margaret Butler who was born there, was the grandmother of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII of England.
The highest air temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3 °C (91.9 °F), at Kilkenny Castle on 26 June 1887.
St Canice’s Cathedral with its Round Tower were founded in the 6th century – Cill Channigh (pr. Kil-kenny) is the Gaelic for the Church of Canice. The Round Tower – one of only two that people can climb in Ireland – is the city’s oldest building, with excellent views for those brave enough to reach the top.
The extensive ruins of Jerpoint Abbey – 6km from the house – is another ecclesiastical site notable for its stone carvings. Built in 1180, it survived till Henry the VIII got hold of it during the period of the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500’s.
It was from a farm here in New Ross that President John F. Kennedy’s great-grandfather emigrated to America in 1848 on just such a ship.
How to get there – Car advised…
By Air: Flights to Dublin or Shannon airports.
Shannon Airport – approx 2 and half hours from house.
Dublin Airport – approx 2 hours from house.
Cork Airport – approx 2 and a half hours from house.
By Sea: Ferry crossings
Rosslare Port is approx 1 hour from house, with ferries to South Wales
Dublin City Port/Holyhead has a fast crossing and is approx 2 hours from house
Map
Gallery
