The Drawing Room HourNotebook No 103April 2026
What you actually want when the rain sets in for the day.
Collected by Deborah. Read her editorial perspective
When a day of Irish weather settles in, your planned adventures shift. We have learned, after many such days, that certain hotels are designed for exactly this experience. We now seek out these establishments with purpose, understanding they offer far more than just shelter.
Adare
Ashford Castle and Ballyfin are prime examples of this kind of accommodation. Dromoland, when it is not a hive of activity, also meets our standard. Our test for such a place is straightforward: can you comfortably occupy a full nine hours within its walls, finding new spaces to enjoy. This includes libraries, grand halls, a glowing fire, the hushed glow of a bar, or a guest room with a deep soaking tub.
These are the hotels that truly embrace the Irish climate.
The Ireland Edit Way
Cut the itinerary in half, then cut it again. The letter we send before every first visit.
Every hotel change costs you half a day. Luxury, in Ireland, is staying put.
Six questions we apply before booking any room in Ireland. The November test, the dinner-twice test, the landscape-over-room test.
To understand Ireland, stop looking at the castles and start looking at the kitchen table.
From the notebook
Collected notes. A few times each season.