Wedding Venues
Book a castle or private estate for your wedding in Ireland or Scotland
"Jewels in Our Crown"
Our Driver Guides are world renowned. Many are members of the aristocracy, published authors and specialists in their field
Tee, anyone?
As a golf tour operator A&B can book golf all over Ireland, Scotland, England & Wales
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Adams & Butler
Collection of Royal Castles, Estates & Houses
For private and exclusive use
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| Trending with A&B..... September 2019 |
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Well.... if it's good enough for HRH Prince Charles and Camilla!
This month I had the pleasure of visiting Kilruddery House and spending time with the Earl & Countess of Meath who have often hosted members of the Royal Family over the years, most recently HRH Prince Charles. Although it is a private home they are open to hosting our clients for both Private Visits and stays of a few days. The location is ideal being just 30 minutes south of Dublin City. Having wonderful gardens itself, garden enthusiasts can also enjoy Powerscourt Estate nearby as well as Mount Usher gardens in Ashford Village (not to be confused with the Castle in Mayo). Obviously I have regal taste, as last week I visited Ballyvolane House in Cork where Prince Charles also stayed
with the owners Justin & Jenny Green, during his visit to Ireland accompanied by Camilla.
Highclere is in vogue once again as we wait for the premiere of the new
Downton Abbey Film. Private Visits can still be arranged for clients but it is much more expensive than before.
Still on the Royal and Aristocratic theme, The Royal Britannia Yacht is one of our most sought after iconic Scottish experiences and clients will now be delighted that they can stay on its sister ship Fingal. Read more about it below.
Red Carnation have released details about their new Edinburgh Property which is a wonderful addition to the Historic City, and we will soon hear more about their new hotel in Dublin!
Kilkenny Shops in Ireland have always appreciated our clients' fine taste in shopping so they now offer a complimentary coffee or tea break with a hot buttered Irish scone to all clients visiting their shops.
Our Secret Ireland tours by Yacht are infamous but can be a little over budget for some clients, so we have now designed better value options by road, bicycle and river, whilst still enjoying authentic experiences and genuine moments with real Irish people in the Hidden Heartlands of Ireland.
In our next newsletter we will introduce you to the joys of Irish Gin! We are finding that our Gin based itineraries are more gender and age neutral and loved by all.
See you soon,
Siobhan Byrne Learat
Founder & President
Adams & Butler
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Afternoon with the Earl and Countess of Meath at Kilruddery House
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Kilruddery House |
Killruddery House serves as a true a hidden gem of Ireland and has been home to the Earls of Meath since 1618. Nestled within the rolling green fields of County Wicklow just beyond Dublin's outskirts, the estate boasts gardens of grandeur and beautiful wooden areas for families as well as couples to explore. Adams & Butler can arrange for privately guided tours of the house and gardens that can be coupled with a delicious lunch or snack in the country-style cafe.
For a truly exceptional and memorable noble experience, guests can meet with the Earl and Countess of Meath over a meal or an afternoon tea in this historic Irish estate. The Earl and Countess, along with their son Anthony and his wife Fionnuala Brabazon, Lord and Lady Ardee, recently hosted Prince Charles of Wales at Kilruddery House for a private reception this past May. He and the Countess of Cornwall stayed for a few days. The Prince's visit to the estate captures the significant role of Kilruddery House in Irish history and culture.
Adams & Butler can also arrange for clients to stay in the room that HRH used during their stay.
If the grounds of the house look familiar to you, that is because it has been featured in a plethora of well known movies and TV series, including Far & Away, Angela's Ashes, The Tutors and Camelot.
For more information click
here
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NEW Experiences | Exploring the Hidden Heartlands of Ireland in a Novel Manner
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Rib Boating along the River Shannon |
Adams & Butler proudly announces three new experiences in Ireland that allow for families, groups, and couples alike to enjoy a truly remarkable day in the nation's heartland.
From splashing along the River Shannon in a rib boat to visiting a Famine Quay to crafting your very own chocolate treat, all three experiences fuse together elements of adventure with today's culture and the past's stories and hardships.
