Ballyfin Demesne

Ballyfin Demesne: Laois

Ballyfin is a 5-Star grand country house hotel in County Laois, the heart of Ireland, just one hour drive from Dublin. This lake Georgian House is majestically set at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, the historic Ballyfin is a place of tranquillity and natural beauty. The house has long been admired as the most lavish Regency mansion in Ireland, and after eight years of painstaking restoration, Ballyfin re-opened in May 2011 as a 5-star country house hotel offering the best of Irish hospitality in beautiful surroundings.

This opulent property houses an outstanding collection of paintings tracing the development of Irish art from the mid-seventeenth century to today, antiques from around the world, fine Irish mahogany, French chandeliers and mirrors by Thomas Chippendale. Guests are free to enjoy urbane leisure and refined relaxation in any of the house six reception rooms including an 80-foot library with roaring log fires and collections of rare books.

Wine and whiskey tastings, music recitals and art and architectural tours of the house are among the activities offered. With only twenty bedrooms for the 614-acre estate, this elegant hotel provides discretion and privacy and the ideal private setting for a very special celebration.

Signature Suites

The Sir Christopher Suite
This sumptuous suite, with its large bowed sitting room over the south portico, was the largest bedroom in the house.

The Wellesley-Pole Suite
This magnificent suite, with its large bedroom and elegantly appointed sitting room, is situated in the centre of the garden front.

The Duke of Wellington Suite
This suite on the western side of the house has superb views to the west and south-west overlooking the lawns, conservatory and cascade while the bedroom with a sumptuous four-poster bed has glimpses through the trees in the pleasure ground to the temple at the top of the cascade.

The Butler Suite
Originally the bedchamber of Lady Caroline Coote’s private suite, this handsome room overlooking the lake, with its dramatic red wallpaper has now been restored to its original proportions.

The Lady Caroline Coote Suite
With its gracefully rococo stucco work ceiling, the Lady Caroline Coote Room (formerly Lady Coote’s boudoir) is among the most pleasingly elegant bedrooms at Ballyfin.

The Little Library Suite
This spacious and comfortable room on the mezzanine is a welcoming bookish retreat. The Little Library enjoys a private balcony overlooking the kitchen court.

The Lady Kildare Suite
Overlooking the lake and lawns to the front of the house Lady Kildare’s room has a wall fabric in a blue and white chinoiserie style.

The Lady Mornington Suite
This south-east facing room with wide views of the lake and the lawns to the east and south-east front of the house is named for the Countess of Mornington Anne Wellesley, of Dangan Castle near Trim, Co. Meath.