Ireland may be a republic these days, but there are some places where you can still live like a royal. There might not be any crowns or big ceremonies, but at the Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort in Limerick it is certainly possible to live a life of regal luxury. In addition, it is possible to get out and about into the wide open green spaces and enjoy some great country sports.
As the name suggests, there is plenty of golf to enjoy, with an 18-hole championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr. However, that is just the start of the fun that can be had outdoors. Clay pigeon shooting is a great sport as it can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to experts. Those taking part can enjoy doing so under the expert tutelage of Adare native Eddie Daly, a former British Open champion and top coach. The shooting is one of two off-site activities the hotel offers, along with horse riding. Just 15 minutes away from the hotel, the Clonshire Equestrian Centre offers riding lessons for beginners and cross-country rides to those more familiar with being on horseback. Flat work and jumping at the arena is also available.
For those who fancy an outing a bit further from the hotel, luxury yachting is available on Lough Derg. This is a wonderful outing, which features artisan food and drink tastings and a stop at a private luxury castle on an island – now that really is a chance to live like royalty. Royals have been involved in falconry for centuries and this is available back at the hotel. A big favourite with guests, this involves spending an afternoon with the hotel’s own falconer. It starts with a display of birds of prey like owls and hawks, with the expert providing an insight into their incredible lifestyles.
This will be followed by a hawk walk, with your bird flying to and from your gloved hand as you pass through the woods, or fly a falcon and watch it soar into the sky at over 200 mph. Put together, these activities will make a stay at the Adare Manor something fit for a monarch.
