*Dromoland Castle.
FIVE STAR luxury Dromoland Castle Resort has received the green light for an additional 25 guest rooms that will add millions or euro in annual revenues to the resort when operational.
This follows Clare County Council granting planning permission to the second phase of the planned expansion and upgrade of facilities at the Co Clare castle resort set on a 388 acre estate outside the village of Newmarket on Fergus.
The new permission comprises the construction of a part four storey extension to provide 17 guest rooms and the loss of five other guestrooms resulting in a net gain of 12 bedrooms.
The permission also includes a new restaurant and the permission follows the Council granting planning permission to a separate planning application earlier this month for the renovation of stables to provide 13 new guest rooms.
The luxury hotel currently has 96 guest rooms and the planning permission for the new guest rooms represents a 26 percent increase in room capacity.
The two phase planning application also includes a cellar speakeasy bar, lakeside sauna cabins, a new wet spa facility, the creation of a new ‘Palm Court’ to contain an internal guest bar and dining space- and a new roost for the protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat.
The hotel last year reported average nightly room revenues of €650 and the new accommodation has the potential to deliver almost €6m per annum in potential room revenues alone when operational.
The 2027 Ryder Cup is being staged at the Adare Manor and in a planning report lodged with the application states, Tom Phillips + Associates report “the timing of these works is driven by the Ryder Cup’s return to Ireland in 2027, when Adare Manor Golf Course in neighbouring County Limerick will host one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events”.
In the report, Associate Director at Tom Phillips, Lizzie Donnelly says that “Dromoland Castle’s long-standing reputation in golf tourism and its strategic location near Adare position it perfectly to play a leading role in welcoming these visitors and ensuring that County Clare shares in the international spotlight”.
Ms Donnelly states that the proposed improvements and upgrades “will further strengthen the positive economic and social impacts the hotel brings to the county and wider region”.
Ms Donnelly added that the proposed development has been sensitively designed to ensure no unacceptable adverse impacts from a built heritage, environmental or transport perspective.
Resort General Manager, Mark McSorley welcomed the planning permission for the second phase. “This decision represents an important step in ensuring Dromoland Castle continues to uphold its position as one of Ireland’s leading luxury hospitality destinations”.
He added, “As a heritage property of national significance, it is a future we care deeply about. We will now progress the next phase of the project in a strategic manner, and we look forward to delivering a refurbishment that further strengthens Dromoland Castle’s offering to both Irish and International guests”.
