200 Years of Sitting Pretty in Dublin: A Short Walk Through History and Hospitality at The Shelbourne Hotel
Since 1824, The Shelbourne has been a warm and inviting jewel of hospitality and the setting for some of the most dramatic cultural and political moments in Irish history. Beloved by guests and locals as “Ireland’s living room,” The Shelbourne has always reflected the spirit of the city around it, playing a significant role in the literary, social, political, culinary and artistic traditions of Irish society.
The hotel is the work of one Martin Burke, a man of means and considerable style who, hailing originally from Tipperary, had ambition to woo genteel customers who wanted solid, comfortable and serviceable accommodation at a fashionable address.
Burke found that address with the purchase of three houses located along St. Stephen’s Green, then as now the grandest square and most fashionable part of Dublin, and located just a short walk from popular shopping and famed landmarks like Trinity College and the National Gallery, Museum and Library. Burke cleverly named the property after William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and Prime Minister of Great Britain in the late 1700s, to link it to contemporary fame and give an air of ascendency - though not before adding an ‘o’.
One year after The Shelbourne began welcoming guests, it became the first hotel in Dublin lit by gaslight. Within a quarter century of opening, the hotel grew to its current footprint with the addition of three more adjoining houses: two on St. Stephen’s Green and one on Kildare Street. And by 1863, The Shelbourne was firmly positioned as the premier address in Dublin accommodating locals and visitors alike.
History Happened Here
Guests and visitors of The Shelbourne have a unique opportunity to walk through Irish history.
The Republican Rising in Ireland of Easter 1916, for instance, was a seminal date for The Shelbourne, whose then-owners, the Jury and Cotton families, remained loyal to the British Crown while some staffers did not. It later emerged that a porter regularly forayed to the rooftop and signaled the movement of troops within the hotel to rebel forces across St. Stephen’s Green. As fighting broke out over the days that followed, soldiers were garrisoned within The Shelbourne, which came under regular fire.
Years later, during the Irish Civil War, The Shelbourne became home to the new army of Ireland, whose constitution committee, including the revolutionary, soldier and politician Michael Collins, held its first meeting at the hotel. Over the course of three months in early 1922, the committee drafted the Irish Constitution in Room 112. Now known as the Constitution Suite, the room is available for private dining occasions, with the original antique table and chairs, creating a unique and captivating setting for up to 22 guests.
These days, anyone entering The Shelbourne follows in the footsteps of an impressive segment of the world’s elite, such as Princess Grace of Monaco, John F. Kennedy, Peter O’Toole, Academy Award-winning director John Ford, Maureen O’Hara, English novelist and illustrator William Thackeray, and myriad heavyweights of Hollywood’s Golden Age like James Cagney, John Wayne, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rock Hudson, Orson Welles, Burl Ives, Robert Taylor, and Rita Hayworth. The hotel has also welcomed many of Ireland’s musical and literary geniuses such as Count John McCormack, Seán Ó Riada, Patrick Kavanagh, Brenden Behan, and Seamus Heaney.
If all of the above weren’t enough - and it’s really just scratching the surface - no less than one of Ireland’s greatest traditional music groups, The Chieftains, was formed after Seán Ó Riada suggested it to Paddy Moloney in The Horseshoe Bar at The Shelbourne.
Arrayed for Hospitality
Key to the hotel’s prominence and longevity is the 265 guest rooms, which includes 19 suites. The former are available in five categories, from Heritage Parkview Rooms starting at 194 sq ft, to a variety of Queen Guest Rooms.
Meanwhile, suites mark the elegance and luxury of The Shelbourne with generous proportions, lofty ceilings, and separate seating and sleeping areas. All suites are individually designed and meticulously appointed, including those named for illustrious guests such as the John F. Kennedy, inspired by the 35th President of the United States; the Michael Collins, for the leader of the Easter Rising of 1916 and co-founder of the Irish Free State; and the Eamon De Valera, named for the 3rd President of Ireland, who played a leading role in introducing the country’s Constitution.
The top of the line Heritage Suite is the Princess Grace Suite, named for Princess Grace of Monaco, nee Grace Kelly. The American actress, turned royalty, frequented The Shelbourne with her husband Prince Rainier and developed an attachment to Room 270 and its view of St. Stephen’s Green. The luxurious two-bedroom/two bathroom suite offers elegant furnishings, a separate living room, dining room sized for up to 8 people, separate pantry, along with memorabilia and a library of books celebrating the life of the Princess. And quite a life it was.
All guest rooms and suites at The Shelbourne are arrayed with exquisite comforts, stylish design elements, and conveniences desired by contemporary travelers. Picture pillowtop mattress, 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton bedding, marble bathroom, work desk, in-room safe, hair dryer, alarm clock, mini-bar, plush robes and slippers, flat-screen television, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more.
Shall We Dine?
The Shelbourne sets an impressive table, and many of them, with six restaurants and lounges celebrating local ingredients and traditional Irish cuisine with a modern twist.
Set overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, The Lord Mayor’s Lounge is a venerable drawing room tastefully designed with buttercream damask walls, extravagant chandeliers casting a distinctive golden glow, arched passageways, colorful floral displays and more, resulting in a preferred setting for Afternoon Tea. This year, a special 200th Anniversary Tea menu highlights a new selection of pastries inspired by recipes from the 1800s, among them The Peach Melba, originally crafted by French Chef Auguste Escoffier in tribute to Australian soprano Nellie Melba, and The Carrot Cake, playing off an original recipe from the English version of the 1824 cookbook by French restaurateur Antoine Beauvilliers.
