Kinsale Hotel & Spa

We got married at Kinsale Hotel and Spa on the 17th of August, outdoors on the terrace with the beautiful oyster haven backdrop and the day could not have gone any better. Both Paul, John and their teams played a blinder! From the moment we arrived, it was all about keeping us stress-free while keeping the wheels turning, we did a first look in Charlesfort, John closed off all the double doors on our floor so they could sneak me out the side exit without my guests seeing me and when we realized we forgot to bring the flowers, Paul was on it, retrieved them and got them out to me in the car without guests spotting me! Dinner service was immaculate and ran so smoothly that you hardly even knew it was happening, All the staff, including bar and kitchen, absolutely brought their A-game. We stayed another 2 nights after the wedding and the level of professionalism never dipped. It’s an amazing hotel with amazing views but most importantly, with amazing staff. A special shout out to Mary also who kept us hydrated throughout the meal! :-)

Kinsale hotel and spa were extremely helpful especially wedding coordinators Natasha and Sandra

We had our reception here on the 9th of September 2022, we always wanted our wedding in Kinsale, when we found this venue I knew immediately we had to get married here. We picked the hotel for the stunning grounds and views, but we could never have imagined how amazing the staff and hotel would be both in the lead up and on the day.
From start to finish the hotel was faultless, Natasha kept in touch regularly beforehand and put our minds at ease with any queries we had. Ronan treated us like old friends as did the rest of the staff. We felt like we got the best of both worlds, a professional touch but yet a friendly and warm, welcoming atmosphere.
The food on the day was impeccable, my mum wants to go back to the hotel and get the same dinner again!
The bar staff were incredible on the day, they were all so efficient and again, nothing was too much for them.
People always say "something will go wrong on your wedding day" I can honestly say, nothing went wrong for us, and that's 100% down to the professionalism of the staff. I have never been anywhere where the staff seemed so genuinely happy doing their jobs, it was lovely to have everyone smiling all day.
The attention to detail was amazing and we really could not have asked for anything more.
I wish I could go back and do it all again, thank you so much, Elizabeth, Seán and little Andrew x

Ronan, Sarah, Paul, Sandra and the team were brilliant, so attentive and professional and the day ran like clockwork. Nothing was too much to ask and I couldn't recommend the venue more highly

The staff was absolutely amazing , they kept us calm and relaxed through out the hole day . Paul was always checking in throughout the day and keeping us updated as the day went on . I couldn’t recommend Paul and Natasha anymore for their amazing work .

All the staff at the hotel went the extra mile to ensure our wedding was special. Our guests were made to feel welcome, and we had true Irish hospitality across the board. No problem was too small, and any little issue was resolved with absolute minimum of fuss. A fantastis location in every aspect - we'll be back for our anniversay.

In fairness, we could not fault this place even if we wanted. We were absolutely spoiled, right from the first meeting in November 2019 and up to the last goodbye on the 13th of November 2021!!! The place is magical with a team of top quality professionals!!!

Flawless

It's hard to put into works how happy we both are that we chose the Kinsale Hotel & Spa to host out wedding reception... Alison Walsh (wedding coordinator) was amazing and took any potential stresses away with her easy going and professional attitude throughout the entire process from day 1 to the big day. The hotel looked breathtaking with the most beautiful views from the balcony which only added to our experience.
We couldn't recommend this venue high enough :)

Everything that we have to say about our experience with the Kinsale Hotel and Spa is undoubtedly positive but they really surpassed all of our expectations as we like to think that we were probably the last wedding in Ireland before the lockdown!

We were looking for something a little bit different for our wedding, we really liked the idea of doing a lot of it ourselves with DIY elements (too many Pinterest ideas) and having a BBQ as the main meal. We first met Alison Walsh, the wedding coordinator for the Kinsale Hotel and Spa, at a wedding fair and we instantly felt that she was the right fit for us. Every idea we had she responded too with enthusiasm and positivity, never saying 'no' and even giving us better suggestions and ideas. The whole way through the planning process, Alison supported us. Alison put together a personalised wedding package for us so we didn't have to force ourselves into a package that we didn't want. The managers and reception staff in the hotel were also great to deal with when we called by to meet with Alison or check something in the function room. Alison was always a quick phone call away and was great to deal with through email, responding quickly.

