Cliff House Hotel

The Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, Waterford – the only five-star seaside hotel in Ireland – has been in existence since the thirties. It was designed to service a tourist trade that showed its first glimmerings in Ardmore in the early 20th century among Ireland’s ‘big house’ families.

The hotel was originally called Kelly’s Hotel, named after the owner, a Mr Kelly from Connemara. Before rural electrification, Mr. Kelly relied on a wind generator. The grounds were terraced with gardens and lawns. A natural swimming pool with a diving board was carved out in the rocks below – and reinstated by the current owners. Mrs. Kelly’s nephew Frank Nugent came to Ardmore in 1936 and took over the hotel from his aunt, renaming it The Cliff House Hotel.

Many famous people stayed at The Cliff House Hotel throughout the century, from American first families to the author and playwright Hugh Leonard. Other famous visitors to Ardmore have included poet laureate Seamus Heaney.

After Mr. Nugent’s death in 1983, his son took over the business and continued until 1992. The hotel later fell into disrepair. The O’Callaghan family from Mitchelstown – who have been coming on Ardmore holidays for two generations – purchased the hotel in 2005.

Between 2005 and 2008, The O’Callaghans made an extraordinary capital investment. For three years they gutted the building to reopen it in June 2008 as one of the most successful small hotels in Ireland.

Owner Gerri O’Callaghan oversaw the transformation and directed the design with Garry Cohn while General Manager Adriaan Bartels established the hotel’s reputation for precision, old-world service delivered with characterful Irish warmth.

Good to know • Dog-friendly room available • Dogs allowed in bedroom • Dogs can dine with you in the outdoor terrace area or in your room • The Cliff House Hotel also sell a range of pet accessories