Visiting Killarney's fairs as a youth, Tim Buckley dreamt of owning the Killarney hotel that overlooked the bustling Kerry traders. But it was more than a dream - he set off for America to make the necessary money.
He returned to Kerry in 1926, married Julia, bought the Killarney hotel & renamed it The Arbutus. He then set out to redefine Killarney hospitality. The Buckley family have faithfully maintained the high standards of warmth, friendliness & professionalism that Tim put in train all those years ago. There has been a hotel on the site for over 200 years but the most significant architectural aspects of The Arbutus Hotel in Killarney are the numerous examples of celtic deco furniture & design commissioned by Tim in the 1920s.
The Arbutus Hotel really is one of Killarney's best loved hotels. Not only did Tim Buckley (grandfather of Sean achieve his lifelong goal, he & the hotels presence conrtinuw ro play a very important role in the development of tourism in Killarney.
Each room at The Arbutus Hotel Killarney has its own distinctive décor. Some rooms are finished in the original Celtic Deco style commissioned by Tim Buckley in the 1920s.
Rooms are designed as a haven as well as a place to sleep, somewhere to read, think or chat. While staying at The Arbutus Luxury Hotel in Killarney, Sean & Norrie Buckley want you to make yourself at home - home with a little magic added. In all, the hotel accommodation is the perfect combination of style and comfort.
A Culinary Delight...
Food and dining is an integral part of Arbutus hospitality - whether it's a quick bite or a full dinner.
Buckley's bar menu offers a casual, but wholesome meal. Alternatively, you can experience hospitality Norrie Buckley style. Her homecooking is well known among guests and locals - her rice pudding and her chicken paté being particular favourites. Norrie's cooking blends traditional Irish and International recipes, made with the freshest of local, seasonal produce. If you have any special dietary needs, or indeed any special dishes you would like to try, all you need do is ask!
Buckley's Bar - Killarney Town Centre Pub Tim Buckley, who established The Arbutus Killarney Hotel in 1926, was a great lover of traditional music and was often heard singing in Buckley's Bar. Buckley's is still at the heart of Killarney's traditional music scene. Some of the country's finest musicians will often drop in for an 'unplanned, unprogrammed and unamplified' session - much to the delight of visitors. With or without music, Buckley's is a beautiful place to sit and discuss the world. Its oak paneled walls and turf fire reflect the timelessness of a good Irish pub, combining character, characters and good cráic.
The Drawing Room As its name suggests, The Drawing Room at The Arbutus hotel is much more than a mere 'lounge'. It's a place to relax over good conversation, a discrete business meeting or an indulgent hour spent reading the newspapers with a cuppa. Outside the window, the streets are alive with locals and visitors rushing from place to place, as if to emphasise the peaceful, fireside atmosphere around you.
About Killarney Town
Killarney lies on the edge of the astoundingly beautiful Killarney National Park with its three magnificent lakes and the spectacular MacGillycuddy Reeks mountain range. The park is also home to Muckross House and Gardens. Killarney is a wonderful base for all manner of activities including angling and water sports, golf, riding, orienteering, hiking, cycling, and canoeing. The town itself is quite small but full of charm as you will soon see as you walk down the brick footpaths and pass curious old-style shop fronts. Killarney is well known for its excellent shops, restaurants and cosmopolitan appeal. It is also renowned for its evening entertainment including many singing pubs, cabarets, dancing venues, and banquets. Traditional Irish music can also be heard in many of the local pubs.
The following locations are in close proximity to Killarney Town
The Dingle Peninsula (1 hour)
The residents of Dingle, or An Daingean as it is now officially known, are the envy of everyone in Ireland. They live in what many agree is the most beautiful part in the country, in a strikingly attractive fishing village with fantastic pubs, rousing music, great restaurants and more characters per head of population than anywhere in the world. The key to Dingle is to visit as many pubs as you can while there. Seek out the old pubs frequented by the locals, sit up to the bar, order a drink and prepare to be entertained! The Dingle Peninsula on which the town is located is littered with ancient archeological sites including stone forts and many beehive huts. Scenically, the Peninsula is an absolute delight with every turn of the road revealing more of the achingly beautiful landscape. One highlight is the Slea Head loop drive from Dingle which is easily driven in an hour or cycled in an afternoon. For the energetic, a day spent climbing Mount Brandon, the peninsula's highest, will be richly rewarded. The views from the top on a clear day are absolutely stunning.
Blarney (1.5 hours)
Blarney is a charming village but is most renowned for its castle and stone. The impressive castle, perched on solid limestone, dates from 1446 and is situated on magnificent grounds. To acquire "the gift of gab" one must kiss the Blarney Stone. This involves bending over backwards at quite a height and should not be attempted by the faint-hearted!
Cork City (2 hours)
Cork City has undergone a transformation in recent years with the city centre geting a compete facelift. Always a much prettier and more pleasant city than Dublin, now Cork really sparkles. And so do its residents who claim to be Ireland's friendliest. Whatever the truth of that claim it is certainly true that there is no shortage of characters in "the real capital" as the locals jokingly claim. The city itself dates back to the 7th century and boasts some fine Georgian architecture. There are a number of places worth visiting while in Cork including the imposing St. Finbarr's Cathedral, St Anne's Church, which houses the Shandon Bells and Cork City Gaol.
The Ring of Kerry (all day tour)
The Ring of Kerry, Ireland's best-known touring route is 110 miles (176 km) long and circles the Iveragh Peninsula through mountain passes, forests, bogs, skirting rivers, lakes and beautiful unspoilt beaches. The scenery is truly wonderful and there is much of interest along the route.
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