Adare Manor review: We found the most luxurious mother-to-be treat in Ireland

“Are the lights low enough? Is the music at the right volume for you?” says Yvonne, my pregnancy massage therapist (and octopus armed magician), as she unknots 18 months worth of pandemic/toddler/sick parent/pregnancy etc stress. “Everything is perfect” I whisper, cuddled into a downy pregnancy pillow. And I really do mean it.

There isn’t a human being who hasn’t needed a treat after the last year and a half. My pandemic experience was that of a mother of a toddler, and I am currently 35 weeks pregnant. A night at Adare Manor, for my also pregnant best friend and myself, is above and beyond what the doctor ordered. From mother-to-be massages, to dips in the pool, trays of colourful macaroons and magnificent mocktails; to the softest, most beautiful bed sheets in which I have ever slept – the hotel offers the ultimate, luxury treat for any mother-to-be. And let’s be honest, mothers-to-be deserve it.

Most Irish people will be aware of Adare Manor. The 2018 renovation and expansion went down in history as the most expensive in Ireland. But they didn’t stop there. The addition of the Padel Club includes a magnificent 17-metre pool, the infinity edge of which looks out onto serene forest views. (Previously, the hotel only had a small plunge pool available in the spa.)

Elsewhere in the Padle Club you will find a sauna, a steam room, rain showers and as the name might suggest – two custom-built indoor padel courts. A sport which I am informed, is one of the fastest growing in the world.

On arrival at Adare Manor – a comfortable 2 hour 15 minute drive from Dublin – we are met by charming staff who already know our names. While filling us in on the local traffic problem (Adare has one of the worst bottlenecks in the country, an issue we happily avoided on our drive) we are led to our room.

True luxury occurs when a hotel such as Adare manages to tread that line between home comfort and manor opulence. In our spacious state room, two queen beds sit side-by-side, overlooking the river and the golf course. The beds, and the sheets, are truly the softest and most perfect on which I have ever slept. So much so, that before I check out, I enquire as to the brand so that I can purchase (or dream of purchasing) my very own. I am reliably informed that the beds are Sealy Beds with siberian goose down firm pillows and bed toppers from Exclusive Linens; and sheets, pillow covers and duvet covers from Garnier Thiebaut.

In the room we squeal when we find the pristine white robes hanging in the wardrobe. The marble bathroom has a large inviting bath and seperate shower with Acqua Di Parma cosmetics laid out across the twin sinks. We play with the tablet device which opens and closes the curtains and changes the lighting in the room. As we perch on the beds, we are princesses.

We spend the afternoon in The Drawing Room, a comfortable space overlooking the formal gardens. While sipping mocktails and nibbling from the extensive cake selection we watch the automated lawn mowers move slowly over the grass – like strange, obedient robot dogs from the future.

Before dinner, we venture to the enchanted forest. The short walk is punctuated with art installations, poetry and of course, lots of fairies. My two-year-old would love it nearly as much as I do. The enchanted forest sits right beside The Carriage House where we have dinner. They are both a five minute walk from the manor through the immaculately manicured grounds, a wander I can thoroughly recommend for strolling off the excesses of your meal.

The Carriage House is the more relaxed restaurant on the grounds. It is beautiful and spacious too, with high ceilings and impressive black steel framed windows. The menu features artisan ingredients sourced from across Ireland – with fresh seafood and Irish dry aged beef taking centre stage. At half the price you might pay for the Michelin starred restaurant in the manor, we happily eat for four.

But of course nothing beats the hotel breakfast, and the following morning is a real treat as we dine in The Gallery. The proportions of this stunning room have to be seen to be believed – the design inspired by the legendary Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. And the food? Well the pancakes were as fluffy as the pillows.

After breakfast we retreat to the spa for a mother-to-be massage, followed by some time in the relaxation room and a dip in the pool. Yvonne, my masseuse, attends to every ache and pain and I’m transported away for 80 mins of bliss by her kind hands. I promise to come back to try a facial with 111SKIN, the cult skincare company beloved by Victoria Beckham, now partnered with Adare. These facials are not for the faint of heart (or bank account) – with gold leaf and ground up rose quartz crystals featuring on the ingredients list.

After a light lunch back in The Drawing Room, we say our goodbyes and head back to Dublin just in time for tea; happy, relaxed and ready for normality. A night in Adare Manor is not cheap, but if you have the money, and are looking for a real treat – I can promise you that this is the place to find it.

The Mother-To-Be Treatment at Adare Manor is €140 for 50 mins and €210 for 80 mins.

A stateroom costs €1,575.00 per night 

Classic rooms start at €725.00, and deluxe rooms are available for €825.00 per night.

Dominique McMullan was a guest of Adare Manor