Marlfield House

  • WT Travels
  • europe europe
  • June 2020

At once romantic and stately, this Irish country estate hotel sprawling forty acres embodies history, charm, and hospitality. Nestled between the sea and the mountains, a one hour jaunt south of Dublin and the unassuming gate to this lush, luxuriously quiet manor invites guests into an oasis of grace and pleasure seemingly lost in time.

Built in 1852, this regency style house is the embodiment of refined elegance. From the outside, the manor is large and sturdy and draped in windows which allow light into the smaller, more intimate many rooms of this elegant retreat. Classic Roman and Greek influences may be found inside the house and on the grounds. Marble statues of half naked women, sculpted busts of honorable men, and urns carefully planted with seasonal foliage rise from fountains, hidden paths, and along conservatory walls. In June, the 12 feet tall tennis courts fences are thorny walls of blooming perfumed Keira pink roses. Year round equestrian facilities, fox and rabbit hunting excursions, clay pigeon shooting, croquet, and other civilized that side of the pond activities provide all the trappings for an honest country retreat replete with conversation starters for the all to soon return to the city chaos around the world.

When Erin First Rose

When Erin first rose from the dark swelling flood,
God bless'd the green island and saw it was good;
The em'rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,
In the ring of the world the most precious stone.
In her sun, in her soil, in her station thrice blest,
With her back towards Britain, her face to the West,
Erin stands proudly insular, on her steep shore,
And strikes her high harp 'mid the ocean's deep roar.

William Drennan

The Conservatory Restaurant

A classic French fine dining experience with an all Irish sourced menu in a flower filled glass walled restaurant that overlooks the formal garden. Floor to ceiling frescoes inspired by the 18th century English painter, JMW Turner, are a romantic tribute to light and landscape and the quintessentially vivid greens so familiar in Ireland. Wexford beef,  locally fattened lamb, Irish line caught fish, Irish cheese, and kitchen garden herbs and vegetables are the foundation of beautiful to look at and simply prepared plates.

Afternoon Tea

Reserve a seat in the main house parlor for a relaxed and gracious afternoon tea in front of a warming fire. The perfect place to read a book and enjoy the elegant surroundings.

The Duck Terrace Restaurant

Stoked year round, the fire at this cosy, casual, and comfortable eatery a wee bit more than an hour from Dublin’s bustling streets sets the perfect tone for a relaxed country dinner. The abundance of greens and vegetables, many grown in the estate’s kitchen garden, provide a backdrop for moreish plates such as crispy shredded duck confit served with garden leaves, melon, and cashews, or a warm vegetarian flatbread made with ribbon courgette, asparagus, beetroot, feta, and pesto dressed leaves. During the day, the glass walls provide expansive views of rose gardens and the possibility of glimpsing the estate’s gorgeous peacock, George.

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.

W. B. Yeats

Forty Shades of Green

Johnny Cash coined the phrase in 1959.  While forty is really just an artist’s license to express the glory of a seemingly endless green palette, the song romanticizes the Emerald Isle’s forever green landscape steeped in myth, legend, and fairytale.

The lush verdant grounds at Marlfield House are a result of the area’s more than 180 days of annual rainfall. Wander the pebbled paths, open spaces, and nooks and cranny’s of the manicured gardens, potager, woodland walks, lake and fowl reserve, lawns and herbaceous bordered boundaries of this sanctuary estate. Greet George, the resident peacock, breathe the fresh Irish air, and indulge in the peaceful surroundings.

The Library

The Marlfield House library provides a lovely, in front of the fire, spot to read the Irish Times surrounded by century old landscape oil paintings and the soft sprinkled light of a hand cut crystal chandelier. Order a cocktail, sink into one of the comfortable club chairs, and relish the civilized and elegant surroundings with our without company.

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