The best spas in Ireland for 2023
Taking a holistic approach and reaping the health benefits of Eire’s natural delights – fresh Irish water, hand-harvested seaweed, peat, and so on – spa-goers can choose from a roster of ritualistic traditions (as well as science-backed regimens) at some of the best spas in Ireland. Located anywhere from an imposing castle in the West of Ireland to a forgotten forest in Co. Fermanagh, discover the dreamiest Irish and Northern Irish spas to escape to.
Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
Best for: all-out indulgence
Once home to the Guinness family, Ashford Castle rests on a lush, isolated patch in Cong, Co. Mayo. Warm welcomes are followed by a lap of the castle’s interiors – refurbished in 2013/4, the county colours (red and green) feature across many an imposing room. Arriving here instantly prompts relaxation, but further tranquillity can be found at the spa, which is located in the newest portion of the castle. If you haven’t changed in your spoiling bedroom (the Staterooms, found in the oldest part of the castle, are superlative), you can do so in the compact dressing room. The steam room rests by the reception area, but the neat relaxation pool in a bronze conservatory is where you’ll most want to make a beeline. Pre-book your 45-minute slot and enjoy the heated pool jets and underwater soundscapes. Once propped poolside on marshmallow-soft loungers, spy the trio of seashell chandeliers hanging overhead, and the beautiful Tree of Life mosaic by Jane du Rand running the length of the pool.
Enter one of five treatment rooms by way of a Gothic cream door, complete with botanical metalwork, to experience Ashford Castle’s wellbeing-centric treatments, which meld “ancient wisdom with modern expertise”. Spa brand partners B|Africa, Natura Bisse, Elemis, OPI, and VOYA (an organic beauty range that uses hand-harvested seaweed) are all available. For something with a bit of a kick, try the regenerating Natura Bisse Diamond Life Infusion Facial. This results-driven treatment includes a deep cleanse, magnet therapy, application of a biomarker serum as well as an LED mask, and more. Exhale post-treatment in the treetop adjacent relaxation room, which neighbours the fitness suite, refuelling on a hunk of muesli bar and a scoop of banana sorbet. Extend your wellness journey with a spot of tennis, or take a boat on Lough Corrib. Alternatively, stretch out your time at The Salon, where services include blowouts and up-styling in readiness for dinner at George V.
Address: Ashford Castle, Leaf Island, Cong, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Website: ashfordcastle.com
@IMJASONENNISBrooks and Co Spa, Glasson Lakehouse, Co. Westmeath
Best for: millennial spoils
Brooks and Co Spa, a low-key luxe spa getaway in the Irish countryside, fills a gap in the country’s wellness market. Set within the boundaries of Glasson Lakehouse – an industrial-chic cabin hideaway popular with younger generations seeking a break with friends or significant others – the Brooks and Co Spa has various packages available, ranging from half-day to group bundles. Take the elevator to level two for the spa. Though relatively compact, it feels cocooning – think beamed ceilings, sinkable armchairs, and printed lampshades in the treatment rooms (there are five, all of which are generously sized). The spa doesn’t have to change rooms, so the extra space in the treatment rooms is handy for quick changes; hotel guests are advised to rock up in their snuggly robes. Massages win the popularity contest regarding Brooks and Co Spa treatments. At the same time, their dinky mani/pedi room at the front of the spa space delivers smoothed trotters (the result of a clay mask and sea salt scrub, finished with Morgan Taylor polish) and primped paws. There’s a botanical-themed relaxation room to zen out in, with frozen yoghurt and berries delivered to your velvet chaise. Keep to a healthy detox:retox regimen here by booking a hot tub session overlooking Lough Ree (complete with a glass of prosecco) or head for a dip in the outdoor year-round heated pool (eyeing up the cocktail menu as you pass Bonnie’s).
Address: Lakehouse, Killinure, Glasson, Co. Westmeath, N37 HX45, Ireland
Website: glassonlakehouse.ie
The Spa at Cashel Palace, Co. Tipperary
Best for: luxurious lounging
Regal Cashel Palace opened in 2022, right in Cashel town's bull’s eye centre. Its spa, located in the left wing of the hotel, is a calming, bright space conceived of natural materials in soft shades of taupe, pearl, and mink, with botanical-inspired light features dotted about. Elegant unisex changing rooms (which have individual units) are fitted in dark woods and wicker; once in your togs and towelling swaddle, the indoor/outdoor 17-metre pool awaits. There’s also a jacuzzi to float about in, with views of the gardens and the Rock of Cashel, and a pair of outdoor bathtubs primed for organic rituals (which you’ll need to book for a fee), as well as a thermal suite which plays tropical rain sounds.
