Thomond House

Sturdy double doors, classically framed by sidelights and pilasters, contrive a Georgian style Welcome.

Not many homes these days can boast a large central foyer. In Thomond house it is overlooked by a circular doughnut gallery and drop light from the floor above.

Across the parquet flooring, and through more mahogany double doors, the classical drawing room is substantial, with a bay of tall windows energetically dressed in coral jaspé drapes, surveying the formal gardens.

An antique baby grand piano and plethora of guilt framed portraits compete to catch your eye, but the focus is the warmth from an unpretentious marble fireplace.

The adjoining library, slightly more intimate, is home to a prodigious collection of books tightly packed into Augustan shelves that screen every burnt orange wall.

A forest green dining room occupies one corner of the ground floor. It can easily cater for twelve, and is furnished in mahogany with an extravagance of classic dining chairs and another fine fireplace.

For more casual fare, adjacent to the dining room, the kitchen includes a circular table for four, and in a quirky shift in style, a curved breakfast bar attended by six chrome trumpet-based stools.

Ebony granite counters and ivory painted presses, provide the palette for a comprehensive array of premium appliances from Aga to wine cooler.

A broad archway separates the foyer from a dramatic cantilevered stairway that spirals up to the first floor, where sleeping accommodation radiates from the circular gallery.

Here again, each sumptuous bedroom is elegantly unique and enjoys dazzling rural views through the lofty Georgian windows. The ensuite bathrooms are sympathetically styled to match.

The house sits on elevated private grounds at the end of a tree lined driveway, in the heart of the 450 acre Dromoland Estate, and just 440 metres from Dromoland Castle. The castle was rebuilt in high-Gothic style between 1800¬–1836, and opened as a luxury hotel in 1962.

Pathways criss-cross the rolling parkland, meandering through woodlands, around the lake and beyond the fairways of the estate’s 18 hole championship golf course. A walking map of the estate is available at the Castle reception.

Kitchen Appliances
• Aga range
• 5 ring gas hob
• Electric Oven
• 2 Fridges with water dispenser
• 2 Freezers
• 2 Dishwashers
• Wine cooler
• 2 juicers
• Toaster
• Blender
• Coffee machine

Utility / Laundry Appliances
• Washing machine
• Tumble dryer
• Iron

Bedrooms
• Sizes – Four Super King size beds, One double bed, two Zip & Link singles
• 5 Hairdryers

Tech & Entertainment
• Wi-Fi Internet
• 4 Flat-screen TVs
• Sky sports and Netflix
• DVD player

Other
• Good selection of books & DVDs
• Children’s high chair
• Child’s cot
• Baby Grand Piano
• Gas Barbecue

• Dine out in Ennis at Henry’s
• Trek a Pony in Castlefergus
• Stand on the edge of Europe
• Sink a hole in one at Dromoland
• Enjoy a meal to remember at the Castle
• History plus, at The Hunt Museum
• Watch a Dolphin from a boat
• Live music and craic at Brogan’s

• Banquet at Bunratty
• Catch yourself a meal on Dromoland Lake
• Limerick City for Art lovers
• Step back in time at Craggaunowen
• Try your hand at Clay pidgeon shooting
• Play a round at Ennis Golf Club
• Go down a Cave
• Enjoy a trad music Festival in November

Thomond is seat of the O’Briens, Kings of Thomond and direct descendants of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland. Dromoland Castle and estate was bought from the 16th Baron Inchiquin in 1962, and has been converted into a luxury hotel.

The 450 acre estate incorporates a stunning golf course, a lake and much to explore and enjoy as detailed above.
The castle has received many famous guests over the years including two American presidents. George W. Bush spent a night in 2004 whilst attending the EU-US Summit which was hosted here. Thomond House was honoured to host The First Lady, Laura Bush for lunch during their historic visit. Approximately 7,000 police, military and private security forces were assigned to his protection for his 16-hour visit.

In the woodlands to the East of the house is the Mooghaun Hillfort, dating from about 500 BC. Not a lot to look at now, it is believed to be most extensive hill-fort in Ireland.

The largest hoard of Bronze Age gold objects ever found in Western Europe known as the Mooghaun Hoard was randomly discovered near here by a group of rail workers in 1854.

Click here to find out more…

Less than ten minutes away, Newmarket on Fergus is the nearest town with a small supermarket.

Limerick, the nation’s 3rd largest city is just half an hour away at the head of the Shannon estuary. There’s way too much to say about this historic and vibrant city in this short section, so visit here https://www.limerick.ie/ to discover more.

The market town of Ennis which is the county capital of Clare – the Banner County – is about 15km North. It is often regarded as the home of Irish Traditional music:

“As the capital of a renowned music county, Ennis is bursting at the seams with pubs featuring live sessions almost every night of the week. In fact it’s one of the best reasons to stay here”

Lonely Planet (10th Edition 2012)

County Clare was particularly badly affected by emigration during the great potato famine in the mid 19th century. There is a genealogy centre in Corofin which assists with tracing family roots. If your name is O’Brien, this is where you hail from, originally…

About an hour’s drive away, the rugged Cliffs of Moher, confronting the Atlantic’s salty onslaught for aeons, are probably Ireland’s most celebrated natural attraction, and not to be missed. At just over 200 metres high, the views are breath-taking. It is also possible to take a sea cruise below them, weather permitting!