A new chapter in the centuries-old story of Carton House is set to begin this summer, when the two-year, multimillion-euro refurbishment of the original house, surrounding hotel and grounds will be unveiled.
Situated in County Kildare, Carton House was once the ancestral home of the Earls of Kildare and the Dukes of Leinster. It has also played host to the aristocratic FitzGerald dynasty and is now under the ownership of the Irish-American Mullen family, who have entrusted Fairmont Hotels & Resorts with its operation.
“Carton House is a spectacular estate with a history spanning more than eight centuries and a staggering historic house dating back to 1739,” says Marc Dardenne, Chief Operating Officer, Accor Luxury Europe. “A property steeped in grandeur, Carton House has offered timeless hospitality for over 300 years. It is befitting the grandest of hotel brands and we are proud to open its doors this summer as part of our portfolio.”
At the heart of the estate, 18th century Palladian-style mansion The House has been reimagined yet retains its history through the preservation of several imposing rooms, namely the Gold Salon, the Drawing Room, the Bell Room and the Morrison Room, which has been transformed into a fine dining restaurant and breakfast space. A number of new elements have also been added, including The Whiskey Library with its encyclopaedic selection of uisce beatha (the original Irish name for whiskey, meaning water of life); Kathleen’s Kitchen, a casual dining venue located in the original kitchens of The House; and The Courtyard Bar, serving light bites alongside a wine and cocktail list, and featuring an accompanying outdoor terrace. Elsewhere, Carton House Spa & Wellness offers a new treatment menu and thermal relaxation experience.
The refurbishment has been carried out under the creative guidance of McCauley Daye O’Connell Architects, who have matched the house’s original hand-painted wallpapers and conserved the Stucco plasterwork ceiling in the Gold Salon, which dates back to the late 1700’s and was designed by the Lafranchini brothers.
On the upper floors of The House are 18 guestrooms and suites, while a further 151 rooms are housed in The Garden Wing, which curves around a series of formal gardens enhanced as part of the renovation. The grounds themselves date back to 1176 – the oldest building, Tyrconnell Tower, is 500 years old and has since been joined by a cottage and boat house – and are set within 1,100 acres of private parkland, ancient woodlands, lakes and the meandering River Rye. The walled estate also has Special Area of Conservation status and is home to a herd of red deer, as well as other wildlife and rare species of birds and plants.
Guests can explore the grounds on foot or by bicycle, following the cycle and walking trails, or choose from a range of activities including tennis, fishing, archery and clay pigeon shooting. There’s also two eighteen-hole golf courses designed by Colin Montgomerie and a classic parkland course by Mark O’Meara – Carton House is known for its professional training pitches and facilities, often hosting Ireland’s national rugby team.
Owner John Mullen comments: “This has been a labour of love for myself and my family, and the extended teams of specialists and experts who have worked on every detail of this large and complex project. We could not be more proud and delighted to share the refurbishment of Carton House with our first guests this summer. It has been a challenging time for hospitality businesses everywhere, so we are happy to be able to offer a positive, good news story, writing a new chapter in the story of this splendid and historic estate.”
