Brendan Comerford

General Manager of the five-star Castlemartyr Resort in Cork

I’ve been at Castlemartyr now for six years and in that time, I’ve seen a lot of change. When our new owners purchased the property in July 2021, they saw the potential to bring the resort to the next level. Since then, we’ve completed a €9-million investment programme. Every bedroom and public space in the hotel has been refurbished. We opened Terre restaurant just last year and it achieved a Michelin star in its first year. We also opened Canopy, which is our main hotel restaurant, led by Executive Chef Kevin Burke, with seating for 150 guests. We’ve created a new reception and check-in area with luxury arrival experience outside. All of the grounds have been beautifully enhanced, we’ve added two new outdoor tennis courts and we’ve added to the golf course. Now with a new driving range, we’ll continue to develop the golf course in September. So, there’s a lot of new things for our guests to discover.

Our fine dining restaurant, Terre, won a Michelin star in March, just six months after opening. It’s a fantastic recognition for the team and has drawn visitors not only to the restaurant, but the resort as a whole, with many guests looking to combine their culinary experience with an overnight stay. Cork is really establishing itself as the gourmet capital of Ireland once again and it is fantastic that Terre is playing a significant part in that revival.

Summer 2023 is looking very positive. The season kicked off to a great start with cultural events at the hotel, including a live opera and the Art + Soul: International Art and Sculpture Exhibition presented by Gormleys in June. Art + Soul will be back again next year along with additional cultural events in the calendar.

Castlemartyr Resort is a great place for families. It is a busy summer ahead but we still have some availability, especially midweek, and provide a lot of fun activities for kids onsite and in the greater area as well, from kayaking to boat trips to Ballycotton Lighthouse and visits to Fota Wildlife Park or Leahy’s Open Farm. And for adults, a trip to the Midleton Distillery or Ballymaloe Cookery School is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

We also roll out a warm welcome for furry family members, too. We have five pet-friendly garden rooms, located on the ground floor with their own external gardens so guests can access them directly from the car park, which guests find handy when they’re bringing their dogs in and out.

I’m originally from Cork and we Corkonians have great pride in our county. My best advice for anyone staying in Castlemartyr would be to allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the resort and its surrounding areas. It’s a great base from which to explore the beautiful coastline of Cork. Give yourself two to three days and engage with us before you arrive to book some of the immersive activities we have available onsite. We can also provide advice on day trips to enjoy while you’re here. Allow yourself time to explore Cork City while you’re here, too. See the English Market, University College Cork, Crawford Art Gallery, Shandon Bells at St. Anne’s Church … and there are some great open bus, harbour and walking tours, too, not to mention lovely pubs across the city.

Our greatest resource is our team, and like with any resource, you have to invest in it, look after it, and help it to grow, providing continuous training and a defined career path. That’s the key to attracting great staff and has placed Castlemartyr Resort in a very good position when it comes to recruitment.

I have a young family so when I’m not at work, I spend a lot of my time outdoors, standing on the sidelines of football, hurling, Gaelic football and camogie matches, which I love. I also enjoy a bit of cycling and running to keep myself fit, healthy and full of energy for whatever the day brings. castlemartyrresort.ie