Restaurant Review - Trump Doonbeg
Wednesday 11 September 2024
I’ve slept in a fair few beds down the years — including one at Cork’s Hayfield Manor that had been occupied the previous night by Pierce Brosnan. But never before did I wonder was I lying in the bed of a president — a former president and now a would-be president — the one and only Donald Trump. I was residing in an Ocean View Suite (from €564 on our visit) in Trump Doonbeg, the massive five-star resort hotel and golf links in Co Clare, purchased by Trump in 2014, and I have to say, whether you love or loathe the man, the team in Doonbeg run a pretty impressive operation.
I’d been there on previous occasions — I tend to measure these things timewise by the chefs who were in situ on my visits, including Wade Murphy a dozen or so years ago, who now has his fab 1826 in Adare, and subsequently Greg Budzyn, who now has Zoe’s Bistro in Kilrush. The present executive chef is Ian Chambers who took up the role having returned to Ireland after 25 years working abroad in five-star hotels, cruise ships and Michelin-star restaurants.
lucindaosullivan.com
First Published In The Sunday Independent