Geraldine Murtagh, a Dublin resident who
founded Elegant Ireland in 1984 and runs it from there as CEO and
managing director, knows the best places to stay on the Emerald
Isle, as well she should.
After all, her
company represents luxurious castles and manor homes across the
island.
More importantly,
she has vetted every one of them. Murtagh has to like a property
before its included in the collection.
It has to be
worthy of our clients, and the only way to ensure that is to see it
for myself.
Down to earth and
as reel as a pint of Beamish stout, Murtagh is nonetheless an
elitist when it comes to discerning refined and comfortable
properties for her portfolio of country hideaways.
We are not about
having hundreds of places, she said. We are about selecting the
best of every category. In fact, her companys brochure lists fewer
than 100 properties that make the grade.
For the most
part, Elegant Ireland represents properties in their entirety, from
a 13-bedroom mansion an hour outside Dublin to a two-bedroom stone
farmhouse on the outskirts of fishing village Ahakista in County
Cork.
And the rents are
as varied as the properties, Murtagh said. Some go for 800 euros
[about $960] a week, which is Saturday to Saturday. Some go for as
much as 11,000 euros [$13,000] a day. It depends, among other
things, on the number of bedrooms, the degree of luxury, the
location.
Whether classic
or contemporary; Georgian or Victorian; grand or intimate, the
properties have been restored and redecorated to elevate them to
the highest standards of luxury, privacy, security and modern ease
of living.
If these
magnificent residences represent communal living -- perfect for
generational reunions, family vacations and elite business meetings
-- there is nothing commonplace about them.
Three
times the elegance
Murtagh said
Elegant Ireland works with agents more often than operators, but
shes delighted to work with either. Although the firm has partnered
with operators such as Lynott Tours, its properties have not been
featured in their brochures because it cannot always offer
allotments.
Next up for
Elegant Ireland: Booking luxury digs for those planning to attend
the 36th annual Ryder Cup golf tournament, to be held Sept. 22 to
26 at the K Club in County Kildare.
So what awaits
those who book accommodations through Elegant Ireland? A sampling
of three properties follows:
"
Ballinacurra: Rarely does a property boast the
authenticity, history and sophistication of a Ballinacurra, in
County Cork outside Kinsale, Irelands culinary capital.
Ten-foot-high
stone walls encircle this country lodge, 
whose 200-year-plus history
included stints as the Duke of Marlboros estate and, much later, a
convent.
Now a private
residence set on 25 acres of woodlands and rolling turf,
Ballinacurra features 13 bedrooms that accommodate as many as 30
guests on an exclusive basis.
That is, book the
rooms -- or the bulk of them -- and rest assured that the place is
yours, and yours only, for the duration.
Bedrooms, with
en-suite baths and power showers, are themed geographically to
reflect the passions and experience of Ballinacurras owners, Lisa
and Des McGahan.
All bedrooms
boast satellite television, a CD player and wireless Internet.
Other features include a helipad, a boat jetty, horse stables and a
dressage and jumping area.
The minimum
charge for renting Ballinacurra (for up to eight rooms) is $3,130 a
night; nine or more rooms costs $4,950 a night. The rate includes
breakfast.
" St.
Clerans: While many manors in Ireland, too expensive to
maintain or restore, have fallen into ruin, this Georgian property
has survived the vagaries of time and circumstance to re-emerge as
a showplace.
It is owned by
entertainer Merv Griffin, who discovered it while doing a
television segment on film director John Huston.
Huston had
purchased the villa as a retreat in 1953 and eventually came to
live in it for 18 years. When rising costs forced Huston to sell
St. Clerans, it fell into decline, until Griffin bought in 1997,
poured $4 million into its restoration and relaunched it as a
five-star rental property.
Located in
Croughwell, County Galway, St. Clerans has 12 individually
decorated bedrooms, each with period furnishings, en-suite
bathrooms, CD/DVD and VCR players, cable television and high-speed
Internet access. The house also has a library, drawing room,
meeting room and a notable dining room serving Galway
produce.
Other amenities
include a helipad, par-three golf course, horse stables and
gardens.
The approximate
rate for an overnight stay, including full Irish breakfast, is
$5,240.
" The
Green: Although part of the five-star Sheen Falls Lodge in
Kenmare, County Kerry, this handsome, self-catering residence
remains a world apart from its more traditional manor-house
parent.
Located off
premises at the end of a secluded road overlooking Kenmare Bay and
the Kenmare Golf Course, the Green is the perfect place for a small
group to spread out and get away from it all on a golf vacation or
a week of salmon fishing.
Guests enjoy use
of all Sheens Falls Lodge facilities, such as a health spa,
swimming pool, tennis courts and dining room.
The Green
comprises five bedrooms with en-suite baths, two sitting rooms, a
dining room, a fully stocked kitchen and a utility room. The
property rents for about $5,000 a week.
For more
information on Elegant Ireland, call (011) 353-1475-1632 or visit
www.elegant.ie.
To contact
reporter Joe Rosen, send e-mail to [email protected].