If it’s good enough for Princess Grace of Monaco…
Home really is where the heart is when it comes to The Shamrock Lodge Hotel. With generations of families celebrating the biggest day of their lives here, fond memories and sentimentality certainly isn’t lacking.
Tucked away at the end of a leafy avenue in beautiful Athlone, this wedding venue has a touching family history spanning over 25 years. We caught up with General Manager, Alan McCaul, who proudly shared his roots at the hotel and why treating wedding couples as part of the family is so important to them.
“My father purchased the hotel in 1993. The hotel was located about a five minute walk from where he was born and his father was a chef here when Princess Grace of Monaco visited the hotel in 1961. The hotel had huge sentimental value for my dad and he always had his eye on it. When the opportunity came to purchase it, we couldn’t let it go. I started here as a young lad on the floor and now I work side-by-side as General Manager with my dad. The hotel is home for us and it really means so much.”
Each and every staff member at The Shamrock Lodge certainly lives up to the hotel’s slogan ‘Let Our Family Look After Yours’. Alan reveals their pride at giving each wedding couple the utmost attention and highest levels of customer service.
“Customer satisfaction is first on the list for us. We try and feel we succeed in making couples feel that the hotel is their own for their day. Nothing is too big an issue for us. We give our couples 100 per cent attention at all times, great quality food and great service in a comfortable, beautifully furnished venue.”
“Also, our landscaped grounds are a huge addition. They are unique in that you have a country feeling in the heart of the town.”
The newly-renovated John Broderick Suite and Princess Grace Honeymoon Suite exude elegance and sophistication, creating the most romantic backdrop for a wedding. And, newlyweds will be spoiled for choice when it comes to taking those all-important photographs. Stunning views of the nearby River Shannon and Athlone Castle are renowned areas to strike a pose, while creativity beckons beneath the mature foliage and manicured gardens of the grounds.
But, that’s not all for this gem in the Midlands. Alan let us in on their big plans for a new look restaurant during the second half of 2016! Judging from his enthusiasm and genuine passion for great hospitality, one can only feel the sky is the limit when it comes to weddings at The Shamrock Lodge.
Wedding packages start from just €36pp at The Shamrock Lodge Hotel. For more details, call the Team on 090 649 2601 or email info@shamrocklodgehotel.ie
Image Credit: Shauna & Jonathon’s wedding photo in the gardens – Clare Francis Photography.
