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Ómós Guesthouse and Restaurant
Ómós has opened on the edge of Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, bringing a 16-room guesthouse and 40-seat restaurant to a restored Victorian house and a new contemporary dining space.
Led by chef Cúán Greene, whose career includes Noma, Geranium and a role as head chef at Bastible in Dublin, Ómós has been years in the making. The idea first emerged from informal conversations Greene had six years ago, eventually evolving into the online community Ómós Digest.
The name Ómós comes from the Irish word for homage, duty and respect, capturing the spirit of a project rooted in place, craft and considered hospitality.
General Manager Patrick Healy, whose background includes Cashel Palace Hotel, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, The Berkeley and Adare Manor, oversees the day-to-day running of the property alongside Greene. Matt Smith, previously of Lignum, Inver, AOC and Kadeau, joins as head chef, working with Greene to shape a kitchen focused on nature, land and the integrity of local produce.
Set on 4.2 acres overlooking a millpond, Ómós combines a restored Victorian house with a new contemporary restaurant building. The bedrooms, created by Ryan W. Kennihan Architects with Asca and Relief Gallery, each have their own character, with Irish-designed linen, handcrafted ceramics, Ómós bodycare and a mix of bespoke and found furnishings. A small shop, An Siopa Beag, also forms part of the guesthouse, selling Ómós products.
Art is woven through the house and restaurant, with works from Irish and international artists including Maria Simonds Gooding, Damien Flood, Stephen Lawlor, Charles Lamb and Louis le Brocquy.
The restaurant and bakery draw on the Irish farmstead, with courtyards linking the indoor and outdoor spaces. The layout removes the traditional kitchen pass, creating a more open connection between the kitchen, dining room and guests.
The food offering is centred on locally grown, ethically sourced produce, supported by low-intervention wines, thoughtful coffee, grain and dairy sourcing. Sustainability is carried through the interiors too, with organic Irish fabrics, local timber, natural and salvaged materials, refillable soaps, Birkenstocks instead of disposable slippers and a no single-use-plastic-bottles policy.
Rooms start from €395 midweek, with dinner priced at €175 per person and lunch at €150 per person. Guesthouse check-in is 3pm (Tuesday-Saturday) and check-out is 12 noon (Wednesday-Sunday).
The restaurant serves lunch on Saturdays only and dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Bookings are open through December 2026, and overnight guests are guaranteed a table in the restaurant.
For more information, visit omos.co.
The Hawthorn by Galway Bay
A new five-star hotel has opened on the shores of Galway Bay. The Hawthorn by Galway Bay, located at Renville West, Oranmore, Co. Galway, brings 114 rooms, including 47 suites and 17 penthouse suites, to Ireland’s west coast. It is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
The property offers Classic Rooms, Suites and Penthouse Suites, all with bespoke furnishings and bathrooms featuring rainfall showers and soaking tubs. Interiors draw on natural materials and coastal references throughout.
Facilities include a championship 18-hole golf course with views across the Atlantic, the Burren and Galway City, with lessons available on site.
The spa offers treatments from Tata Harper and Maison Caulières, backed by a full hydrotherapy circuit – pools, saunas, a snow room and steam rooms – alongside a gym and dedicated yoga and fitness facilities.
The Hawthorn by Galway Bay is home to four distinct dining and drinking venues. The Skylark focuses on Atlantic seafood and aged cuts cooked over fire, with a curated wine list, while The Oystercatcher blends Japanese flavours with Atlantic seafood and cocktails developed in the hotel’s own cocktail lab. The Aviary hosts an afternoon tea built around rare loose-leaf teas, and The 2 Iron serves as the golf club’s all-day bar and restaurant.
Guests can also book chocolate-making workshops, as well as whiskey and wine tastings, at an additional charge.
Check availability, view rates and book your stay here.
For more information, visit thehawthornhotel.ie.
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- Image credit: The Hawthorn by Galway Bay
The Grace, Westport Estate
The Grace is owned by the Hughes family and takes its name from two women remembered for their courage and independence – sixteenth-century pirate queen Grace O’Malley, and Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, who had family roots in Mayo.
The hotel sits on the edge of Westport town, Co. Mayo, within the grounds of Westport Estate. It has 129 rooms and suites. Inside, green tones, natural materials, and warm colours take their cue from the landscape outside. It’s well placed for exploring the area, with the Wild Atlantic Way, Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay, and Achill Island all nearby.
Dining is central to the experience at The Grace. The Black Sheep, led by Executive Head Chef Martin O’Donnell, focuses on contemporary Irish cooking and works with local producers and artisans, including Croagh Patrick Seafoods, Cornamona Fisheries, Andarl Farm, Achill Island lamb producers, Irish Hereford Prime, Velvet Cloud, St. Tola, and Lavin Farms. Kelly’s offers handcrafted cocktails and relaxed dining in a warm setting inspired by the character of the West.
The hotel’s Wellness & Spa offers signature treatments developed with Irish wellness brand GROUND, alongside a 20m pool, sauna, steam room, and hot tub. Among the treatments are Gráinne na Farraige (Grace of the Sea), a 120-minute ritual inspired by Grace O’Malley, and State of Grace, a 90-minute facial inspired by Grace Kelly and her connection to Co. Mayo.
Check availability, view rates and book your stay here.
For more information, visit thegrace.ie.
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- Image credit: The Grace Hotel, Westport