In the last few years, a number of major investments in Northern Ireland’s hotel stock has added more luxury options for visitors to this small region.
In a story worthy of a Hollywood movie, Mick Boyle, a highly successful Australian businessman, made a family visit to the place of his birth in County Armagh and decided to purchase a derelict ruin, Killeavy Castle. He then transformed it into a 4-star hotel which sits in 365 acres in the stunning Ring of Gullion.
The Slieve Donard in Newcastle, located beside one of the island’s, and indeed the world’s, top golf courses, Royal County Down, recently got a multi-million-pound refurbishment. Now part of the Marine & Lawn Group, its interior has been transformed into opulent elegance that reflects its 125-year history.
New 5-star accommodation is set to open this summer alongside another top golf course, Royal Portrush, on the beautiful Causeway Coast. American investors are developing the luxury Dunluce Lodge in advance of The Open which will be played at Royal Portrush in 2025. And just up the road in Portrush, the Adelphi hotel is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment and will re-open later this year and part of the Marine & Lawn portfolio.
Many other international investors are developing properties across Northern Ireland including new builds in Belfast city centre and at its famous Titanic Quarter. Matched by local investment, this is creating much more choice for visitors seeking top-notch accommodation and luxury extras.