Built around a castle in 1630, Carrickmacross is one of the few remaining Irish market towns. Located in County Monaghan, this small town is the birthplace of Carrickmacross lace and just a stone's throw from Inniskeen, the home and burial place of famous Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh. Carrickmacross is an hour from both Dublin and Belfast and offers a selection of accommodations, fishing lakes, shops and golf courses to its out-of-town guests.
Built in the early 1800s, the Shirley Arms Hotel sits on the former Shirley estate in what is now Courthouse Square. This four-star, family-run accommodation offers 25 recently refurbished guest rooms, each of which is complemented by luxury bed linens and soft lightening. The Shirley Arms boasts two on-site restaurants: the upscale White's Bistro and the contemporary Shirley Arms Lounge. Open daily for dinner, White's serves a selection of meat and seafood dishes using local Irish produce, while afternoon tea, á la carte items and a wide selection of cocktails and wines are available at the lounge. The 18-hole course at Nuremore Country Golf Club is a mile and a quarter from the hotel.
Shirley Arms Hotel
Main Street
Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
Ireland
011-353-42-9673100
shirleyarmshotel.ie
This four-star hotel occupies an estate in the Monaghan countryside. Nuremore's rooms and suites are simply furnished, and each booking includes a full Irish breakfast, as well as use of the hotel's fully-equipped fitness center, Jacuzzi, sauna and pool. The on-site Vida Spa provides a variety of treatments including massages, body wraps and facials. As of 2010, Nuremore also is home to a multi-award-winning, three-AA Rosettes restaurant and a championship golf course. Touted by the hotel as "one of the most picturesque parkland golf courses in Ireland," Nuremore's 18-hole, par-71 course is open for play year-round. Both the 14th-century castle of Knockabbey and the Patrick Kavanagh Centre are within 10 minutes of the hotel.
Nuremore Hotel & Country Club
Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
Ireland
011-353-429-661438
nuremore.com
Arradale House Bed and Breakfast is nestled just outside of Carrickmacross and offers scenic views of the Irish countryside. This family-run accommodation offers en suite guest rooms with televisions and tea-making facilities. A family lounge includes a large fireplace and a collection of books and local guides available for guest use. A full Irish breakfast is served daily in the dining room that includes sausage, eggs, homemade breads and jams. Those interested in fishing appreciate the on-site tackle room and bait fridge and numerous area lakes. Arradale is under two and a half miles from the Carrickmacross city center and the Carrickmacross Lace Gallery.
Arradale House Bed and Breakfast
Kingscourt Road
Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
Ireland
011-353-42-9661941
arradale.com
