–4- STAR CAHERNANE HOUSE HOTEL, KILLARNEY, CO. KERRY LAUNCHES ITS HALLOWEEN 2021 PACKAGE-
As part of its residential Halloween package, the historic Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry will host a night of storytelling this Halloween with Eddie Lenihan, one of the few traditional seanchaí’s still working in Ireland. Eddie will tell the residents ancient stories about the myths and legends of Irish folklore as well as some of the Irish fairy stories which he has collected from old people over the years.
Irish fairy stories form a prominent part of his huge repertoire, but there are historical tales too, stories of notable figures such as the banshee, devil stories, accounts of saints, of monsters, ogres, giants and ghosts. Some of the stories are not for the faint hearted and were collected from his years of research and by walking the tracks and trails of forgotten Ireland where solitary hawthorn bushes mark the sacred meeting places of the fairies.
An interesting character, and an enthralling storyteller, Eddie has captured the imagination of audiences from Dublin to Dubai. The story telling evening is for residents only and is part of a two-night Halloween Break which includes other ‘not so scary’ activities for children!
Located just outside the centre of the thriving town of Killarney, the 48-bedroom Cahernane House Hotel is still far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Kerry’s major urban centre to offer a secluded and tranquil getaway. It is located on 6.4 acres of verdant grounds and is adjacent to the Killarney Lakes and Killarney National Park. Cahernane House Hotel was originally built in 1877 as a family residence for Henry Herbert at a cost of £5,992. The original plans were to build a mansion three times the size of what it is presently, but the next generation of the Herbert family fell on hard times and let the property out as a hotel. As a result, the property feels and looks more like a grand, country, private residence rather than a hotel
Reminiscent of times gone by, the house never lost its Victorian charm despite the changeover of owner’s numerous times throughout its history. It too has great history and many people have reported seeing the ghost of Gwendolyn Herbert, the daughter of the original owner of the house as she makes her way eerily up the grand hand carved oak staircase.
The Halloween package at Cahernane is available for any 2 nights from the 23rd – 25th of October and is priced from €349 per adult sharing for bed and breakfast for two nights for two adults and two children. It also includes dinner for the family on one evening, a kid’s movie and popcorn and storytelling with Eddie Lenihan for adults in the Drawing Room. The property is renowned for its food and with chef Eric Kavanagh at the helm in the kitchen, foodies have some real treats in store (The Herbert Restaurant has 2 AA Rosettes and offers the best in season dishes expertly prepared by Eric Kavanagh and his team).
On arrival to Cahernane guests will find treats and sweets in their rooms for the children and that night children can enjoy a family Halloween movie with popcorn. There are great places to explore in the area including Muckross House and Ross Castle on the shore of Lough Leane. The castle was built by O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century and is believed to be one of Ireland’s most haunted castles. It is said that every seven years O’Donoghue himself rises from the lake and circles the shore on a splendid white horse. The legend goes that those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the spectre will have good fortune for the rest of their lives!
To book The Halloween package at Cahernane House Hotel or for more information please see www.cahernane.com or call +353 64 663 1895
About Cahernane House Hotel
The 4-star Cahernane House Hotel was originally built in 1877 as a family residence for Henry Herbert at a cost of £5,992. The original plans were to build a mansion three times the size of what it is presently, but the next generation of the Herbert family fell on hard times and let the property out as a hotel. As a result, the property feels and looks more like a grand, country, private residence rather than a hotel.
Located just outside the centre of the thriving town of Killarney, the 48-bedroom Cahernane House Hotel is still far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Kerry’s major urban centre to offer a secluded and tranquil getaway. It is located on 6.4 acres of verdant grounds and is adjacent to the Killarney Lakes and Killarney National Park.
The house itself is reminiscent of times gone by and the charm in which it was built upon in the 1800s has never been lost despite the changeover of owner’s numerous times throughout its history. There are six main rooms on the ground floor of the property; the Pembroke Suite, the Herbert Restaurant, Drawing Room, Library, Reception and The Conservatory. Each of these rooms contain historical artefacts and original antiques including items such as the Herbert Family Crest which is depicted above the front door of the hotel.
Upon entry visitors will notice a stunning Killarney Davenport desk which was built circa 1880 and carries pictures of nearby Glena Cottage, Muckross Abbey, Ross Castle, the Old Weir Bridge and the Bricin Bridge. A Queen Anne fireplace that was originally part of the Herbert’s Queen Anne style house is located in the reception and was originally built circa 1750, the original fireplace is still in working order and is lit daily. Imposing bronze statues are located within the reception, and these were originally brought to Cahernane House Hotel by Vincent and Min Albericci who bought the house in 1940.
There are 12 rooms located in the original manor house and each are packed with individual charm and character showcasing period features such as sash windows, high ceilings or elegant mouldings. All rooms in the original house are individually named after people and places connected with the house, such as James Fuller, the architect, or Patricia Newling, an owner with an interesting past in the 1950s. The Garden Wing of Cahernane House was constructed in the 1960’s and has since been completely refurbished. It incorporates 28 beautiful rooms, decorated and styled in keeping with country manor traditions. The Herbert Restaurant is the main Dining Rooms in the Cahernane House Hotel and seats up to 80 people. The fine dining cuisine is prepared by the Executive Head Chef Eric Kavanagh using locally sourced produce. Eric brings extensive experience from a career that includes award winning establishments such as Longueville House in Mallow and Sheen Falls in Kenmare. Cahernane House Hotel holds two AA Rosette for excellence in cuisine and has received glowing reviews from internationally renowned food critics.
The house is adjacent to Killarney National Park, Ireland’s largest national park which is surrounded by mountains and lakes and inhabited by natural wildlife. There are also numerous historical buildings in the park such as Muckross Abbey – a 15thcentury monastery – and Muckross House, a building that is intertwined with the history of Cahernane House due to the Herbert family.
Horse riding treks and fishing activities that take place on the grounds of Killarney National Park can be arranged by the hospitality team and there are also a wide range of splendid golf courses in the region which Cahernane House has links to.
Cahernane House Hotel has changed hands on multiple occasions in the last 115 years, beginning with the leasing of the hotel for almost 40 years from 1902. It was sold for the first time in 1940 to Vincent Albericci, and the property passed through the hands of another five owners before it was purchased by international hospitality giant, PREM Group in 2016.
PREM initially spent over €6.5 million on Cahernane House in a bid to return the luxury mansion back to its former glory. The initial renovation programme saw all the bedrooms in the original Manor House being renovated as well as the creation of a stunning dining room which is now home to the 2 AA Rosette, Herbert Restaurant. 28 rooms in the Garden Wing were redesigned and an eclectic bar, The Cellar Bar was added. Next, the former Coach House, an old stone cut building which was once home to the horses and carriages of the Herbert family was totally renovated in order to create 8 new stunning bedrooms. The latest, renovation saw the Library, Drawing Room and Conservatory being completely redecorated in heritage colours, fabrics and stunning, original antiques. Some €7.8 million has now been spent on renovating the property to date with further capital expenditure being planned as PREM continues to realise its ambitions to make Cahernane House Hotel one of the finest country house hotels in Ireland.
For more information on Cahernane House Hotel see www.cahernane.com