Kinnitty Castle, Kinnity, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly,

LOCATION
County Offaly, with its castles, abbeys, and heritage centres, forests and hidden valleys lies near the centre of Ireland. The picturesque village of Kinnitty nestles at the foot of Knocknamann on the western slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Kinnitty Castle lies approximately one hour 30 minutes from both Dublin and Shannon airports and one hour forty nine minutes to Galway. Kinnitty Castle is situated on the south side of the R421, on the Mountmellick to Birr Road, 18 miles from Clonaslee, between the village of Cademstown and Kinnitty on the western slopes of The Slieve Bloom Mountains, on the borders of Counties Laois and Offaly.



County Offaly is well known for its sporting and country activities. There is a tremendous variety of scenic walks in the area in a lush rural setting where you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes, the Slieve Bloom Mountains with its hundreds of kilometres of accessible forest tracks is a perfect example. The golf enthusiast is well catered for with excellent nearby golf clubs such as Castle Barna Golf Club, Portarlington Golf Club, Tullamore Golf Club and Esker Hills Golf Club. The keen angler can avail of the many rivers in the locality such as the River Shannon, River Brosna, River Delour and Lough Derg. A choice of hunting packs are available to the keen horseman including the Ormonde and the North Tipperarys.




DESCRIPTION
Kinnitty Castle Hotel is a Neo-Gothic castellated mansion nestling on a large estate on the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, overlooking appprox. 61 acres (24.68ha.) of landscaped gardens and front grassland flanked by forestation of pine and deciduous trees. The eastern boundary has a wood ravine with a babbling river, access to which, alongside the Hotel is by way of stone steps to the riverbank below.



Kinnitty Castle is a unique blend of Old World elegance with an excellent standard of luxury and comfort. There are thirty seven individually styled en-suite bedrooms within Kinnitty Castle, each retaining the original dimensions in keeping with the period of the Castle. The castle also contains two restaurants, two bars and a magnificent panelled banqueting hall that provides a magnificent setting for all occasions.  Space and high ceilings throughout the property are matched with rich fabrics and period furniture in keeping with the Castle's heritage. 

History
The original Kinnitty Castle dates back to the early 1200's, destroyed in 1209, the Castle was later rebuilt by the Normans in 1213. In 1630 a new castle was built by the then owner William O'Carroll later to be confiscated by the English during their plantation of Offaly, and granted in 1644 to a Col. Thomas Winter whose descendants sold to the Bernard Family in 1764.



In 1811 Lady Catherine Hutchinson, wife of Thomas Bernard, extended the Castle to what it is today, built in the Neo-Gothic style.



Kinnitty Castle was rebuilt in 1928, by the then occupants the Bernard Family who in 1946 sold to Lord Decies who in turn disposed the property to the State in 1951.
The present owners, the Ryan Family, acquired the Castle and Estate in 1994 and transformed it into what is now, a popular luxury Hotel, renowned for weddings, functions, receptions etc. The Hotel offers a range of leisure activities including horse riding, fishing, tennis, game and clay pigeon shooting as well as a falconry school, and also a popular Spa & Leisure Centre located separately within the grounds.




ACCOMMODATION



GUEST ACCOMMODATION- Main Hotel Building



FIRST FLOOR
Eight stateroom & suite bedrooms, all ensuite.



SECOND FLOOR
Seven ensuite bedrooms.



THIRD FLOOR
Three ensuite bedrooms.



BASEMENT LEVEL
Dungeon Bar:  (separate entrance from side)
Vaulted ceiling, flagstone flooring, dungeon style décor, recessed wine vaults. Part brick finish. Fully fitted and equipped bar, ladies and gentlemen's toilets.



ACCOMMODATION



GROUND FLOOR
Entrance hall, Reception Foyer, Offices off reception, Inner hall, (Staircase to Upper Floor), Drawing room, Round room, Restaurant, passage way to bar, Library Bar.



GROUND FLOOR RETURN
Passage way to restrooms, partitioned office, ladies and gentlemen's washrooms, meeting room, private office, lobby off kitchen, wash-up area, kitchen, lobby (access to back stairs) 2 store roms.

COURTYARD WING



GROUND FLOOR- GUEST ACCOMMODATION



Eight ensuite bedrooms- Abbey Rooms



FIRST FLOOR
Eleven ensuite bedrooms-Abbey Rooms



BASEMENT
Store (with coldroom), store, male staff toilet, female staff toilet, staff hall, chef's office, dry goods store.



GREAT HALL OF O'CARROLLS FUNCTION ROOM
To far extremity of Courtyard- with separate access



This lofted stone built building with vaulted ceiling under slated roof, comprises:
Entrance lobby, toilet suites: ladies toilet, gentlemen's toilet, invalid toilet, main function room, bar area, stairs to upper gallery, office, kitchen, staff toilet.



GATE LODGE SPA- adjacent to main entrance gate

Two storeys consisting of reception and lobby, treatment rooms, conservatory extension, sauna, changing rooms and toilets.

OUTSIDE
There are a range of stores extending to seven, used for bottles, delph, beer, open and general stores. There is also detached lofted stone built former stables now used as a general workshop. A detached building comprising 8 loose boxes. The falconry is a detached concrete block built structure with an industrial style aluminium roof. A walled in enclosure beyond the courtyard is used as a horse jumping/training yard. The castle occupies an idyllic position on c.61acres of land with unspoilt views of the area. The castle is entered along a sweeping driveway bounded by attractive woodland and leads you to an awe inspiring view of the Castle with its landscaped front lawn and front field. The castle is surrounded by extensive gardens, majestic woodlands and paddocks.



Viewings
All viewings are strictly by prior appointment with the agents. 



Directions
Driving from Dublin (M50)
Take the N7/M7 exit (to Cork/Portlaoise).  You will pass the main towns of Naas/Newbridge/Kildare/Monasterevin. Take the R442 exit to Emo/ Mountmellick. Drive through Emo to Mountmellick to Rosenalis to Clonaslee to Cadamstown to Kinnitty Castle.

Driving from Galway
Take N6 through Loughrea. On the road from Loughrea to Ballinasloe take right turn onto N65 to Portumna to Birr to Kinnitty.

REFERENCE - CS0748
Harriet Grant - Knight Frank Ganly Walters
Tel: + 353 1 6623 255
www.knightfrank.ie
harriet.grant@ie.knightfrank.com



Paddy Pritchard-Gordon - Knight Frank London
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7629 8171
paddy.pritchard-gordon@knightfrank.com

* Currency conversion for illustration purposes only. Exchange rate supplied daily by xe.com