Lucinda O'Sullivan's Ireland

About The Hotel

My favourite place in the whole world is undoubtedly Kinsale. The first time I went away from home with a group of friends on a Bank Holiday skite it was to Kinsale. I spent my honeymoon in Kinsale, my eldest son took his first steps in Kinsale, I will probably end up in Kinsale. The pretty narrow streets are lined with historic old houses, colourful shops and galleries, great bars, and great places to eat. Stroll down Pier Road by the new marina, take a trip out on the water. You just won’t find another Kinsale anywhere else in the world.

During the years I have seen many of the good people who put Kinsale firmly on the world map retire and take life a little more easily. A town to be vibrant and maintain its good reputation has to have fresh blood in its arteries to bring it forward – as far as Kinsale is now concerned – local chap Ciaran Fitzgerald is one such person. A year or so ago Ciaran embraced the beautiful Old Bank House as part of his group, The Blue Haven Collection, which also owns the nearby super Blue Haven Hotel.

The Old Bank House is a magnificent Georgian House right smack in the middle of all the activity in Kinsale. It has been lavishly revamped from top to toe with the most magnificent fabrics, drapes, throws, bedcovers, fine antiques and original paintings. Most of the individually designed bedrooms, and magnificent new signature suite, have views of the harbour and town and they really are superb so if you want lush plush luxury – and who doesn’t – the Old Bank House is for you …and me.

What I like about the Old Bank House too is that after you have meandered around the shops and the bars, you can just stroll back in and crash out, read the paper, have a glass of wine, relax, you are on your holidays. There is a new all-day gourmet café now at Old Bank House and dinner is available just down the street in the Blue Haven. You can also pick up some foodie Blue Haven treats here to bring home as gifts. After a great nights sleep in those big comfortable beds, you will be ready for the beautiful breakfast. There is a lavish buffet selection with probiotic Greek yogurt, a platter of freshly cut seasonal fruit and berries, local cheeses, fruit compotes, traditional oatmeal porridge, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, omelettes…….

The Old Bank House is “doing Kinsale” in style

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