A Home Away From Home

Shelburne Lodge in Kenmare offers guests a home away from home from where they can explore Ireland’s south west Wild Atlantic Way.

Shelburne Lodge is Tom and Maura Foley’s guesthouse and exclusive self-catering rental in Kenmare.

Maura, a well-respected culinary figure in the Irish food world, was surrounded by food from an early age. Her mother Agnes spent her time baking and cooking. She was Maura’s first culinary influence before she went on to cook alongside some of the UK and Ireland’s best chefs, with many more coming to dine in her acclaimed restaurants, The Lime Tree, Packies and The Purple Heather.

Alongside her husband, Tom Foley, Maura began welcoming guests to Shelburne Lodge in 1996.

‘Shelburne Lodge has a long history in Kenmare and we couldn’t resist purchasing it,’ explains Maura. ‘We initially bought it as our family home, but we then made the decision to turn it into a high-end guesthouse.’

Tom and Maura have been welcoming guests to their multi-award-winning four-star Georgian Country House since 1996. Dating back to the 1700s, this historic house is set a short five-minute walk from Kenmare town.

Maura, whose talents don’t just lie with cooking, also has a keen eye for interiors. Thanks to her exquisite taste, Shelburne has been sensitively restored and guests enjoy both comfort and elegance

‘Tom and I did have experience of renovating the old schoolhouse, which we turned into our restaurant, The Lime Tree in the early 1980s. However, the restoration of this Georgian farmhouse was still a big undertaking for us,’ explains Maura. ‘It took five years before we were ready to open it as a registered guesthouse.’