Stunning against a backdrop of sloping drumlins and tree-formed ring forts (protection for the faeries of old, of course), the Hillgrove features superb facilities: spa and wellness center, salon, an elegant restaurant ($20 for a 3-course dinner), sports bar ($12 for soup, salad, sandwich, and drink), spacious rooms with work spaces, pillow-soft beds, and marble baths. The elegant lobby, set for business or pleasure, offers wifi connections to guests and visitors. With ample parking, friendly staff, and even an outdoor cafe enclosed in plexiglass for that occasional, unexpected rain, the Hillgrove, built by entrepreneur Sean Quinn, is as its brochures say, "Majestically magical." Prices begin at $60 per person per night, including breakfast and dinner. Special packages include Corporate Rates, The Over 55 set , and Weekend Murder Mystery, all available upon request from the receptionist. T: 00 353 47 81288
Located 1 hour from Dublin, 1 hour from Belfast
Old Armagh Road, Monaghan Town, Co. Monaghan
Written by Joy Davis - Summer of Travel 2007