Six amazing Irish spa experiences that are worth travelling for

Whether you're in need of better sleep, brighter skin or a full body reset, these standout spa experiences are worth travelling for writes Penny McCormick 

Ashford Castle Spa Pool

Best facial: The Method Augustinus Bader Facial, Ashford Castle, Co Mayo

What makes a top-tier facial? For me, it’s one that goes beyond the trio of cleansing, exfoliation, and hydration, and is defined by a consultation with an expert aesthetician who can immediately see what I need. I know I am in good hands when I leave with skin that looks healthy and luminous.

Standouts I recommend include the Caudalie Premier Cru Facial at the Sea Spa, Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Co Wexford — especially good for reducing fine lines and skin spots. Described as a natural filler, Caudalie’s Premier Cru Cream also comes with a nod from Harvard medical school. Then there’s the potent 90-minute Rose Quartz Restorative Facial at Adare Manor, Co Limerick, which will give you a new face using 111Skin’s luxurious products. (I swear by 111Skin’s Cryo Depuffing Masks in emergencies.)

The mere mention of Ashford Castle, Co Mayo, incites joy and anticipation among skincare obsessives. Those looking for a medical or more natural approach can book facials using Natura Bissé, Voya, and B Africa products, in addition to Augustinus Bader — an exclusive collaboration with the castle. If you’re new to the brand, The Method facial (€250) is a great introduction, using the skincare range and massage techniques referred to reverentially as The Method, which I would describe as gentle plucking, while skin needs are addressed with a cocktail of products powered by amino acids, high-grade vitamins, and peptides.

Post-facial, I looked photoshopped (refreshed, toned and with a firmer jawline) and immediately invested in the Discovery Duo of The Cream and The Rich Cream for day and night. Yes, they’re pricey, as is the treatment, but the hype is merited. A further bonus is the gorgeous surroundings; I love the spa’s Moorish decor and the tree of life mosaic installation by South African artist Jane du Rand in the pool area.

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Best for recovery: The Barróg Ritual, Hayfield Manor Hotel, Co Cork

The Barróg Rituals at Hayfield Manor

Where formerly those affected by serious illness were often only offered a single treatment choice or a restricted menu, the good news is that things are changing. Of note is Dãha Wellness, Dublin, which has a Chronic Illness Comeback Programme designed by Catherine McMahon for those living with or recovering from cancer or other chronic illnesses such as Lyme disease or fibromyalgia.

Irish wellness brand Voya now has a cancer wellness training programme, so its entire spa menu can be adapted. At Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa, Co Kerry, therapists undergo oncology training, enabling them to provide gentle, modified massage techniques and relaxing therapies.

Cork’s Hayfield Manor Hotel has gone one step further by launching a range of cancer care treatments (from €135) in partnership with GROUND Wellbeing. These have been finessed over a three-year period by founder Peigín Crowley. The Barróg Ritual is a body massage plus a scalp ritual using both the Calm Scalp Relief Oil and Nourish Super Seed Face and Body Oil. The former is suitable for those who have lost their hair and are encouraging regrowth. A portion of the proceeds from every treatment is donated to Breakthrough Cancer Research.

• hayfieldmanor.ie

Best for lymphatic drainage: Codage Lymphatic Drainage Treatment, Velvaere Spa, Dublin 8

Lymphatic drainage is currently trending on social media, where it’s hailed as a way to improve circulation and reduce puffiness and bloating. Yet French women have been incorporating lymphatic drainage into their beauty routines since the 1980s. I recall my mother dry brushing and using Elancyl products at home to boost circulation and combat cellulite.

French protocols and couture-level treatments are a forte at Velvaere Spa, hidden within the Radisson Blu Royal on Dublin’s Golden Lane. Popular treatments include the IS Clinical Fire and Ice resurfacing facial and tailored pregnancy massages.

Just launched is the Codage Lymphatic Drainage Treatment (€135 until August 31, usually €160). I’ve been a Codage fan since trying its Magistrale Facial, which uses more than 450 massage movements. This treatment is less intense, making it both therapeutic and aesthetic.

The ritual begins with dry body brushing before the application of Codage’s Slimming and Contouring Serum Milk, which encourages drainage. The finale is a sculpting massage that leaves skin smooth and toned. It definitely alleviates the sensation of heaviness. I left feeling lighter in spirit, too.

• velvaerespa.ie

Best for sleep: Seabody Drift & Dream ritual, Dunluce Lodge, Co Antrim

The spa at Lough Eske Castle, Co Donegal

Sleep tourism has been an ongoing trend, with hotels competing to provide all manner of retreats and aids, swapping pillow chocolates for silk eye masks and chamomile tea sachets. I’m a fan of the Voya Pillow Mist found on beds at the Station House Hotel, Co Meath, and the lavender sachets at Ballyfin Demesne, Co Laois.

The sleep retreat at Lough Eske Castle, Co Donegal, is a collaboration with GROUND Wellbeing and includes an overnight stay and a muscle recovery massage in its Cara Organic Spa. You can also book a sleepcation at Dunluce Lodge, Co Antrim, which includes dinner and the Drift and Dream ritual by Seabody in its spa (from £567).

This definitely activated my brain’s off switch. It begins with breathwork before poultices made from local seaweed and lavender are applied to release tension. Drifting is indeed the sensation I felt during the head-to-toe massage, which used gentle acupressure and Seabody’s new Sleep Balm.

The treatment concludes with 10 minutes using Sensate — a device placed on your chest to activate the vagus nerve. Low-frequency vibrations travel through the breastbone while synchronised soundscapes play through headphones, helping shift the nervous system from high alert to rest mode. I did sleep remarkably well that night, possibly thanks to the hotel’s Hypnos bed and Cheviot wool pillows made by local brand Ava Innes. Short bedtime stories inspired by local folklore are part of the turndown ritual, encouraging guests to disconnect from screens.

• dunlucelodge.com

Best spa suite: The Chancery Hotel, Dublin 8

Chancery Hotel features four terrace suites with an expansive balcony and hot tub

The ancient Greeks and Romans pioneered the concept of spas, with Roman baths becoming social and therapeutic centres across the empire. Nowadays, bathhouses are the places to be, where wellness feels less like a task and more akin to a party.

The Galgorm Collection, including The Rabbit Hotel, and The Old Inn Crawfordsburn, has been at the forefront. Its spas are especially popular with groups and are known for their celebratory atmosphere.

For those of us who prefer to channel Greta Garbo and be alone, especially in a sauna or hot tub, I can think of no better place than the design-led, tech-enhanced Chancery Hotel, Dublin 8. Its new spa suites augment the existing facilities in the Wellness Hub — a mini pool, sauna, Turkish hammam, and a selection of Jo Browne treatments.

Guests have the option of a deluxe room with its own infrared sauna, complete with a Bluetooth speaker and colour-changing LED lights (from €726 with breakfast). I booked one of the four terrace suites with an expansive balcony and hot tub. After dinner in Fawn restaurant, I enjoyed stargazing from my jacuzzi. Afterwards, stepping straight into the shower without faffing around in a changing room was a further bonus. I can understand why these suites appeal to business travellers and anyone wanting some me-time in discreet, decidedly elegant surroundings.

• thechanceryhotel.ie

Best new spa: The Hawthorn, Co Galway

There have been several impressive hotel openings and renovations this year, from The Grace on the Westport Estate, Co Mayo, to Armada House, Co Clare, both of which emphasise slow luxury, elegant design and interesting wellness rituals.

Just opened, too, is The Hawthorn, Co Galway, near Oranmore, where shoreline walks, invigorating sea air, and the shifting Atlantic light all form an essential part of any stay.

For sybarites, its stunning residents-only spa will appeal. It spans two floors with huge gallery windows. Facilities include an outdoor seaweed bathing lounge, Finnish and infrared saunas, a sudatorium (a hot sweat room) and a cold immersion pool.

Exclusive Tata Harper treatments are on the menu. Known for its “farm-to-face” philosophy and natural products, Harper’s advanced facials combine bio-energy massage for luminosity, LED technology to enhance cellular renewal and formulations focused on skin health and longevity.

Complementing these are body treatments developed with Maison Caulières, a 300-year-old French oil-making house whose elixirs are another hotel exclusive. Its signature Wild Atlantic Ritual costs an eye-watering €400 (150 minutes) and uses a bespoke massage oil with pure organic essential oils. Admiring the view from the panoramic relaxation lounge completes the sense of sanctuary.

• thehawthornhotel.ie