Dromoland Castle Hotel & Country Estate
Julie Register visited the Health Clinic at the Dromoland Golf & Country Club in Newmarket-on-Fergus in Co. Clare Ireland in October 2003

We arrived at Dromoland Castle in the afternoon and were to spend just one night there before heading to the airport for the flight home. We dispursed - some to play golf, others to explore the castle. I deposited my things in my room and decided to see if there was an opening for a massage at the spa.

I took an indirect route and discoved a lovely walled garden with a lilly pond dating from 1812, stone arches, formal rose garden and other beautiful flowers. The gardens were based on the designs of Andre Le Notre who also planned the gardens at Versailles. I meandered through the garden then remembered my original task. It turns out that the relaxation lounge in the clubhouse at Dromoland opens onto a deck overlooking this fabulous garden. I went around to the front of the building and entered the Health Clinic. With fingers crossed, I stopped at the reception desk and asked proprieter, Mary Rowe, if there was any chance I could get a massage that afternoon. She managed to find time for me to have a back, neck and shoulder massage in about 30 minutes. Perfect! It gave me time to tour and enjoy the rest of the leisure center.

Currently, there are only two treatment rooms and a salon in the Health Clinic and two rooms that are used for treatments in the castle, but a total of 10 treatment rooms are planned for a $5-6 million 2004-2005 renovation of the clubhouse that houses the Health Clinic, leisure center, golf clubhouse, bar and restaurant. There are currently separate men's and women's locker rooms, a fitness center with cardio and weight equipment, sauna, steam room, a 17-m swimming pool, and the relaxation lounge overlooking the "secret" garden.

It was time for my massage, so I headed back to the Health Clinic to wait in the hallway. Before long, Irene came to escort me to the treatment room. Irene gave me a very nice massage - just what I needed before the flight home! I was sorry I didn't have time to try other treatments at the spa, but it gives me a reason to return as does the upcoming renovation.

Treatments offered at Dromoland Golf & Country Club Health Clinic

• Facial Treatments (02 Marine, Gelatine, Cold Marine)
• Massage (Hot Stone, Swedish, Aromatherapy)
• Hand and Feet Treatments (Paraffin Wax Manicure, Nailtiques Manicure, French Manicure, Paraffin Wax French Manicure, Paraffin Wax French Pedicure, Paraffin Wax Pedicure, Nailtiques Pedicure)
• Tinting
• Waxing
• Hair Salon Services
• Makeup

I walked back to the castle and decided to stroll the grounds before it got too dark. The River Rine meanders through the estate and the castle overlooks Dromoland Lough making for a very picturesque walk.

Dromoland is set on 375 acres. The castle itself dates from the 16th century and was the ancestral home of the O'Brien clan, the Barons of Inchiquin. It remained in the family until 1962 when it was converted into a hotel. Today it houses 87 guest rooms and 13 deluxe suites, recently redecorated with damask wall coverings, antique furnishings and custom carpets and draperies. The public rooms feature wood and stone carvings, hand-carved paneling, original oil paintings, oriental carpets, damask Window draperies and Irish heirloom antique furnishings.

The estate features a private, championship, 18-hole, par-72, golf course which was redesigned in 2003. Other activities on the estate are archery, boating, fishing, shooting, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, walking paths and mountain biking. Nearby activities are horseback riding and deep-sea fishing.

"When my feet first trod Irish soil, I felt that I had come to a magic country and now, as I said goodbye, I knew it truly as an enchanted island." H.V. Morton, 1931