Ren Lewis

Sinking into a couch that looks like a prop from the set of The Crown after a 2-hour drive across the Irish countryside, I looked around at my absolutely regal room and let out a sigh of awe.

The tall windows draped with golden curtains, the fireplace, the crispy linens and the old world decor transport instantly you to another era. The Bvlgari bath essentials even make washing your hands feel exquisite.

This is the kind of property where you have your “Yes, I could live here” moment, and every thought and care of your everyday life melts away.

Once a 1740s country estate, later the centerpiece of an expansive farm, and now a 5-star hotel overlooking the waters of Lough Corrib, you can absolutely sense that it’s a place that has warmly welcomed many guests thorugh the centuries.

And the moment you arrive, you feel like it’s finally your turn to enter.

A Suite That Feels Like a Dream You Can Walk Through

The Grand suite in Glenlo Abbey makes “grand” an understatement. This is a room where you neatly tuck your bags away because you don’t want anything to obstruct the feeling that you sense around you. It is pure, magical old-world charm and you’ll quickly reach for your fluffy robe and slippers, and hit the kettle for a tea or pop the champagne (whichever calls you) There’s a room for relaxing and a room for having guests pop in. I sincerely felt like a Queen (or at least like someone who worked for the Queen)

Experiences All Around You

The magic continues outside your door. You don’t have to be a golfer to appreciate waking up with a view of the perfectly trimmed course, stretching like emerald silk. But if golf is your love language, this estate speaks it fluently.

Dinner at the Pullman Restaurant (two restored train carriages from the actual Orient Express) is an experience all its own. It deserves an entire story, and trust me, I’ll be writing one. But here’s the short version: you’ll feel like a time traveller, and it’ll be a night you never forget.

We spent our days exploring Connemara National Park with Luxury Irish Tours (special shoutout to our driver Liam, who made every twist and turn of the narrow Irish roads an adventure). The mountains, the boglands, the wild coastline… it’s Ireland exactly the way you dream it.

And then just 15 minutes away, Galway city pulls you in with its music, energy, and a pub scene you’ll want to bottle up and take home. If you only have time for one pub, make it The Crane. It’s authentically Irish: jam packed, with people stomping to the Irish music, surrounded by pints of Guiness. I was lucky to get a front row seat of the band, and it was in those moments I understood just how beautifully the Irish blend music and story. It’s a moment you’ll never forget.

Glenlo Abbey blends those worlds so effortlessly, peaceful mornings with tea in your suite, and evenings filled with laughter and music back in the city.

A Note for Corporate Leaders & Experience Planners

If you’re a company searching for a way to truly honor your top performers, Glenlo Abbey is the kind of setting that shows a deep level of care to create a truly special experince for the people who add so much value to you.

With:
✓Golf
✓ Michelin-level dining
✓ Exclusive experiences like the Pullman, flaconry
✓ Private meeting spaces
✓ Close access to nature and culture
✓ Private meeting spaces

It strikes the perfect balance of reward and inspiration.

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Final Thought

And if you should find yourself here, at Glenlo Abbey, I hope you enjoy every second to the fullest.
Look up often. Take the long way to breakfast.
Pay attention to the little details, the decor, the lounge rooms, the sound of the piano coming from the bar.

Because this place has a way of making your visit a part of it’s story. One that started in the 1700’s and that is still being written today.

Cheers! (Slainte)