Your therapist will collect you from your poolside lounger, taking you to a ground- or first-level treatment room. Bamford, Valmont, and Voya are the spa’s partnered brands, but the 90-minute B Vibrant treatment from Bamford steals the show. The treatment includes a whole body and Indian head massage, beginning with a foot soak and then a short sound therapy session. An invigorating botanic sugar polish scrub precedes the usage of cold stones, which help to boost circulation—the end goal: rebalancing energy channels. The ‘contemporary sanctuary’ also houses a gym, a well-being studio (in the white-book-fronted Bolton library), and a salon (if you need your hair coiffed or nails painted). Various packages, including a half-day pass, are available to book.
Address: Main Street, St. Dominick’s Abbey, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, E25 EF61, Ireland
Website: cashelpalacehotel.ie
Finn Lough, Co. Fermanagh
Best for: forest bathing
Finn Lough in Co. Fermanagh offers a non-traditional spa experience in Northern Ireland. The self-guided spa journey embarked upon in reusable aqua shoes and hooded towelling robes, spans a U-shaped private trail. Visitors are instructed to venture through the forest, stopping at a series of architecturally pleasing cabins along The Elements Spa Trail. Designed to create a sense of quiet calm, get lost (hopefully only metaphorically) in your silent surroundings over a two-hour session. A rustic, no-frills experience, visitors can choose between Day Spa escapism or making a night of it by opting for a Spa & Stay package, checking into a Bubble Dome or Lakeside Villa. Trail-goers are asked to leave their belongings in the changing room lockers before heading, twigs and stones underfoot, to the Float Room, your first stop. Located in a small, putty-walled room, float about in shallow water, realised by the power of Epsom salts. Next, feel the heat at the lakeside Finish Sauna, then take the plunge and swim in Lough Finn, surrounded by tall rushes. Alternatively, you can cool off under an outdoor copper shower. Inhale the scents of the forest at the Aromatherapy Sauna, a sensory experience utilising citrus fruits and herbs found locally. A hot(ish) tub helps relax muscles, after which comes the relaxation room, with views of the forestscape and plenty of reading materials. Building on this holistic experience, a comprehensive indoor spa will open at Finn Lough in 2023, housed in a large, centrally positioned geodome.
Address: 37 Letter Road, Aghnablaney, Enniskillen BT93 2BB
Website: finnlough.com
SÁMAS Spa, The Park Kenmare, Co. Kerry
Best for: haute-holistic hangs
Sandwiched between the Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara peninsulas, The Park Kenmare rests amidst unspoilt, verdant scenes. London-based BOS Studio (whose founder is Ireland-born Bryan O’Sullivan) has redesigned the ground level of the hotel, namely The Dining Room and Drawing Room, in a medley of woods punctuated with delicate glasswork and finished in a pleasing palette of mint green and rose to create a near ethereal space. At the far end of the hotel, the nurturing SÁMAS Spa presents another aesthetic entirely. The pared-back space places nature and connection at the centre of the spa-going experience, and unlike at other spas, guests are not required to reserve their specific treatment until arrival. Choose from eight Essence of SÁMAS body treatments, enriched by Bamford’s body and face offering, based on how you feel on the day. The SÁMAS Experience extends over three hours and includes the use of the thermal areas, complete with an aroma steam room, ice fountain, tropical shower, and outdoor infinity pool which overlooks the woods and Kenmare Bay. The Relaxation Room is primed for vegetating, aided by handcrafted, ash day beds, while the nearby stainless steel 25-metre swimming pool provides a leisure element for those needing an energy shift. A slew of complimentary activities – from yoga and hiking to breathing techniques – are also available.
Address: Kenmare, Co. Kerry, V93 X3XY, Ireland
Website: parkkenmare.com
Barry Murphy PhotographyThe Spa, Salon, and Health Club at The Shelbourne, Co. Dublin
Best for: city slickers
Right in the centre of town, The Spa, Salon, and Health Club at The Shelbourne is a sanctuary for urbanites. With a separate street entrance to The Shelbourne Hotel, on the ground level you’ll clock the all-white Salon (the slickest portion of the space), which specialises in hair and nail services. An 18-metre swimming pool, thermal facilities, and gym (functional, if a little dated) are located on the same level as changing facilities downstairs. Upstairs, the decadent, high-ceilinged relaxation room faces out onto leafy St. Stephen’s Green. Follow through to one of seven smart treatment rooms, where alternative and specialised treatments are administered using ELEMIS and Irish-owned Ground Wellbeing. Spanning “facials to purifying body wraps, intense body scrubs, and intricate hand and foot care”, the spa menu is well-rounded. The 60- or 90-minute holistic treatment, The Shelbourne Ground Sleep Ritual, is the ultimate stress reliever. Exclusive to The Spa, it uses 100% natural aromatherapy oils and balms (in “potent aromas of organic geranium and jasmine”) to guide the mind and body into a deep, restful state and features some gentle breathwork – ask for Sade.
Address: 27 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, D02 K224, Ireland
Website: theshelbourne.com
PAUL LEHANEThe Spa at Adare Manor, Co. Limerick
Best for: decadent decompression
Stately Adare Manor, surrounded by 840 acres of parkland – including the Tom Fazio-designed golf course – is utterly beguiling. The Neo-Gothic country pile, obtained by JP McManus in 2014, has a lot going for it, including that it is home to Ireland’s first 111 Spa Clinic. The spa, located on the castle’s lower level, is accessible to residents only and has a dedicated pool (flanked by a sauna and showers) with views of the River Maigue for those treating themselves to body, facial, hand, and/or foot treatments. However, the treatments to really get excited about here are from the aforementioned cult clinical skincare brand, 111 Skin. The potent 90-minute Signature Facial Rose Quartz Restorative Facial will leave you lifted, firmed, and impossibly sculpted thanks to a combination of massage types, including the wrinkle-minimising wand massage and rose quartz stone massage, plus 111 Skin’s trademark hydrogel face mask. Post-treatment relaxation is enhanced thanks to soft recliners in a petite curtained room, with a slim wedge of chocolate cake and a cup of tea left resting alongside you for a sugar and hydration hit. Across from the castle, The Padel Club provides a wider wellness offering – you’ll need to change out of your robe before wobbling over to the sizeable leisure space. Consisting of two custom-built indoor padel courts, a gym, a yoga studio, a 17-metre pool, a sauna, and a steam room, you can also work on your golf swing here in the Sports Simulation Room, choosing from 174 courses (including Adare itself, the site of the 2027 Ryder Cup).
Address: Adare, Co. Limerick, V94 W8WR, Ireland
Website: adaremanor.com
AWWW.ASPECTPHOTOGRAPHY.NETWell in the Garden at Cliff at Lyons, Co. Kildare
Best for: natural delights
Squirrelled at the rear of the Cliff at Lyon’s estate, it’s a short walk (past feted Aimsir, the hotel’s two-Michelin starred, all-island restaurant) to Well in the Garden, Cliff at Lyons’s spa. The two-storey Carriage House comprises five treatment rooms, which are cosy and simple, and a manicure/pedicure suite. Results-focused treatments use natural products, muscle power, and expert therapist know-how. Their Peat for the Feet treatment ‘uses organic peat sourced from the ancient bogs of Co. Laois’, while a Swedish massage here (choose from 30 or 50 minutes) can be relaxing or invigorating based on your needs – choose from muscle-warming body oil (a blend of rosemary and arnica) or a comforting body oil of rose and oakmoss. Long, gliding strokes are incorporated into this effective treatment, which ends with a head massage. Post-treatment, unwind in the high-ceiling relaxation room, decorated in the colours of its surrounds – taupe, pistachio, fern – in view of the burning fire.
Outdoors, the Thermal Suite and Garden Room is a secluded area where you can bathe in a natural copper tub stewed with salts and essential oils; the effects of the skin-plumping organic seaweed bath achieve their maximum gloopy benefits when the seaweed is released from its netting. The Village Thermal (available complimentary to hotel guests) offers a selection of heat and bathing options, including barrel saunas and great big hot tubs set within a nicely planted space. The sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves further aid relaxation.
Address: Lyons Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, W23 H3NP, Ireland
Website: cliffatlyons. ie
Ballyfin Demesne, Co. Laois
Best for: blissful beauty
This magnificent country estate, surrounded by 614 acres of parkland, is cloaked in a hushed calm and possesses an almost meditative quality. Natural beauty abounds at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains with grottos, follies, and walled gardens sprinkled about the domain. A nine-year restoration has brought Ballyfin Demesne to its current, gleaming state and guests are invited to take a daily guided house tour at 4pm to learn more about the hotel’s history. With just 20 bedrooms, there is a real sense of intimacy at Ballyfin; the calming, blue-toned junior suite, Lady Caroline Coote, wins hearts with its canopied bed and views of the expansive, hand-dug lake.
Your spa therapist will collect you from your bedroom and take you down to the spa, which is located on the lower level. One-night, full-board relaxation packages are available, and include a one-hour massage or facial. Exclusive to guests, the sizeable spa is flooded with natural light and colourful contemporary art. Ballyfin’s treatment brochure includes bespoke facials and a variety of a massages, from the relaxing to the tension-relieving. Treatments are fuelled by Pevonia and are tailored to the individual. There’s a 14-metre heated indoor pool, dressed with gold mouldings, which overlooks the courtyard garden; herbal teas and juices can be delivered to your preferred perch on request. Additionally, you’ll find a neighbouring sauna and low-lit vitality pool, which is ‘equipped with a mixture of air- and water-based features’, with ‘mounted hydro jets adding vigorous leg and back massage to your experience’. A small, fully equipped gym is just next door, and a personal training service is available on request for a charge. Other estate activities to get hearts racing include clay pigeon shooting, archery, horse riding, and falconry.
Address: Ballyfin, County Laois, R32 PN34 Ireland
Website: ballyfin.com