Mount Juliet Estate

Accommodation
There are three accommodation areas at Mount Juliet: Hunter's Yard (93 rooms), a modern retreat ideal for outdoor types exploring the estate or playing golf; Manor House (32 rooms), a Georgian built mansion with views of the River Nore or the Ballylinch Stud; and two lodges.

Hunter's Yard

Room options
Rooms are fully air-conditioned with king-sized beds, cotton linen sheets, duck feather pillows, pillowtop mattress, duvet, flat-screen cable tv, telephone, high-speed wi-fi, desk, seating area, coffee & tea facilities, mineral water, mini-refrigerator, iron & ironing board, safe (fee), 24-hour room service. An en-suite bathroom with rainforest shower, some with separate bath, Irish toiletries, hairdryer, robe and slippers.

Courtyard or Garden View Rooms (290-376sq ft) with king-size or twin beds; Double Courtyard or Garden View Rooms (344sq ft) with two king-size beds; Executive Courtyard View Rooms (376sq ft) with a king-size bed.

Suite options
Each suite is fully air-conditioned with king-sized beds, cotton linen sheets, duck feather pillows, pillowtop mattress, duvet, flat-screen cable tv, telephone, high-speed wi-fi, desk, seating area, coffee & tea facilities, mineral water, mini-refrigerator, iron & ironing board, safe (fee), 24-hour room service. Suites feature an en-suite bathroom with rainforest shower, some with separate bath, Irish toiletries, hairdryer, robe and slippers.

The Garden View Suite (656sq ft) has a separate living area. Interconnecting rooms, cribs or extra beds available.

Manor House

Room options
Rooms are fully air-conditioned with king-sized beds, cotton linen sheets, duck feather pillows, pillowtop mattress, duvet, flat-screen cable tv, telephone, high-speed wi-fi, desk, seating area, mineral water, iron & ironing board, safe (fee), 24-hour room service - en-suite bathroom with Irish toiletries, hairdryer, robe and slippers.

Garden View (193-236sq ft) with a king-size bed; Premium River View (355-409sq ft) with a king-size bed; Executive Garden View (376-430sq ft) with king-size or twin beds and lounge area; Executive River View (355-409sq ft) with a king-size bed and lounge area.

Suite options
Each suite is fully air-conditioned with king-sized beds, cotton linen sheets, duck feather pillows, pillowtop mattress, duvet, flat-screen cable tv, telephone, high-speed wi-fi, desk, seating area, coffee & tea facilities, mineral water, mini-refrigerator, iron & ironing board, safe (fee), 24-hour room service - en-suite bathroom with rainforest shower, some with separate bath, Irish toiletries, hairdryer, robe and slippers.

The Junior Suites (322-505sq ft) have a king-size bed, lounge area and garden patio.

The Presidential Suite has a large bedroom with a four-poster bed, separate living room, large bathroom with separate bath and shower, balcony and river view.

Self-contained accommodation
Chauffeur's Lodge (1001sq ft) is a detached two-storey house with an entrance hall, living room, fitted kitchen and dining room, utility room, two double en-suite bedrooms and a front garden overlooking the golf course.

Walled Garden Lodge (2981sq ft) includes four en-suite double bedrooms. There is an open-plan kitchen, and separate dining and living areas overlook the courtyard on one side and the golf course on the other - with two large sun balconies.

Restaurants
Mount Juliet cuisine is international with an Irish influence. The chefs use the most local ingredients, as the estate has its kitchen garden, herb garden and farm.

For fine dining, with pastoral views over to the River Nore, the main restaurant is the Michelin-star Lady Helen, named after Lady Helen McCalmont, the previous Mount Juliet owner. Tasting menus and table d'hote (fixed price recommendations) are available. Afternoon tea is served here. The dress code is smart casual. The Hound Restaurant at Hunter's Yard provides more informal dining with a great golf course view.

There are several bars on the estate that also serve food. The Saddle Bar at Hunter's Yard is rich in equestrian décor. Jack's Bar is a clubhouse named after Jack Nicklaus. Here you can enjoy live television sport while tucking into fish & chips or sirloin steak sandwiches. The Majors' Bar at Manor House is named after former custodians of the estate, Major-General Sir Hugh McCalmont and Major Dermot McCalmont. It has an exquisite setting decorated with racing memorabilia. For a cosy end to an evening, gather here with a glass in hand for 'Stories by the Fireside', a session of evocative tales and singsongs from resident raconteurs.

