Michael Walsh, Seven Oaks Hotel; Ian Farrell, Ballykealey House; Aisling Maher, Woodford Dolmen Hotel; Sheena McCanny, Mount Wolseley
Ballykealey House
Ian Farrell, General Manager of Ballykealey House, says there has been a massive uptick in the need for remote work.
“Ballykealey House is the perfect location for remote working, corporate retreats and events,” says Ian. “Located just outside Carlow town, in Ballon Village just off the M9 motorway, it is very accessible as it’s only an hour from Dublin.”
According to Ian, working from a venue like Ballykealey House provides an escape from the typical office setting. The 19th-century country house is set in a beautiful private parkland setting in Ballon Village, ensuring uninterrupted focus.
“The House offers acres of indoor and outdoor spaces, making it perfect for team building activities. The ballroom can accommodate up to 250 people for conferences, while the Cobden Suite and self-catering lodges provide private spaces for focused work.
“We have AV facilities and can tailor menus to suit the requirements of each conference. Our Executive Head Chef James Murray, and the team, will work with the company to come up with a menu using the best of local and Irish ingredients. As the client has the house privately, they can do whatever they want to do. From a homely feel with open fires to the meeting setting of the Cobden Suite – we work around the client.”
For those wishing to combine work with a holiday, there are plenty of local options not only around the House, but throughout Carlow.
Ian says, “The lodges are available to book on a self-catering basis for those who wish to extend their stay beyond the event date or bring family with them. Around the locality, there are lots of things to do, from hill walking in Mount Leinster to a walk around the beautiful Altamont Gardens. There is plenty for families who want to have the best of both worlds.”
Feedback from guests has been overwhelmingly positive too. They have welcomed many companies for their events from the Local Enterprise Office who hosted their Digital Awards there, as well as national and international corporate clients.
As a previous guest that used the hotel’s facilities to work remotely says, “We could not have picked a better location for our leadership team corporate retreat. The hospitality and organisation of our stay was beyond compare.”
■ Visitballykealeyhouse.com
SandbrookHouse
Sandbrook House is a period Queen Anne-style house set in 25 acres of lush parkland near the village of Ballon. Already an accomplished interior designer, Bella Bielenberg came to Sandbrook House when she married Christopher Bielenberg, who had owned the house for over 20 years. Through her talents, the estate has blossomed with an impressive collection of books, paintings, exquisite art pieces, and stylish rugs.
And since the advent of Covid-19, Sandbrook House has evolved into a remote working hub. It features spaces for B&B accommodation, allowing guests to enjoy exclusive access to the entire property. Sandbrook House offers the option of week-long or weekend rentals, and can comfortably sleep up to 29 guests.
The house boasts six bathrooms, a generously stocked kitchen, and a spacious dining room. Bella says, “For example, this year, we had four generations of a family from the US stay for 10 days. Even in a large group like this, you can easily go into one of the rooms and work there quietly and then join the group for the rest of the day. We have a lot of space here.”
Bella says Sandbrook House has become a favourite destination for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and corporate teams. The estate’s excellent Wi-Fi connectivity ensures uninterrupted work, and the numerous rooms and cosy spaces make work even easier.
Bella says, “Sandbrook House provides a level of intimacy and privacy rarely found in traditional hotels. Guests have the option to book the entire property for total exclusivity. The housekeepers ensure that guests feel at home. And the peaceful surroundings make it the perfect retreat for one person or for groups seeking a break from city life.
“Carlow offers so many attractions, including the Saturday market, beautiful gardens, river walks, and Ballymoney Beach about 45 minutes away. There are gardens
on the estate where people can play football, or erect bouncy castles. Guests can also go fishing, clay pigeon shooting, and archery offered by friends of the House.”
Rather than offering predefined packages, Sandbrook House creates tailor-made experiences for each guest. “We have conversations with potential guests to understand their preferences and needs. This allows visitors to design their stay.”
And Bella and Christopher’s involvement in management and hospitality even extends to their work in Ghana, where they manage a school with over 450 children, adding a deeper dimension to their hospitality. “Some proceeds from Sandbrook House are channelled to support this project, we’re very passionate about this.”