Experience: Medieval with a Burst of Adrenalin
Duration:
4 to 5 hrs
Synopsis & Timings:
10.30 Meet your Local Host in Tuamgraney
10.35 Arrive to
The Sky Bike
at private Bootcamp centre
11.35 Depart by open boat via Ireland's Amazon - 15min river cruise
11.50 Arrive to Medieval Ireland - full tour, food & drink tastings akin to 16th century
12.50 Depart
13.10 Disembark
13.15 Lunch at Nuala's Traditional Irish pub/restaurant
14.10 Private behind the scenes tour at The Woollen Mills fusing restored machines from Industrial Revolution with contemporary Irish design
14.35 Depart
14.40 Mini tour and tastings at The Artisan Chocolatier with complimentary gift departing
15.00 Onward by road
Enhance your Experience:
+ All Ireland Champion Harpist at Medieval
+ Classically trained traditional Irish songstress with accordionist
+ Live Sean Nos Irish dance performance
Experience: Georgian with a Cultural Insight
Duration:
3 to 4 hrs
Lunch:
Restaurant lunch included
Synopsis & Timings:
10.00 Meet you Local Host in Birdhill
10.10 Step on to an Irish Bog with a fascinating insight from the formation/past uses/current habitat/to sculpting with
preserved
bog oak
10.35 Onward by road/driver guide
11.10 The Famine Quay with historian Tommy - learn of the harsh reality of living in Ireland in Famine times
11.35 Walk up the drive of Georgian Ireland - house with cheese tasting experience, shebeen with trio of craft Irish gins
12.40 Depart by road
13.00 Lunch is served in Nuala's traditional Irish pub/restaurant
14.00 Onward by road
Enhance your Experience:
+ The Woollen Mills
+ The Chocolatier
+ The Famine Actress
+ Live Sean Nos Irish dance performance
Experience: Modern Ireland with a Cultural Insight
Duration:
2.5hrs
Synopsis & Timings:
11.00 Meet your local host
11.10 Step on to an Irish peat Bog - one of the largest still in use
11.40 Depart
12.00 Arrive to Modern Ireland
- mini art & architecture tour for the adults
- mini GAA Hurling insight with Junior County player Sean for the kids/teens on the lawn
12.30 Lunch & Dessert in a Dining Room with 300 degree lake views
13.30 Depart - onward by road
Enhance your Experience:
+ The Woollen Mills
+ All Ireland Champion Harpist - with contemporary pop music on the Harp
+ Live Sean Nos Irish dance performance or the 4 Cailini
For more information click
here
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Kilkenny Shop| Walking Tours & Meet the Designers
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Nicholas Moose Pottery at Kilkenny Shop |
Kilkenny Shop has been at the forefront of promoting the finest Irish craft and design for over 50 years and is home to Ireland's largest collection of Irish designers.
From fashion, knitwear and accessories, to handmade jewellery, dazzling crystal, art, hand-thrown pottery and a wide range of gifts, visitors can be sure to find some wonderfully designed products at Kilkenny.
Adams & Butler has partnered with Kilkenny to offer new walking tour experiences in Kilkenny where you will visit the shop itself as well as local artisans. An additional perk to this tour is that Kilkenny boasts a delicious cafe where guests can indulge in the perfect scone and coffee , complimentary with Adams & Butler following all of that walking! All Adams & Butler clients also get a free coffee or tea with a delicious scone in the Dublin Shop and Cafe too!!
Launching soon, Adams & Butler and Kilkenny together will bring holiday-goers into the local designers' studios, allowing them to learn about their specialty craft and partake in a truly hands-on experience. An additional exclusive experience that will soon be launched is having a private evening party after hours in Dublin's Kilkenny Shop. During this affair, you can meet with local designers, enjoy a fine dining meal, and shop for truly artisan rafts. Former President Bill Clinton regularly enjoys this experience in the Kilkenny Shop.
For more information click here.
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Fingal | Scotland's First Floating Hotel
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The Dining Room Aboard Fingal |
Adams & Butler arranges for private tours of the underground Edinburgh. Few know the secrets that lay directly beneath them as they stroll through the cobbled streets of Scotland's capital. Fingal opened in January 2019 in the historic Port of Leith as a unique addition to Edinburgh's hotel scene following a £5 million development. This former Northern Lighthouse Board ship, begins an exciting new chapter offering beautiful cabins, dining and entertaining space.
Developed by The Royal Yacht Britannia, Fingal's 23 luxury cabins are each named after Stevenson lighthouses, inspired by her rich maritime heritage. Sleek corridors lined with lighthouse images lead to a choice of cabins, from a luxury cabin with access to the deck, a duplex cabin with comfortable living space or the stunning Skerryvore Suite with extensive outdoor space to relax and entertain.
