Local game includes estate venison.

Dining at Dromoland’s Earl of Thomond Restaurant is an adventure in culinary elegant delights (with harpist setting romantic tone); quality of food and service is impeccable — 5 stars! With all deer running loose in neighborhood, but of course venison is one of my six courses, but I am assured by John Hehir, Sales Manager of castle, that I can not just go out and poach king’s deer, but rather hunt clubs supply game for table. It is noticeable that venison I was fortunate to indulge in was grass fed, and tenderness needed no knave’s knife. The six course dinner winds down after round after round of fine wine (the castle has its own sommelier) from castle’s extensive wine cellar (check out vintage cognacs and ports), and desserts should be considered aperitifs. Then it is off to Cocktail Bar for more lies, libels, and legerdemain (You can not be in Ireland unless you are a ribald raconteur!).

Formerly Castle Library, Cocktail Bar at top of Main Gallery, now provides a cozy setting for pleasures of a less literary nature, unless string of libations loosen up lengua franca, and then of course that Irish poet in you sets tongue loose. The bar is open from 10:30 a.m. and I think they close whenever. A log burns in fireplace; candles are lit in evening. I sip a Jameson Irish whiskey on rocks as a beautiful spun gold Rapunzel-haired Irish balladeer sings and strums a guitar in background as if she were a soundtrack to a Gothic romance novel.

Other dining options at castle include Fig Tree Restaurant (at Golf and Country Club), offering a wonderful variety of dining, from 12 noon to 10 p.m. The menu and presentation have been created for more informal dining, in contrast to award-winning Earl of Thomond Restaurant. For guests preferring privacy and comfort of their room or suite, full complement of restaurant menus is offered. Room service is available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. A reduced night menu is available from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

I don’t have to drop drawbridge to get to my luxury deluxe room overlooking grounds; nearby is 300-year-old stone Walled Garden that is used for special events, such as weddings. The romantic sleeping rooms are designed in three styles: standard, deluxe, and state (suite) rooms, and all are ensuite with TV, direct dial telephones, iron, ironing board, hairdryers, and trouser press. I look for ironing board, and it drops down off side of armoire. Other room amenities include a modem jack, laundry services, room service, turn down service, and safe deposit box. The best amenity is box of Dromoland chocolates on polished hardwood night desk!

The rooms in entire castle complex are spread out over several buildings. The Caste Keep itself incorporates public rooms, game rooms, and Earl of Thomond Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Hotel Reception, and 27 bedrooms (This is where I stayed.). The 19th century Queen Anne Court incorporates 28 bedrooms, and although I didn't get to see them because they were occupied, I hear that they are ultra romantic rooms overlooking an enclosed courtyard. The Moriarty Wing incorporates 24 bedrooms. The Links Rooms have 16 bedrooms. The Orchard Wood development area has 13 private golf course houses.

The 300-year-old Walled Garden was Castle's original entrance.

The Walled Garden is like a Renaissance painting on living display. What could be more romantic than perfume of spring flowers blooming? Imagine, over three centuries of interludes! Everywhere I look, even out my deluxe room window, I see greenery.

Read this entire feature FREE with photos at: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/ireland/dromoland/dromoland.html

By Kriss Hammond, Editor, Jetsetters Magazine – visit Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

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