Celebrating one hundred and thirty years of hospitality at Renvyle House Hotel

By Sinead Farrell

2013 marks the 130th anniversary of the Renvyle House Hotel and the 60th year of the Coyle family ownership of the facility.

Since opening its doors in 1883, the Renvyle House has welcomed floods of guests from a variety of tiers of society. It was a common gathering place for politicians as well as other figures who influenced Irish history. W.B Yeats spent his honeymoon at this famous establishment, and Oliver St John Gogarty - Irish poet, author, senator, and inspiration for the character of Buck in James Joyce’s Ulysses - was the owner who preceded the Coyle takeover in 1953.

To commemorate this prestigious double milestone, a special gourmet weekend has been organised for Friday March 8 and Saturday March 9. In addition to the celebration of the Renvyle hotel’s 130 years of dining and hospitality excellence, the facility is also celebrating its recent acquisition of the Good Food Ireland’s Culinary Haven of the Year award.

A special food producers market will be pitched in the hotel’s courtyard as part of the weekend where a feast of quality assured ingredients that have been supplied to the hotel will be on display.

Participants will include: Finnerty’s Butchers in Oughterard; the Benedictine nuns from Kylemore Abbey, producers of homemade chocolates; Connemara Smokehouse; J&C Kenny Wines. Renvyle’s own range of foods will also be showcased. These include the house apple and rosemary preserve; salad dressing; picnic chutney; red onion marmalade; sweet chilli sauce; marmalade, and a selection of baked breads. A drinks reception on the evening of Saturday March 9 will precede a special six-course menu from chef Tim O’Sullivan with wines chosen by host Ronnie Counihan.

Those wishing to attend the weekend can avail of a special package of two nights’ B&B, drinks reception, dinner, entertainment, and all facilities for €195 per person. Enquiries to Renvyle House Hotel on 095 46100 or visit www.renvyle.com