Carefully considered design offers the highest specifications of craftsmanship and finish, with nautical touches and polished woods. Sumptuous Scottish leathers and the finest linens are in colour palettes inspired by Fingal's journey from land and sea.
The Lighthouse Bar offers a stylish yet relaxed setting for enjoying Fingal's interpretation of a classic afternoon tea or a light supper celebrating the best of Scotland's larder, from coast to port. Raise a glass at the welcoming Moët Hennessy Champagne bar or enjoy a cocktail from the creative menu whilst the sun sets through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Spacious outdoor decks provide a blend of private and public spaces to bask in the quayside setting or sit out under the stars.
Hosting up to 60 guests, Fingal is ideal for exclusive hire, private parties, weddings and corporate events. A spectacular ballroom reached by a sweeping staircase is nestled uniquely in the former hold of the ship and flooded in light by a movable skylight above.
Permanently berthed in Edinburgh's waterfront hotspot of Leith, guests will be ideally situated to access the best the city has to offer. Award-winning restaurants, bars, artisan boutiques and galleries are just a few minutes' walk away. The Royal Yacht Britannia is also nearby.
From the moment of arrival, guests will be attended to with the highest levels of service to feel part of the new history of Fingal.
For more information click
here.
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Red Carnation in Edinburgh
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View of Arthur's Seat |
Adams & Butler is excited to announce the launch of Red Carnation's first Scottish outpost. Nestled within Edinburgh's city centre, Red Carnation is renovating 100 Princes Street and transforming it into a highly exclusive retreat situated on one of Edinburgh's most famous streets.
Not only does the new property boast uninterrupted views of Edinburgh Castle and 100 Princes Street, but also it replicates the boutique atmosphere of Red Carnations Forbes Five Star- rated sister property Hotel 41, which has been voted TripAdvisor's number one hotel in London for over 10 years.
For more information click
here.
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Downtown Abbey Movie Premiere | Highclere Castle
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Highclere Castle |
Adams & Butler celebrates the premiere of Downtown Abbey and encourages all holiday-goers to visit the historic, iconic Highclere Castle. From day experiences to a full itinerary, enquire today to learn how you too can transport yourself to the romantic era that is Downtown Abbey.
Sample Day:
Meet your Driver/Guide at the lobby of your hotel. You will start the day with a visit of Highclere Castle, which is used as the main Downton Abbey set. On arrival at the Castle, you will be welcomed in to the Saloon for tea, coffee and homemade biscuits. The Saloon is the room at the heart of the castle with a 75ft high glazed ceiling, a magnificent open fireplace and a Gothic style minstrel gallery. Your tour guide will welcome you to the castle and provide a very special and exclusive tour of the Main State Rooms and Castle Bedrooms, as featured in Downton Abbey. Afterwards, proceed to Bampton, a picturesque Oxfordshire village. The village has been used extensively in Downton village filming. Bampton Library was the site of the Downton Cottage Hospital and doctors' surgery. St. Mary's Church became Downton Church and Churchgate House was used as the Crawley's family home. Walk along the street that was the scene of shops, the post office, and the Grantham Arms.
For more information click
here.
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Adams & Butler goes GREEN | Refill Ireland
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Refill Ireland |
Here at Adams & Butler, we care about the planet, and we have decided to participate with Refill Ireland. Refill Ireland is a voluntary environmental project which encourages Ireland to be a tap water refilling country. Refill Ireland have now made taps more accessible and in turn has made the nation more environmentally conscious and progressive.
This involvement lowers and avoids the use of unnecessary plastic drinking water bottles, in return saving the environment, your health and your pockets!
Adams & Butler strives to make a difference, as we believe climate change is a huge issue. We believe every action makes a difference and lowering your use of single use plastic water bottles is a great way to start. We encourage you as a business to
provide FREE, no quibble, tap water to people's reusable bottles.
For more information click
here.
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Telephone:
+353 1 288 9355
Toll Free Canada & the US 1-800-894 5712
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Adams & Butler is a member of VIRTUOSO, Ensemble, Travel Leaders, Traveller Made, ITAA, Andrew Harper, ITOA &
Siobhan Byrne Learat is a
Conde Nast Traveler Top Villa Specialist and a Travel + Leisure A-List
er
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