Tried and tested: Spa stress break

THERE are times in your life when it all becomes too much: when your stress busting reserves are at zero and the most benign request or unexpected situation can send you into floods of tears.

A few months ago that person was me. But then at 4pm one Friday afternoon, one of my friends was sitting in her car outside my office, engine purring, with a cup of coffee and a beaming smile. I collapsed into the front passenger seat exhausted.

We were headed for the ultimate spot for a depleted person, Monart in Co Wexford. It’s called a destination spa as you will not want to leave once the 20-foot electric gates click behind you.

Welcome haven: There’s nowhere in Ireland like Monart, it’s like walking into warm, bright womb where everyone whispers as they pad around in white robes.

The sense of calm definitely emanates from its location beside a sizeable pond traversed by a footbridge, dotted with families of ducks and a wood of towering oak, birch and willow, all adding to the zen.

Also, due to thinking architecture which beautifully melds the 18th century manor with floor to ceiling glass, pops of lime upholstery and marble floors, it doesn’t feel like a hotel.

The kingsize beds with half a dozen duckdown pillows are made to collapse into but while the taupe and grey French boudoir style interiors invite chilling and reading, there is the spa and many libraries and opulent living rooms to experience.

Big chill: We were here to experience a Shaolin massage from a real Shaolin monk. At the end of every year, the monks come to Wexford where they give talks on the Shaolin way of life. They also offer the traditional massage (at a cost of €120) to guests.

The Shaolin massage is traditionally given to warriors to keep them literally fighting fit. The thorough massage involved being massaged through a white sheet.

I drifted in and out of sleep, waking up again as my high stress zones were pummelled and then tumbling into bliss again.

This was my second time at the Monart and I’d forgotten how superior their spa’s thermal suite is. You could easily spend an hour and a half in the suite and infinity pool before even contemplating massage.

The suite includes a salt grotto, a caldarium with views of a waterfall and my favourite, an outdoor log cabin sauna with an ice bucket shower.

After our morning of bliss, we sat outside, white robes on, in the winter sun. I felt like a new person.

Cost: Two nights B&B offer includes one dinner at Monart and one treatment. unrestricted access to thermal suite, from €239 per person sharing. Visit: www.monart.ie