Ireland is one of those places I have wanted to give its proper due on this blog for a long time. The green is almost too green to believe. Ancient stone around every corner. A coastline that earns its reputation.
What finally got me there in April was an invitation from Janine Cifelli Representation to attend their inaugural advisor retreat at Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork. Three nights of education, shared experiences, and relationship building with some of the finest partners in the business, all set against one of Ireland’s most striking properties. The trip was part professional investment, part reminder of why I do this work.
Getting There
Dublin Airport (DUB) is the main entry point, with direct service from most major US cities. Cork Airport (ORK) and Shannon (SNN) are both solid options if you are heading straight to the south. For a combined itinerary, flying into Dublin and out of Cork, or vice versa, is a good way to see both ends of the country without backtracking.
Castlemartyr Resort
Set on 220 acres of beautifully maintained parkland, historic gardens, and peaceful woodland in East Cork, Castlemartyr is a five-star resort built around a 17th-century manor house and the atmospheric ruins of an 800-year-old castle. The resort opened in 2008 following an extensive restoration that preserved the character of the estate while adding 110 rooms and suites and 36 luxury residences, making it an exceptional choice for couples, families, golfers, and wellness travellers alike.
The property performed brilliantly as a retreat venue, handling a full house of travel advisors across three days without a single misstep. That kind of consistency under scrutiny tells you everything about how it runs day to day.
The Right Room Makes the Trip
Castlemartyr has 110 rooms and suites, each one individual in feel and serious in comfort. The Manor State Rooms and Grand Suites look directly onto the castle ruins and formal gardens, with all the character of a classic Irish country house. The modern wing offers something different: large, contemporary rooms with balconies and all of the modern amenities without sacrificing the cozy! Two distinct experiences on the same estate.
Your Own Front Door on a Five-Star Estate
For clients who prefer a touch more privacy, Castlemartyr’s 36 luxury residences are some of the property’s most compelling offerings. Set across three locations on the estate, including the historic walled gardens and the grounds of the 12th-century castle, they come in two and three bedroom configurations and sleep up to six.
Each residence has a fully equipped private kitchen, daily housekeeping, and a welcome hamper of basics on arrival. Breakfast is self-catered, though Canopy Brasserie is a short walk away and serves a full à la carte and buffet breakfast daily for those who prefer to leave the cooking to someone else.
Beyond the front door, everything the resort offers is yours: the spa, the pool, the Ron Kirby golf course, and Terre. Pet-friendly options are available in the Orchard Residences, which sit adjacent to one of Ireland’s oldest trees.
Private, fully serviced, and set within a working five-star estate. It is the best combination.
Three Restaurants, One Pub, No Bad Choices
Terre is the headline act. Two Michelin stars, a tasting menu by Chef Patron Vincent Crepel, and an evening that sets the bar for the rest of the trip.
The Canopy Brasserie handles breakfast and lunch with care, and the Knights Bar is exactly what you want at the end of a full day in the countryside.
One evening, the group walked ten minutes down the road to The Hunted Hog for traditional Irish food and live music that went until midnight. Do not skip it.
Castlemartyr’s Spa: Serious About Rest
The spa is extensive: treatment rooms, a couples suite, vitality lounges, a heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and jet pool. The health club adds a state-of-the-art gym and fitness studio. The wellness offering is broad and the execution matches the ambition.
A Golf Course That Earns the Drive
The resort’s 18-hole championship course was designed by Ron Kirby, whose portfolio includes Old Head, Mount Juliet, and Gleneagles. Set within the estate grounds, it is a course that deserves a full day. For our RTLMers who love their golf, this one belongs on the list.
Beyond the Fairway
The activities list is varied: archery, cycling, croquet, clay pigeon shooting, hurling, walking trails, and tennis. During summer and major holiday periods a kids’ club runs on site, which makes Castlemartyr a strong family recommendation as well.
The Moment Nobody Expected
On our final full day, the group planted trees on the estate grounds. It sounds like a small thing until you are standing in Irish April drizzle doing it, and then it becomes the moment you remember most.
General Manager Brendan Comerford put it well in his note to the group afterwards: “I look forward to watching the trees grow over the coming years and remembering you all fondly.”
Cork: Ireland’s Culinary Capital
County Cork is widely considered the culinary capital of Ireland, and it is not hard to see why. More than 60% of Ireland’s food producers are based here. Cork has been a trading port since the 10th century, and that history shows up on the plate. Atlantic seafood, artisan cheeses, spiced beef, tripe and drisheen: the food here tells the story of the place in a way that few destinations can match. West Cork and the city centre have built their reputations on fresh seafood, artisan producers, and some of the best farmers’ markets in the country. East Cork is the historic heart of the farm-to-table movement that Ireland is now known for, with Ballymaloe House the anchor of that story.
For my fellow foodies, Cork on a Fork Fest is something to put on your radar. The festival runs for five days each August across Cork City, with a full programme of dining events, food trails, producer tours, cooking demos, tastings, and talks. The 2026 edition includes a first-ever dinner inside St Fin Barre’s Cathedral with Michelin-starred chefs.
Ballymaloe House
Twenty minutes from Castlemartyr, Ballymaloe is an institution. Founded by Myrtle Allen in 1964 on a philosophy of farm-to-table cooking that predated the phrase by several decades, the property sits on 300 acres of working farmland, walled gardens, and woodland trails. The 32-room hotel is a family home turned country house hotel: Irish linen, handpainted wallpapers, fireplaces, and a five-course dinner that ends with a legendary dessert trolley wheeled to your table. Our afternoon there was lunch in the gardens followed by a guided tour of the estate.
Ballycotton
A 20-minute drive from Castlemartyr brings you to Ballycotton, a small fishing village perched on a rocky ledge above the bay. Sandy beaches, working boats, an Atlantic horizon. The JCR group had an afternoon there that included a cold plunge in the Atlantic.
Midleton Distillery
For whiskey or for the experience of Irish craft production, Midleton is the one to know. The distillery, home to Jameson among others, runs guided tours through its historic and working production facilities, followed by dinner in the event spaces. Twenty minutes from Castlemartyr. An excellent evening.
Final Thoughts
Cork is not on most people’s radar. It should be. Three days there and I came home with a full page of notes, a new property obsession, and sand from Ballycotton in my boots. The castle, the farm, the distillery, the Atlantic. One corner of Ireland, punching well above its weight. And it gets all of it right.
If Cork has caught your attention, I would love to help you build a journey around it.
Taking It Further: Cork and Dublin
Castlemartyr is a natural starting point for Ireland, but the country has more to give than East Cork alone. Dublin, two and a half hours north by road, makes a compelling second chapter. Four five-star hotels clustered within walking distance of St. Stephen’s Green, two centuries of living history at The Shelbourne, Ireland’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant at The Merrion. The city and the countryside show you two very different sides of Ireland, and they work together well. I wrote about where to stay in Dublin below.
For an expertly guided travel experience, Resort to Laura Madrid offers full-service itinerary planning for a select group of clients. We keep our client list intentionally small to ensure every journey receives the care and attention it deserves. Please click here for more information.
Want to do things your way? Check out PERK by RTLM, our go-to self-booking tool for quick, seamless hotel stays. It’s perfect for those who already know where they want to stay, love to do their own research and travel planning, and just need a fast, VIP-approved reservation.