To explain the professionalism and flexibility of the The Kinsale Hotel & Spa, on the week prior to the wedding on the 16th of March each single day brought a new development because of COVID-19. There were a number of restrictions put in place that we could not foresee such as social distancing, cocooning, sanitising requirements, limiting indoor event numbers and the closure of bars. While these measures are all commonplace now, at the time each day put a new hurdle in our way. We had a confirmed guest list of 155 a week before the wedding, three days before the wedding it dropped to 98 and on the day we had 75 guests. The venue was great with dealing with it all, taking everything in stride and adapting the plan without having to be asked by putting protection measures in place even though there weren't any published at the time. Everyone on the day was and felt safe.

In the days coming up to the wedding, we didn't know if the location for our ceremony would still be open, Alison was fast to offer that the ceremony could be hosted in the hotel which really gave us peace of mind as actually getting legally married was so important to us - luckily the ceremony went ahead at the original location but the offer was very appreciated. One of the big issues on the day was that the band could no longer play as they were advised to go into self-isolation. They contacted Alison directly the morning of the wedding and she was then able to contact our DJ to let him know and ask that he be there to take their place. All of it was handled so effortlessly by Alison, not needing to get me involved and letting the bridesmaids know so they could tell me at the right time after the reception. Alison was so great with dealing with all of the suppliers and obviously from all of her experience knew them all already so was on great terms with them!

I got ready in the bridal suite with my bridemaids which had plenty of space for hair and makeup. We were really taken care of with breakfast and snacks throughout the morning. The balcony and serene setting really helped to create a peaceful morning and looked great in the photos.

After the ceremony, Alison greeted us at the door with a red carpet and champagne. We had our reception in the resident’s bar and dining area. We were lucky that the area was just refurbished so it looked fantastic, the bar area was cosy while the adjoining dining area was spacious and bright, it let all the guests find a place that was most comfortable for them. We had lovely pastries and warm scones with the tea/coffee which on the day was needed as it was a bit chilly. The venue also created a selection of homemade fruit punch which were amazing, I think I had three myself. The bridal suite was only a quick walk away, so it was easy to slip out to freshen up.

The function room really met all of our needs. There was a great view of Oysterhaven Bay and the grounds, letting in plenty of natural light. The bar is central in the room with plenty of space which avoided queues or anyone leaving the room or gathering on one side. There were two doors leading out onto the balcony with space heaters at night that were in plenty of use. We were able to play music from our phones over the sound system so we could play an entrance song and playlists during the meal and at the end of the night to put our own spin on the atmosphere. The function room has three screens that come down from the ceiling and projectors, two of which we used (on either side of the main table) to play a photo presentation showing our lives together, with appearances of all of the guests which got a good few laughs. The venue was so accommodating with us putting a personal touch on the day, we were able to drop off all of the decorations beforehand with a plan and they were all laid out as planned, I didn’t have to worry about it. Obviously, our table plan had some drastic reductions so tables had to be removed, moved and reduced which we were able to do up until the night before in a very un-standard scenario.

The BBQ main meal was so good, some guests went back for seconds and thirds and we were all so well fed. There was a great selection of food and the venue had no problem with preparing foods for any of the guests with allergen or dietary requirements (of which there were many).
We would like to give a special mention to the bar staff, who even the guests commented on as being great. They we all very friendly and upbeat, paying special attention to the preparation of each drink especially our signature Mr & Mrs Cocktails. They stayed on top of everything and were very attentive.
The following morning, we were lucky to feel good enough for a walk so we took advantage of being able to walk around the grounds before breakfast, down to the waters edge through the forest. It was lovely to have some peaceful moments together after the celebrations the night before. The costs and billing were very transparent throughout the planning with Alison providing regular updates. It really gave peace of mind that there were no surprises waiting for us after the event.

The guests loved the day so much they are hoping that we will make it into a yearly event! It was a once in a lifetime event, it wouldn’t be the same doing it again but I’m sure everyone would carry on without us! We loved the experience at the Kinsale Hotel and Spa and would not have changed it for the world, would definitely recommend.

Absolutely beautiful hotel, stunning views, amazing food, wonderful staff and a stellar wedding coordinator gave us the perfect day!