The Saddle Room, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant decked out with an open kitchen and lavish Oyster Bar, strikes a balance between formality and relaxation, with dark oak walls, rich splashes of gold, and a menu created with fine Irish ingredients. The perfect setting for business and pleasure, the restaurant is also a destination for group clientele with two private dining spaces including one decorated with cartoons by Martyn Turner, who has worked for the Irish Times since 1971.
One of Dublin’s best-kept secrets, 1824 Bar is the spot for laid-back luxury, a hand-picked selection of whiskey, and unique cocktails served in lead crystal glasses on lush linens. Tucked away at the top of the grand staircase ascending from the lobby, the top-shelf only bar is a snug and sophisticated hideaway open only to hotel guests.
Another space at the top of the staircase is The Terrace, a lovely outdoor mezzanine-level plaza with sky-blue views, canopied shelter from the elements, and a menu of classic and contemporary seafood dishes best enjoyed with a glass of bubbly. It’s open from early May to the end of September, and this year, will be showcasing fine Champagnes from Laurent-Perrier. The new menu offers a selection of elegant Champagne cocktails, seafood pairing dishes, and a selection of exquisite caviar from around the globe. Our in-house Head Florist, Mary O’Reilly designed an eye-catching floral installation and living wall that celebrates sustainability and the flora and fauna of St. Stephen’s Green.
A popular meeting spot for everyone from local journalists and politicians to visiting dignitaries and bright-light celebrities, The Horseshoe Bar remains as distinctive as ever, true to its handsome, evocative, and recently restored 1957 design. The bar features prints by English painter William Hogarth, a curved white countertop and brass-trimmed bar, and rich red walls.
Finally, The Shelbourne’s signature hotspot, No. 27 Bar & Lounge, is the place to see and be seen in Dublin, with quite a bit to see of its own, including views of St. Stephen’s Green through tall, graceful windows, and specially commissioned artworks by Victor Richardson. The menu brims with local classics, from fresh oysters from Irish waters to Knockalara Salad, Kilmore Quay Seafood Chowder, and Bram Stoker “Robber” Pie inspired by the author of Dracula’s residency on Kildare Street.
Meantime, The Shelbourne was one of the first hotels in Dublin to introduce non-alcoholic cocktails, a tradition that lives on with a fresh N/A menu that debuted earlier this year at No. 27 Bar & Lounge. It includes sober takes on classics such as the Old Fashioned, and new creations combining flavors of grapefruit, tomato and honey, green apple and pistachio, and more.
Serene Along the Green
The Spa at The Shelbourne is a beloved destination for travelers and locals alike, with a curated menu of treatments from world-class beauty brands.
Originally unveiled in 2012, The Spa is an oasis of calm laid out over three floors, with facilities that can only be described as glamorous. They include seven treatment rooms and a lovely relaxation room brightened by elegant chandeliers and a view overlooking St. Stephen’s Green. There is also The Salon for full-service hairstyling, beauty treatments and manicures, and The Health Club featuring an 18-meter indoor swimming pool warmed to 86°F, thermal suites including sauna and steam, a dance studio offering exercise classes led by personal trainers, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
Treatments are keyed to both on-going trends and desires of guests. The Ground Sleep Ritual designed exclusively for The Spa by the luxury Irish beauty brand Ground Wellbeing, for instance, serves to guide the mind and body into deep rest, with the aromas of organic geranium and jasmine to enable healing, reconnection, and self-repair. We were the first hotel in Ireland to partner with Swiss skincare brand, Swissline, one of the few brands that can trace its origins back to cellular therapy, and Elemis, renowned for outstanding results and available through a unique network of spas and salons around the world.
A Perfect Setting for Meetings, Events, and Milestone Celebrations
For the past two centuries, The Shelbourne has been the scene of some of the most elegant and sophisticated weddings in Ireland, as well as its share of significant meetings and social gatherings, with capability for hosting grand affairs, intimate receptions, and traditional dinners alike.
Starting with the famous Shelbourne red carpet, nuptial couples typically head for The Great Room, sized for 348 guests and highlighted by walls hung with extravagant silk damask, or the more intimate and important Constitution Suite, as described above, with space for 22.
Additional spaces for gatherings, meetings, and events include The Adams & Deirdre Suites, with room for 80 guests between them; The St. Stephen’s Suite overlooking its namesake green and sized for up to 60 people; and The George Moore Suite, named for the renowned Irish playwright and novelist, with space for 22 attendees.
Whatever the venue, all meeting and events clientele can count on the services of a committed and professional team, including the hotel’s dedicated wedding specialist and Head Florist Mary O’Reilly, to ensure that every detail and their every need is addressed to perfection.
200 Years of“Ireland’s Living Room”
As mentioned, 2024 marks two centuries of history, elegance, and Irish hospitality for Dublin’s grande dame. Throughout this monumental year, we are paying tribute to its storied past while looking ahead to another 200 years as the epitome of luxury in the heart of Dublin. It’s hard to imagine how many special moments big and small have happened within our walls and in the city over the past 200 years, and yet the hotel continues to innovate and look ahead to the future, setting the standard for Irish hospitality.
We are delighted to invite travelers from all over the world to experience the independent spirit that has made The Shelbourne the most inviting address in Dublin since 1824, and look forward to all the special celebrations to come.
Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from http://www.hotelexecutive.com/.
