Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa

My girlfriend booked the cabin at Ballygarry Estate as a surprise for my birthday, and from the moment we arrived, we didn’t want to leave — and didn’t! We stayed for two nights and never left the estate once because it was just that magical. The cabin itself is nestled in a beautiful wooded area — it genuinely felt like something out of Middle-earth. Cosy, quiet, and atmospheric, with a fantastic bed and an incredible shower. We also took advantage of the complimentary bikes and went for a lovely 5km ride through the woods — such a great way to explore the grounds. That evening, we had an outstanding dinner: I had the duck, which was cooked to perfection, and my partner had the chicken roulade — both dishes were superb. The following morning, we visited the spa and enjoyed an outdoor seaweed bath while gazing at the mountains — pure bliss. A special thank you to Thys, the manager, and TJ, the concierge, who were incredibly welcoming and helpful. Every member of staff we encountered was truly five-star — friendly, attentive, and warm. This was a five-star experience from start to finish. Thank you so much for making my birthday so memorable. – Cormac & Niamh

We attended our nephews wedding at Ballygarry. The organisation was spot on. Food at the wedding was very good especially as it was cooked fresh on the evening.out room was also wonderful. Couldn’t fault them. Also used the spa which topped off our 2 night stay

Great hotel on absolutely stunning grounds. The staff is so nice and helpful. We had a gorgeous room with a huge comfortable bed and a beautiful bathroom. The breakfast had a fantastic buffet and everything was delicious. Highly recommend

Service seemed great when we checked in on a Friday afternoon for a 2-night stay. We were greeted by the manager, and the room was lovely (second floor, just up the stairs near the front desk). Things quickly went downhill from there. We were told we needed to schedule an appointment to use the spa which was fine. We called and were informed that since they closed at 7:15pm, we should book something at 6:30pm or earlier. We made our way down to the spa area at our 6:30 appointment time, and no one was there to greet us. We had no idea where to go or what to do. After a lengthy wait, my husband starting wandering down the hall when he bumped into an employee and asked where to find the hot tub. She did lead us to the hot tub but gave no explanation of where to find towels or of what the other sauna/steam rooms were, etc. And only one of two hot tubs was open to use even though there were a number of people trying to use the facilities at that time. The highlight was the excellent food and service at breakfast. When the room was cleaned Saturday, we were not given an additional toilet paper roll. After dinner as we were passing by the front desk, my husband asked if he could grab a couple rolls. We were assured that someone would bring some up. After 2 hours, we called the desk again and were told someone would be up shortly. After another 2 hours (around 10pm), we made our third attempt at getting toilet paper. Once again, someone said they would be up in a "few minutes." Finally, someone brought some up about 15 minutes later. Do not stay at this hotel on the weekends unless you like to have many doors slamming at all hours of the night, all parking spots taken up by wedding guests, and loud music playing until 2am. The bass from the music kept me up until well after 2am on Saturday night (early Sunday morning), although I had no idea if it was from the wedding or the bar. Despite being one of the higher rated hotels for our 10-day stay in Ireland, Ballygarry provided the lowest-rated experience of all of our stays.

I was honestly horrified by my experience at this hotel. Upon arriving, the room looked fine at first glance, but when I pulled back the duvet, I was absolutely shocked — there was dried vomit on the bedsheets, hidden under the duvet cover. Clearly, the bed linen had not been changed. It didn’t stop there. There was vomit splattered behind the toilet and even some on the back of the bathroom door, along with a horrible lingering smell in the room. It was very clear the room had not been cleaned properly, if at all. For a hotel that claims to be of a certain standard, this level of hygiene is completely unacceptable — and frankly, disgusting. On top of that, there was a wedding happening the night we stayed, and the noise was completely out of control. Our room faced the garden, and we could hear people shouting and laughing well into the early hours. My kids couldn’t sleep at all. It made for an extremely stressful and sleepless night. Breakfast the next morning did nothing to redeem the stay. The portion sizes were tiny — my husband ordered two Irish breakfasts just to get close to what you’d expect from a traditional Irish fry-up, and even then, basic ingredients were missing. It felt like cost-cutting at every turn. We had been looking forward to this stay, but left feeling disappointed and frustrated. The hygiene issues alone would be enough reason never to return, but the noise and poor service made it even worse. This hotel seriously needs to re-evaluate its cleaning standards, soundproofing, and kitchen portions. Would definitely not recommend — especially for families or anyone expecting a clean, restful stay.

The Ballygarry never disappoints. It is luxurious, yet warm & welcoming. It is a home away from home. We are international guests from the U.S. who never miss a chance to stay at the Ballygarry. The owner, Padraig McGillicuddy, along with his amazing staff are exceptional. Owen, Oisin, Nuala, Noreen, & Cathal, to name a few, are all excellent in the field of hospitality. The amazing people that work at the Ballygarry are what make it memorable & guarantee a return visit. The food is high quality & delicious, especially the Sea Bass & the Full Irish Breakfast. Exploring the grounds on foot or by bicycle and availing of the gym & spa are all recommended. The Ballygarry is top notch. You won’t find a nicer hotel anywhere in the world!