Sandbrook House’s unique destination creates a personalised experience for every guest, whether they are seeking a remote work environment or a tranquil retreat.
■ Visitsandbrook.ie
Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort
Set amidst an 18-hole championship golf course in County Carlow, Mount Wolseley is a beautiful property with a stunning private garden, and a tranquil lake. This magnificent Resort provides a captivating backdrop for business, leisure, and special celebrations. And with an award winning spa, , Mount Wolseley transports guests into a world of relaxation.
Sheena McCanny, Resort Sales, Marketing and Revenue Manager, says, “Mount Wolseley is the ideal location for remote working as it provides for both the corporate and leisure guests. Our spacious bedrooms can accommodate remote working, with highspeed broadband available in all guests’ bedrooms.
“Our guests can avail of all the facilities within the hotel, including bar food in our Aaron Lounge, dinner in Frederick’s Restaurant, or a swim in the hotel pool. Our guests can take a break and go for a stroll on our Woodland Walking Trail.”
Ideally located within an hour from Dublin, Kilkenny, and Waterford, the Resort offers 143 bedrooms including suites, executive rooms, family rooms and interconnecting rooms, as well as 16 elegant four-bedroom self-catering Resort Houses, each of which can accommodate up to seven people. “We also have 15 professionally appointed conference and banqueting suites, with capacities of up to 800 theatre-style and 550 banquet-style. We have a self-contained exhibition area and dedicated conference entrance and registration area, as well as a large outdoor area for training days and corporate team-building events. Frederick’s Garden provides a lovely outdoor space for BBQs too.”
Sheena continues, “Our meeting rooms are used regularly for both team meetings and private Zoom meetings, with The Healy Suites, the Siddeley Suites, and the regal Siddeley Boardroom offering natural lighting, air conditioning, LCD projectors and screens, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi.”
Sheena says the option of combining remote work with a hotel stay can have huge benefits from both a productivity and health-and- wellness point of view. “If you’re a morning person, you can tailor your hours to take advantage of your most productive time of the day, while the kids (if travelling with you) go to the pool in the hotel, or the playground, or Teen Zone.
“Guests that work remotely can develop habits, routines and best practices that optimise their working day and increase their motivation to finish early and spend time with the family. The proximity to the countryside, local attractions and Dublin City makes Carlow an excellent location as a place to avail of a good work-life balance and for remote working.”
■ Visitmountwolseley.ie
WoodfordDolmenHotel
Woodford Dolmen is an 80-bedroom property set in a woodland setting just outside Carlow town, providing all the benefits of the tranquil countryside while still being close to the town centre. Just take it from one of the hotel’s guests.
Sarah Fishwick, from Warrington, England is a Risk Management Consultant and travels to Carlow every few months to visit family.
Sarah says, “I always use the Woodford Dolmen as my base. It has a very central location, great facilities, lovely food and really friendly staff. I usually work in the mornings, then plan family days out in the afternoon.
“The hotel has lots of tables and booths for working. You can always find a peaceful, private spot with a ready supply of refreshments. The Wi-Fi works perfectly and when I need a break from work, they have an expansive garden with a unique 1km walk on their ‘island’ across the bridge that I enjoy.”
As well as quiet zones and workspaces throughout the hotel lobby and corridors, the hotel also has a variety of meeting rooms with different sizes and configurations to accommodate any group size or event type. These rooms are equipped with audio-visual facilities and sound systems.
Aisling Maher, Marketing and Strategy Manager at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, says, “For additional features or equipment, we have a partnership with local providers and businesses. The hotel’s dedicated events team is also on-hand to assist and co-ordinate all aspects.
“We offer our own unique team-building experience with our Corporate Wellness Retreat. This package provides groups with the opportunity to unwind, reconnect with nature and refocus their mental health through a restorative Forest Bathing session on our woodland island, followed by a relaxing team lunch. This retreat package can be booked as a standalone package or can be bundled with meeting room hire or overnight accommodation packages.”
