Hotel review: Is this the perfect base for a trip to Kerry's north and west county?
Our rating: 9/10
Location:
Killarney may be the tourism epicentre of the Kingdom, but venture just 20 minutes further north to Tralee and you'll discover this stellar property for a weekend getaway.
The family-run estate, operated by the McGillicuddy family for three generations, is conveniently tucked between the N21 and N69 and is impressively set across 180 acres of native meadows, wetlands and woodlands with views stretching out to the rather mesmeric Slieve Mish Mountains.
This literal crossroads setting can mean a distant rumble of traffic (when wandering the grounds) however you're only five minutes from the heart of Tralee and ten from Blennerville, the gateway to the Dingle Peninsula — all making the property an ideal base for exploring both North and West Kerry.
8.5/10
Style & Design
Ballygarry impresses from the get-go with a fine main gateway leading to impeccably maintained grounds and car park areas, all lending an elevated country club feel.
Though the hotel has expanded over the years, guests encounter the property's original heart: a characterful facade featuring a traditional glass-panelled porch, embellished by a fine Japanese maple and a fleet of branded Ballygarry bicycles for guest usage.
Inside, the ornate lobby with its imposing staircase and coffered ceiling leads to several relaxation spaces, from cosy drawing room nooks to a light-filled conservatory; prime afternoon tea territory.
There's a warmth, cosiness and heritage to the spaces and even corridors — so often no-man's-lands in hotels — feature an appealing selection of art.
Beyond the hotel, the estate's grounds feature a new wedding ceremony venue The Lodge, which, inspired by New England barn architecture, almost gives an air of Vermont to the summery meadows.
9/10
Service
There is a very welcoming (and smartly uniformed) team here with a mixture of warm, confident seasoned pros and enthusiastic newer staff.
Owner and GM Padraig McGillacuddy is a charismatic presence around the hotel while his nephew Owen Healy, a recently appointed guest relations manager, signals a future for the family's continued involvement in the hotel.
9/10
Guest Rooms
The Superior room at Ballygarry
Ballygarry offers 64 rooms, including classic doubles and newly introduced family rooms, many of which feature bespoke bunk beds fitted with nightlights and charging ports to please Gen Beta kids.
I stayed in a charming signature suite where rustic elegance was brought to life through warm, textured soft furnishings, antiques and local art works and views over the courtyard garden.
An ensuite shower room with twin sinks, botanical wallpaper and wainscoting wall panels bring a harmonious country chic character.
For an off-grid luxury base, Ballygarry has recently added new estate cabins to its offering — luxurious pods embellished with locally inspired interiors nestled within the estate grounds.
9/10
In-room Perks
All room categories receive a turndown service and offer of a daily newspaper, though standard rooms are only kitted with instant coffee versus Nespresso machines in suites.
Bathroom amenities are by Voya.
Cabin guests receive a welcome board and drink which includes O'Donnell's Crisps and Dingle Gin with Poacher's Tonic.
A complimentary copy of Image magazine is in the mix too.
7.5/10
On the Menu
The buzzing Brasserie is Ballygarry's informal yet slick dining space which is also highly popular with locals and day visitors — consider it a very tempting option for any Wild Atlantic Way trip.
I dined at Restaurant 58 (named after the property's original opening date in 1958) which is the hotel's suave fine dining restaurant with a mix of plush booths and scenic gardenside seating.
They offer a four-course table d'hôte menu for a reasonable €55, with dishes like seared striploin with root vegetable purée, braised beef cheek croquette, caramelised banana shallots and tenderstem broccoli, showcasing local produce on a plate.
Breakfast features an inviting buffet and cooked-to-order options including a tasty chickpea hash with guac.
8.5/10
Activities & Amenities
New cabins at Ballygarry
Ballygarry's Nadúr Spa is an impressive wellness sanctuary, offering a full gauntlet of treatments as well as outdoor bathtub experiences in the spa's oasis of a garden.
The Balance Fitness Studio, meanwhile, is an impressive 24-hour gym which trumps most hotel offerings.
Ballygarry's expansive grounds, managed under concerted sustainability efforts are arguably the property's finest asset, however.
Impressive regenerative projects, including rewilding vast tracts of land and creating an integrated wetlands, make this one of the country's greenest properties and a wonderful space to switch-off in this polished yet nature-focused estate.
9/10
Checking in
The bill? B&B for two from €219.
Room to improve? At this price point I'd expect Nespresso machines in all rooms. €75 for a 45min Voya seaweed bath seems pricey.
Accessibility? Two accessible rooms.
Family-Friendly? Yes, ten family rooms and amenities including a fairy trail.
Dog-Friendly? Service dogs only.
EV chargers
Four, Ballygarry was the first hotel in Ireland to install Tesla chargers, in fact!
Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa
Leebrook, Tralee, Co. Kerry
ballygarry.com
The Hotel Examiner was a guest of Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa.
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