This week Go Overnightvisits Castle Durrow in Co Laois
THERE'S A THING that human-resources managers talk about called employees' discretionary input. It refers to staff going beyond what is required of them. In a world of increasingly homogenous product, the theory goes, it is your people who can differentiate you in the marketplace. At Castle Durrow they have it in spades.
It started a week before we were due to overnight there, a group of 14 looking to celebrate a family birthday. The hotel had been going through the bookings and spotted that my husband and I would be bringing our children. Would we like them to organise a babysitter? As it happened, no. But it was sure nice to be asked.
We had chosen Castle Durrow for no other reason than that it looked nice on the internet. But websites can be deceptive, so it was with slight trepidation that we pulled into Durrow.
The hotel entrance gates are in the village. They lead to a sweeping, tree-lined avenue with horses grazing in fields beyond.
Castle is perhaps something of a misnomer (although there is a castellated building on the demesne, so maybe that's where the name came from). It's an 18th-century manor house that, if it only had a turret or two, would make a very nice French chateau.
The wow factor continued indoors. On the reception desk in the elegant entrance hall, in a continuation of the hotel's family-friendly theme, stood a large bowl of chocolate bars that became the focus of the children's evening.
And how long is it since you walked into a hotel bedroom and were surprised, in a good way?
We booked a family room only to find a suite comprising an entrance hall, a main bedroom with a huge sleigh bed and a nursery bedroom with two bunks and an equally oversized wooden cot.
It had gorgeous furniture, too, not bland hotel stock, hardwood floors instead of industrial-strength carpet and a blindingly white bathroom we could have put a bed in if the fight over who got the top bunk turned nasty.
Being nosy, we looked at everyone else's rooms, too. The most impressive are the Master Rooms, the house's original family bedrooms, with very high ceilings, white oak floors and dramatic full-length sash windows.
The one we saw had a four-poster with velvet curtains and crushed-velvet bedclothes, plus a bathroom big enough to make an enormous freestanding bath look lost.
The cheapest spots in the house are the Oriental Rooms, old servants' quarters tucked into the roof. These have cream wool carpets and red oriental-patterned wallpaper. Hugely atmospheric, most have sloped ceilings and a fireplace. They are lit by lamps.
Going up the enormous stone staircase to bed is a treat in itself, with a two-storey stained-glass window betraying the building's convent past.
To the left of the reception hall is a small bar, perfect for aperitifs. While we were enjoying some the restaurant manager came through to introduce himself and, spotting a toddler, asked if she would like milk for her bottle. In a country where you often feel the need to get written permission to bring a baby to a smart venue, it was a nice touch.
The restaurant is in an impressive room, with wallpaper just this side of overpowering. The five-course, €55 table d'hote menu changes each week, with daily specials, including locally sourced game, other meat or fish.
Breakfast was all sorts of cereals and fruits, with the option of a cooked affair featuring a tower of black and white puddings the size of saucers. Reason enough to walk the grounds.
These include a river walk, a woodland trail and a beautiful walled garden. The hotel's main function room overlooks this, with double doors opening on to a large veranda. It is hard to imagine a nicer spot, on a sunny summer's day, to celebrate your nuptials.
After that it was time to pay up. Dinner, bed and breakfast for two adults and three children came to €380, which was great value given that we enjoyed every second of it, from the first greeting to the cheery farewells when we left, kids' pockets stuffed with sweets.
"Our night was great value given that we enjoyed every second of it, from the first greeting to the cheery farewells when we left, kids' pockets stuffed with sweets
Durrow, Co Laois, 057-8736555, www.castledurrow.com.
Laid-back luxury, country house party-style.
47, including Oriental, De Luxe, Family and Master bedrooms. There is also accommodation in a converted stable yard.
Best rate One night summer specials of bed, breakfast and dinner, with complimentary facial or back massage, for €125 per person sharing any type of room.
Has a full-service beauty salon, the Powder Box, on site. Horse- riding on site and golf nearby.
Will organise babysitters, has free sweets and offers milk to babies unasked. What more can I say?
Food and drink Hotel restaurant has five-course table d'hote menu for €55.
Has one wheelchair-accessible bedroom.
Parking in front of hotel, with overflow car park beside it.