My wife and I got married at the Kinsale Hotel and Spa and cannot describe how amazing it was. The hotel itself was absolutely beautiful. Staff were amazing throughout. Alison the wedding coordinator can answer all your wedding questions big and small without hesitation and she was absolutely superb and so professional making sure everything went smoothly. Ronan the hotel manager was also around from start to finish and was also brilliant. We had an outdoor ceremony which was absolutely beautiful with the outstanding views of Oysterhaven. The balcony was also great for having the drinks reception after the ceremony. The reception set up at night was perfect and food was superb. Cannot fault a thing we had the best day of our lives and the Kinsale Hotel and Spa definitely helped make that happen.

Absolutely amazing venue. We had our ceremony and reception there. Food and services were superb. Special thanks to Alison Walsh ( wedding Co-ordinator) and team. From begging to end she was always in touch. All of our guests were wowed about food, services and the location. We could not say in word how friendly everyone was. Few of our guests were saying that if they had second chance to pick venue they would choose this one.

Our Wedding at the Kinsale Hotel & Spa, was just wonderful.
We had both our ceremony and reception there.
From the first meeting with Lyn (F&B Manager), to the Wedding co-ordinator Alison we
had a great experience with everyone who works there.
We had great support on the run up to the big day, every detail was thought of.

When we met the Head Chef for our tasting every question was answered and requests taken care of. There is also great service staff in the Restaurant.
We cannot say enough about how helpful and friendly everyone was.

On the day everything went exactly as planned. the room looked beautiful, the food was even better then we remembered, the service was impeccable and the bride was perfectly late

The location of the Hotel is off the beaten Track, its lovely and secluded and offers plenty of space for everyone involved. the views are breathtaking and the accommodation, while it could use a litte updating, is clean and well kept.

Altogether we had a wonderful experience and can only recommend it.

The hotel is in a beautiful setting and are well set up for a wedding. However Alison and her team are the real asset here. No worry was too small, no problem was too big and from the minute we decided on the hotel for our wedding, Alison made us feel like ours was the only wedding that was taking place there, for the whole year. She was responsive to every email and on the day, the fact that everything ran smoothly was as much down the fact that Alison and the team had thought of every eventuality and prepared for it without us even asking. We were organising the wedding from abroad and that made no difference to the level of service we got. The food on the day was great, the wine was lovely, the staff were amazing and all in all, I couldn't imagine such a big day going any better.

I honestly can't recommend the Macdonald Kinsale Hotel enough - they were fantastic from start to finish, especially Alison the wedding coordinator who is an absolute gem! She is really excellent at her job and nothing was ever too much trouble. The location and views are amazing, we were lucky enough to have our ceremony outside. The food was fantastic and the hotel were really flexible with the menus allowing us to adjust them to suit. We had lots of guests travelling from abroad so we pretty much took over the hotel for the weekend and they couldn't have looked after us better. Thanks again to everyone at the hotel!

Amazing from start to finish....no problem too big, flexible, friendly and reliable! Food and staff were all amazing, couldn’t have asked for more.

Wedding review

Reading other reviews , they are concentrated on the main the day itself .However it is not just the main event that needs to be taken into account it’s the whole experience and months leading up to the wedding day. Hence our long review!

From the moment we met Charlotte at our Wedding show around in January of this year , we couldn’t have been in better hands . The two of us fell in love with the venue , we wanted the perfect setting and the MacDonald Kinsale Hotel has that. In addition the staff are also the key assets of the hotel.

Upon talking to Alison we were put at ease , any time we wanted to talk she was there at the other end of the phone. She re-iterated on several occasions our wedding day was going to be about me and my husband to be. As we live in London we knew we couldn’t drop in whenever we wanted .Though communications were easy to manage , through telephone calls and plenty of emails .

The setting of the date was easy , we were provided with dates during the period we wanted and we locked down the humanist in line with those dates .
The 20th October was set .

For the following 10 months we tailored the day to our interests , personalities whilst incorporating those close to us . Alison totally understands the dynamics of planning the day around the wedding couple . Being 2 guys is no different to a bride and groom. Just have 2 grooms to deal with!

One of the tasks Alison was set with was booking the reception music . We never heard the band play until the day ; band was brilliant, contemporary/ trad Irish band. Great singers they even had a few up dancing during the reception drinks .

Menu selection was easy and the kitchen catered for any dietary requirements needed for our guests . It was no problem what so ever .

The day itself as nerve racking as it is , Alison and the team made sure everything was in order. From last minute fine tuning , fixing button holds and threads cut off suits , they were done in a flash !

