Dublin and Kerry dominate list of Ireland’s top 25 hotels

Rory Fleming

Half of Ireland’s top 25 rated hotels were found to be in the two counties.

Travel website Tripadvisor has released its rankings of the 25 top-reviewed Irish hotels on the site, in its annual ‘Best of the Best’ list.

Each year, based on consumers reviews left on the site, Tripadvisor reveals the top-rated hotels, restaurants, spas, and more.

The data used to compile this list was collected over a period of 12 months, which saw reviews from real travellers analysed and tabulated.

Coming out top of the pile was luxury hotel Ashford Castle, which is situated in Cong, County Mayo, having received over 3,000 five-star reviews.

Mayo’s Ashford Castle has been described as “a once-in-a-lifetime experience”. (Credit: Getty Images)

In describing a stay at the opulent property, Tripadvisor’s editors wrote “As Ireland’s first and only Forbes Five Star Hotel and the former home of the Guinness family, Ashford Castle is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience”.

Set on a 350-acre estate, the 800 year old castle is one of Ireland’s premier destinations for the rich and famous, with the likes of the former Prince of Wales and once US President Ronald Reagan some of its notable guests in the past.

Dublin’s Merrion Hotel ranked in second place, with the ideally situated city centre hotel boasting over 142 bedrooms and suites in the heart of the Georgian Quarter.

Recognised for its two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, the hotel also offers a luxury spa and health club to its guests.

Rounding off the top three was Kerry’s Killarney Park Hotel. Set in the heart of Killarney, it remains the picturesque town’s only five-star hotel, and now offers guests the experience of dining in its own brand-new Peregrine Restaurant.

You can find the full list of Ireland’s top 25 hotels below: