The Mount Juliet Estate is not your common luxury golf retreat for a host of distinct reasons. First and foremost is the property itself, a 1,500-acre swath of land spliced by the River Nore that boasts owners from the past that include King James II, some 300-odd years ago, when he was but the Duke of York. Indeed, royal bloodlines seem apropos on this estate that marks the fusion of the Walton’s Grove and Ballyitch estates, whose histories are pocked by definitive figures and events in the laws, philosophies and alliances of the United Kingdom. Located just over an hour’s drive to the south of downtown Dublin, and minutes from Thomastown, a charming village in Kilkenny Co., the Mount Juliet Estate is the sportsman’s dream, and a fine addition to the blossoming Conrad Hotels portfolio of luxury hotels.

In times when empire ties were more relaxed, it was a champion horse breeder, rather than a populist king, who took up residence at the Mount Juliet Estate. At the estate’s pinnacle, the Mount Juliet Conrad sits atop a sea of splendid gardens, woodlands, and pastures, and can thank Major McCalmont, a former tenant, for the equestrian spirit that rises from these lands. The River Nore and its main tributary, the Kings River, make Mount Juliet a comfortable home to one of Ireland’s best angling experiences, and the addition of the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, which hosted three Irish Opens in the 1990s and welcomed the game’s best to the 2002 American Express World Golf Championships, offers yet another compelling reason for visitors from around the world who keep returning to Ireland’s premier sporting estate.

In spite of the McCalmont’s surrendering of the property in 1987, the feel of a private estate still pervades the grounds, as many of the gardens and open spaces have been maintained as they were during the McCalmont reign. The property has not been needlessly glorified; it remains a haven of peace and solitude, combining luxurious and diverse accommodations with an unfettered atmosphere of elegance of sophistication. At Mount Juliet House proper, 32 distinctly decorated rooms, including a pair of presidential suites, recall the history of the resort as distinguished private quarters. By day, guests are afforded a splendid view of the grounds, and in the evening, after turndown, drapes are drawn and candles are lit to bring peaceful closure to the day.

For the sportive type, imbued by the opportunities available on site, alternate accommodations can be found in the Hunter’s Yard, where 16 recently refurbished rooms place guests just steps from the golf course driving range and the equestrian center. With a more hospitable décor and personal tone, the Hunter’s Yard guest rooms are perfect for the traveler willing to sacrifice the grandeur of the main estate for more subdued residences that put them at the center of sporting life on the estate. For similar privacy without the commotion and activity found in Hunter’s Yard, the Rose Garden Suites are a wonderful choice for families and smaller groups. Surrounded by walls of garden that teem with scent and colour in the summer months, these two-bedroom, fully-equipped spaces allow guests to do things their own way. The RAC Gold Ribbon Award for excellence in dining and accommodations was bestowed on Mount Juliet in 2002, a benchmark for luxury standards in the UK and evidence that a meal in the Lady Helen Dining Room is as exquisite as a night’s sleep on fine Irish linens.

Located just off the main foyer at Mount Juliet House, the tall, arched ceilings and original mouldings of what was once the McCalmont’s private dining area is the perfect atmosphere in which to enjoy the evening meal. Kendal’s, an AA Rosette award-winning dining room in the Hunter’s Yard, offers a more casual yet intimate alternative, featuring a hand-picked wine list, an Irish-inspired menu, live classical jazz on weekends and a stunning view overlooking sections of the golf course. Attached is the President’s Bar, where casual picnic and barbeque fare can be arranged, or guests can just sit back on the veranda with a sandwich and a pint and watch fellow guests on the golf course.

Beyond the Jack Nicklaus design, there are a myriad of sporting options available at Mount Juliet, each as engaging and authentic as the best destinations anywhere. Here, a stable of 15 Irish-bred horses provide a superb range for beginners and experts alike to challenge the course in the cobbled yard at the Iris Kellett Equestrian Center, or outside the gates on 1,500 acres of exciting terrain. Anglers can pull Atlantic salmon and brown trout from the unexploited waters of the River Nore and the Kings River, and clay target shooting, archery, and woodland shooting are all available for the sportsman looking to prove his shot. Tennis, cycling, and hiking are a unique way to take in the uniqueness of the property, while snooker, cricket and croquet are options for the more resigned guests. The discreet yet luxurious Health Spa, which opened in the summer of 2001, offers a basic, understated spa experience that preserves its elegance in the simplicity of the design. After a day at Mount Juliet, reclining in the ‘Dead Sea Discovery’ flotation room affords one the chance to suspend themselves in time and space, and reflect on the experience at one of Ireland’s premier country home estates.