Upon entering the ceremony room, seeing all our family and friends watch myself and my partner , we couldn’t help but notice how gorgeous the room was set up , plus the view . Nature on display at its best .

The reception was set up beautifully . The sweet stand went down a treat especially with the adults .

Marita made sure we were both looked after as post wedding ceremony we were being pulled from pillar to post . Pre dinner Alison made sure we had a couple of minutes to ourselves .

Alison had the job of introducing us as Mr & Mr to our guests as our song was played by our musicians : It’s a Beautiful Day . It was . Summed up our day from start to finish .

From the conversations held with our guests, they highly complimented the meal “best wedding dinner ever eaten “ “champagne sorbet was excellent palate cleanser” . Even the hotel was highly regarded by our guests “not a patch on xxxxx” . Thats what we wanted to hear .

We would like to thank Donald and the rest of his management team. Charolette head of reservations , Karen in the gym, Mandy spa manager , Mandy Conference Co-Ordinator , Lynn evening manager, Marita and also Michelle & Sophie from reception . Apologies if we missed anyone by name . Have to mention the chef’s, bar , restaurant, accommodation , grounds staff etc. Without them the hotel would not be what it is , a venue set on beautiful landscape operated by individuals who take pride in what they do.

From myself and Peter a special thanks to Alison . You were a gem over the last ten months . You sure are a people’s person , organised , warm , kind and calming . Most of of all you an excellent Wedding Co-Ordinator .
With you we would not have had “A Beautiful Day”.

Yours Mr & Mr Turpin McKeown.

All the team down here are amazing and go above and beyond to help you with everything

I would highly recommended this hotel. Everything was excellent for our wedding day.

It's a fabulous hotel and grounds, the views are amazing. Alice the wedding coordinator couldn't be more helpful and professional. The food was excellent, we really enjoyed our food tasting when we were deciding our wedding menu too. Nothing was too much trouble for the hotel team to do for us both on the day of the wedding and in the lead up to it, eg we brought our own decorations which they put up for us on the day etc.
We had a great wedding day. We would highly recommend Mcdonald Kinsale Hotel to any future bride and groom thinking about having their wedding there, we couldn't fault a thing.

We had an amazing day . The hotel staff coming up and on the big day wet amazing and always helped in any way possible. We are looking forward to going back there.

We had a fabulous day last September. The staff ran everything so smoothly, we didn't have to think about anything. All of our requests were no problem and we couldn't have asked for more. All of our guests enjoyed themselves, some saying it was the best wedding they were ever at. We would absolutely recommend the hotel to friends as a wedding venue.

Hi Claire,
Back from our honeymoon, unfortunately, and just wanted to send a quick email to say Thank
You to yourself, Patrick and all the staff in the Carlton for looking after us for our wedding. We
had a wonderful day, helped in no small part by the excellent staff in the hotel and the delicious
food and drink which our guests enjoyed.
Thank you again and Best Wishes for the future.

Claire, just a very quick note to say a HUGH thank you to you and your wonderful
team for making our wedding day on the 20th Oct so special.
You are such a fabulous person and you are absolutely perfect for the job you are in. I
promise to try and call down to the hotel to say hi as soon as I've a free day.
Hope all is well with you and hope to chat to you soon.
Thank you again so much.

Claire, I wanted to email to say a huge thanks to you and everyone who helped to
make our wedding the best day of our lives! We were really impressed with all the
staff at the hotel and felt that they couldn't do enough for us.

Claire, I'm just getting round to things now, jet lag is gone! I just wanted to that
you and Avril and the staff at the Carlton for giving us a memorable day, We had a
great time and everyone said it was a great day. Can't believe we even got our
outdoor wedding! everyone is still talking about it!

Just to say thank you very much for every thing Claire and Avril did we had a
fantastic day, loved every minuet of it, the hotel couldn't have been nicer to us. Thanks again.

Claire, I just wanted to say thank you for everything! We really had a great
night (except it was over too fast) and we enjoyed every bit of it. You all
were a great help and really supportive as well so we would like to give you a
special thanks too!!! Please stay as you are and many bride and grooms as us
will be more then happy to be marrying at the Carlton ;)
See you soon and thank you so much again!!

Thanks so much Claire for a wonderful wedding day, we just had a ball!! It was really
splendid.