Afternoon tea is also served at The Majors' Bar or in the gardens outside. Bespoke gourmet hampers can also be arranged for private picnic lunches outdoors.

Facilities
The main attraction of the Mount Juliet Estate is the golfing experience. The course was designed in 1991 by one of the greatest golfers of all time, 'The Golden Bear', Jack Nicklaus, while he was still double Seniors Champion.

It rolls across 180 acres of the Irish countryside, encircled by the natural beauty of trees, river, and pastures. The course has staged several top tournaments, including Tiger Woods's 2002 Amex Championship triumph.
Aside from the golf course, there are a further 500 acres to explore with experts on hand to guide you in various outdoor pursuits. Professionals will coach you in the art of nymphing and rod & fly techniques on the River Nore and King's River, home of some of the finest salmon and trout in Ireland. Archery aces will help you practice the ancient art of the bow. And the resident falconer will let you handle birds of prey along a woodland walk examining the species and its habitat.

The equestrian centre has two arenas for horse-lovers, show jumps, trail-riding, a cross-country course, and noble steeds galore. Other activities range from walking, running and biking trails to white water rafting, canoeing, tennis and yoga.

Children of all ages and levels are catered for, with a Kids Club, junior golf, a pony camp with feeding, riding and trekking instruction, an outdoor playground with zip wire, swings and slide, the Fairy Garden, and treasure hunts.

History
Mount Juliet's history stretches back over 270 years. In 1747, the future Earl of Carrick, Somerset Butler and his bride Juliet set up home on the River Nore banks in Kilkenny. They had the original Manor House built as their primary residence, and the estate was named after Somerset's new wife.

In 1902, after the Earl of Carrick lost a fortune in a stock market crash, the 'Big House' was leased by wealthy Dublin merchant and politician Hugh McCalmont. His son Dermot became a racehorse owner whose purchase of Irish thoroughbred The Tetrarch bought colossal success. Known as the 'Spotted Wonder', it won all seven of its races in 1913 before an injury ended its career. It is claimed to be the greatest two-year-old of all time.

Dermot purchased and refurbished the Manor House and acquired the adjacent Ballylinch Farm to put Tetrarch to stud. After siring a super-pedigree line of multiple champions, The Tetrarch died in 1935 and was buried at Mount Juliet. Meanwhile, Dermot's mother, Lady Rose, had established Mount Juliet as the centre of the Irish social scene. His wife, Lady Helen, brought further racing victories with the ownership of Irish Grand National winner Red Park in 1933.

In the 1950s, Mount Juliet continued to inspire equestrian success by fostering the passion of a local young rider called Tommy Brennan. He became an Olympic showjumper winning the World Championship Gold medal in 1966 on his horse Kilkenny.

In the mid-80s, Mount Juliet made a splash in the art world when Sotheby's held an auction of the McCalmont heirlooms there. One particular item was a rare portrait of Captain James Cook, the famous 18th-century explorer who 'discovered' Australia. With an estimate of just £450.00, it sold for £27k and then resold to London's Maritime Museum for £600k. Unaware of its value, Dermot McCalmont Jr reacted admiringly pragmatically: "It was a picture that I had no liking for myself. I'm very disappointed that the money is not in my pocket. But it's no good crying over spilt milk." So how did this completely unknown artwork end up at Mount Juliet? The McCalmonts had purchased a Buckinghamshire estate that previously belonged to one of Capt Cook's navy colleagues who originally owned the painting.

In the late-80s, Mount Juliet and the Ballylinch stud farm sold to Dublin businessman Tim Mahony who created the hotel and golfing resort. In 2014, it was then sold to businessman Emmet O'Neill and Brehon Capital Partners, with the 840-acre Ballylinch Stud purchased by US billionaire John Malone.

Touring Guide 
Kilkenny is only an hour and 30-minute drive from Dublin if you drive direct. Our driver guides will tend to take the scenic route through the Wicklow Mountains and maybe stop at the stunning gardens of Powerscourt.

Cork and Waterford are a leisurely day tour from Mount Juliet, but why not enjoy an afternoon in historic Kilkenny, dominated by Kilkenny Castle. Mount Juliet is an excellent base for touring Ireland's southeast on a Private driver-guided Tour of Ireland.