During the work day, guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, evening meals and a selection of snacks at the hotel’s Plum Tree Bistro. “Our corporate bedrooms are also equipped with Nespresso coffee machines and we have a room service menu,” says Aisling.
Aisling says for workers bringing along families or partners, there are plenty of activities for them to pass the time. “They can explore our ‘Draiocht Glen’ Fairy Garden, kids’ garden trail and 1km island walk. Off-site, there are also many family-friendly attractions.
“Carlow is an ideal base for a holiday of day trips. A combination of a range of shared workspace and conference facilities, outdoor activities, historical sites and family-friendly amenities offer a blend of relaxation, education, and adventure for everyone.”
■ Visitwoodforddolmenhotel.ie
Huntington Castle and Gardens
Situated in the picturesque village of Clonegal, Huntington Castle and Gardens is like something from a fairytale. With a fascinating history, the Castle has been in the Durdin Robertson family since 1625.
Its idyllic location, combined with its beautiful gardens and charming interiors, makes the property a peaceful retreat, not just for regular guests but remote workers who wish to feel inspired and re-energised. Particularly those with a creative flair.
Current owner Alex Durdin Robertson says, “Huntington is set in over 160 acres of gardens, woodland and farmland. It’s perfect for people who might feel fed up with looking at an office wall or their home walls and want a change of scenery. Its natural setting is certainly one that can inspire a creative person, such as someone that wants to escape to finish writing a book. Or someone that simply wants to avoid distractions.”
Huntington has a number of historic guest rooms, all with original period features such as four poster beds and oak panelling, as well as a range of self-catering accommodations. The newly renovated Esmonde wing of the castle has an enchanting self-catering apartment that sleeps up to five people, and the Sentry Gate Lodge and Gate Lodge at the entrance avenue both sleep four people.
“Many guests use our three self-catering accommodation options for remote working. They offer private spaces from which to work, with desks and high-quality Wi-Fi, despite being in a rural location. And they also have space for the whole family to stay.”
Alex adds, “Once the work is done, guests can visit Dunne’s pub in the village for a drink or the Michelin-starred Sha-Roe Bistro for a delicious meal. Or take the opportunity to discover our beautiful gardens, French limes and Yew Tree Walk.
“I think what makes Huntington so unique and special is that you can just walk out the door, be surrounded by nature, and away from the very pressurised urban environment. It makes a great hub for people who really want a peaceful escape.”
■ Visithuntingtoncastle.com
Seven Oaks Hotel
Located approximately a three-minute walk from Carlow Town Centre, Seven Oaks Hotel is the ideal base for a remote working holiday.
Michael Walsh, General Manager, says, “We have two bedrooms that can be converted into offices quickly, with a bed fixed into timber panelling which converts into a desk when you push the bed up into the wall. So anyone that wants to stay over can work during the day and sleep at night.
“Then there’s our large lobby area, which has 50 seats and has recently been refurbished. It’s like a big sitting room. It’s great for people who perhaps want to get away from being stuck alone in the room and want to meet others. My wife, who works remotely, actually sometimes works from the hotel as a change of scenery from our home.”
Seven Oaks Hotel also has a fully equipped corporate set-up which is suitable for meetings, conferences, seminars and team- building events. Their spacious facilities cater from two to 500 delegates. “Many local companies around Carlow visit our hotel for team meetings and training,” says Michael.
Guests of the hotel also have access to its leisure club facilities, including a 20-metre swimming pool and Jacuzzi, as well as their T.D. Molloy's Restaurant, which serves modern international and Irish cuisine, using fresh local produce.
Michael, who has an extensive career within the hospitality industry and once worked at Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel in New York and with Jurys Hotel Group in Ireland, decided to settle back in Carlow for good with his wife and newborn child in 2001. He says he has a fond love for Carlow and would recommend the county to anybody that works remotely.
“Not only is Carlow’s location very good, but our hotel rates can be a lot more reasonable than other parts of the country. And then
the county itself is just fabulous in terms of tourism. We have beautiful gardens, historic manor houses, majestic mountains and, of course, the River Barrow, which provides great opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. For remote workers, Carlow offers a great balance between work and relaxation.”
■ Visitsevenoakshotel.com
