Ever since it opened some 14 years ago, Ballyfin Demense in Co Laois has been the object of public curiosity within Ireland. Originally built in 1826 as a private home of the Coote family, then run as a Patrician Brothers boarding school for boys for 74 years from 1928, Ballyfin was bought in 2002 by the Chicago-based Krehbiel family. It took a decade of restoration along with a fortune to transform it into the 20-room luxury hotel it is now.
One substantial reason people are so curious about Ballyfin is its cost. The current price of a night there for two people – for bed and breakfast, depending on the size of the room – is between €850 and €2,240. There are packages that include elements such as lunch and dinner, house tours, and welcome drinks, which are more expensive again, but offer more overall value for the price.
[ Ballyfin restaurant review: ‘Downright dazzling, one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten
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