The Old Ground Hotel

Photos of The Old Ground Hotel

Rooms at The Old Ground

The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis has recently undergone a significant refurbishment programme.
All bedrooms are stylishly and thoughtfully designed with guest's ultimate comfort in mind. Fresh, white crisp linen and the softest duvets and pillows ensure a great night's sleep.

Superior rooms are beautifully appointed with sitting areas, Power showers and a complimentary range of Aveda toiletries, to allow for a little pampering. Rooms with air-conditioning, sound systems and wireless Internet access can be requested.

The Brendan O'Regan and O'Connell Suites are the latest additions to the Old Ground and are set in the beautifully restored 17th century Manor House area of the hotel. Recently designed in an eclectic style, with some of the suites enjoying views of the winding, colourful main street of Ennis, O'Connell Street, these suites are truly a treat!
All suites are spacious, have separate sitting areas, LCD TVs and DVD players and offer free WI-FI service.

Guest Services Include:

• Residents Library
• Wireless Internet Access
• Private Computer Booth
• Room Service
• Babysitting Serive
• Wake-up Calls
• Complimentary Tea & Coffee in Room
• Laundry Service
• Touring Advice
• Activity Arrangements, including Golfing Tee-times
  

Dining at The Old Ground Hotel

The Old Ground Hotel offers three very different dining options to choose from:

Town Hall Bistro

Located in one of Ennis' most historical buildings, yet enjoying modern, creative cooking, the Town Hall Bistro entrances locals and guests alike.
Excellent coffee and freshly baked scones are enjoyed as a mid-morning break and a tasty, bistro-style lunch menu is served throughout the day. Treat yourself to an afternoon tea with a slice of Winter-berry Crumble or Pear and Chocolate Tart.
However, it is night-time when the Town Hall truly comes into its own. Original art acts as a theatrical backdrop to intimate, candlelit tables, creating a perfect setting for an exquisite dining experience.

O'Brien Room Restaurant

The O'Brien Room at The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis is a traditional, yet elegant space. Reflecting this, the menu offers excellent traditional choices, each with a creative twist. Seasonal, fresh local produce is used to ensure the best of flavours are brought to each dish.
Choose a Warm King Scallops or Grilled Inagh Goats Cheese to start, followed by an Irish Sirloin Steak or Grilled Black Sole fresh from the sea. Indulge in a Bailey's Cheesecake or an Irish Coffee to finish.

The Poet's Corner

The Poet's Corner is noted for its comfortable atmosphere, where locals and visitors can enjoy a tasty, yet informal meal,have a drink, or share a story or two. When the weather turns blustery and cold outside, the warm and intimate alcoves are heaven sent. Enjoy a hot Irish whiskey or a 'Pint of Plain' at the bar.
The Poet's Corner plays host to the finest traditional Irish musicians from Thursday to Sunday nights.

History of the Old Ground Hotel

The Old Ground Hotel was built by Barry Upton & John Dwyer in the early part of the 18th Century as a private dwelling. Upton & Dwyer subsequently leased the building to Charles Mahon for a period of "Three Lives". When Mahon died in 1822 his son Charles Jnr. took over the lease. On the 13th February 1863 Charles handed the property over to his nephew John Mahon, who then resided in London. John left London and traveled to Ireland. Riding on horseback from Limerick to Ennis to take up residence, he arrived at the mansion to be greeted by an old retainer with the words "You are welcome to the Old Ground Sir." The warmth of the greeting and the sincerity behind it immediately influenced the owner to call his mansion "The Old Ground" and this name it has retained to the present day.
It would appear that Mahon actually became owner of the property as on the 10th December 1875 he then sold it to a John Petty. Presumably Petty died sometime between 1875 & 1886, as in 1886 a William Hynes M.D. became a tenant in the house. In 1895 approximately Jane McNamara acquired it and thus turned it into a hotel. The McNamara's sold the premises (exact date unknown) and it has a chequered history thereafter. Eventually the bank acquired it and in 1927 James O Regan bought it from them for approximately £2,000.
In 1946, with the advent of scheduled transatlantic flights into Shannon Airport, an extension was built onto the house. The Lounge beside the old reception area, known as the Blue Lounge was a communal room for T.W.A. The cocktail bar was where Reception is now and was used by Pan Am. Meals were served throughout the night.
Next door to the Old Ground was the town hall, which incorporated a jail. In 1963 the O'Regan family who owned a large residence in Bindon Street, swapped it for the town hall, with the town commissioners. The Town Hall is now the Banquet Suite. In former times there was a bridge leading from an upper window of the town hall across the street to an exercise ground for the prisoners. The jail was used more as a depot where prisoners were kept while awaiting deportation to Australia and Tasmania.
It is not known exactly when the jail ceased being used for this purpose. Later, the Grand Jury, who held the jail on the payment of a shilling, gave it to another government department. It had been intended to open it as a Library, but it was, in fact, acquired by the Grand Jury once more where it was used a court house and later closed to become a library, It was then sold to the Town Commissioners who in turn sold the entire premises to the O'Regans.
Some years ago there were excavations carried out and the dungeons were discovered under the building with chains attached to the walls (the chains are now in Ennis Museum). Underneath the floor of the dungeon a flowing river is tidal as far as Ennis. This branch of the river formed an island, thus giving the town its name, i.e. Inis, meaning Island. The fireplace in the Lemenagh Hall (formerly the jail) was originally in Lemenagh Castle (built by Conor O'Brien in 1553) and was given to the Old Ground by Gerard McDonagh of Dromoland Castle, on the understanding that if Lemenagh Castle is ever restored the fireplace is to be returned.
The new section of bedrooms, which is known as the New Wing, was built in 1966. The O'Regans sold the hotel to Kingster Windsor Hotels in 1967 and Strand Hotels subsequently acquired it in 1970. It again changed ownership in 1977 when it was incorporated into The Forte Group and in 1995 was purchased by Allen Flynn and is now part of the Flynn Hotels Group.

About Ennis Town

Located just 15 miles from Shannon Airport, Ennis is the county town of Clare and is always pleasantly busy. It takes its name from the Irish word “inis” (island) as it is virtually surrounded by the River Fergus on which it sits. Its streets are narrow and attractive, some of them pedestrianised. The Friary at the bottom of Abbey Street, was founded by the O’Briens in the 13th century. Many of its original features survive and it’s well worth visiting. But the main attraction in Ennis is the locals' obvious love of traditional music. Every May the town hosts Fleadh Nua, an international celebration of Irish culture, while in November, the Ennis Trad Festival is held. But trad music of the very highest quality is on display in the pubs of Ennis throughout the year. It often seems that those in the town that can't sing or play an instrument are very much in the minority. The person who recently labeled Ennis the Nashville of traditional Irish music wasn't far wrong.

The following locations are in close proximity to Ennis