BreakAway TRAVEL IRELAND: EASTERN PROMISE

LOOKING FOR luxury and a bit of pampering? Look no further. Europe’s first Angsana Thai Spa has just opened in the five-star Brehon Hotel in Killarney, Co Kerry.

The hotel has been open for business since June of this year but it celebrated it’s official opening last week.

After jetting down to Kerry we were greeted by a red carpet and Micheal O’Suilleabhan playing the piano in the lobby of the hotel.

Hotel bosses specially commissioned a piece of music – The Eagle’s Whistle – to celebrate the classical elegance of the hotel, the beauty of the surrounding lakes and the wealth of local musical tradition in the area.

After the ceremony, guests were treated to a magnificent five course meal, sampling the delights of the award winning executive chef, John Drummond and Head Chef Michael Bolster.

The Brehon offers a range of dining options from speciality seafood and fine dining to contemporary bistro and excellent choices of bar food from around e15.

But the luxury didn’t end there – each of the hotels 127 bedrooms have been designed to the highest standards.

Located opposite the Killarney National Park and alongside the River Flesk, all rooms have excellent views of the surrounding natural beauty.

Of course the icing on the cake was a trip to the exclusive Angansa Spa.

The very first Angsana Spa was introduced at Dusit Laguna Resort in Phuket, Thailand in 1999.

Since then it has branched out to four hotels and resorts, 14 spas and 20 galleries across Indonesia, Australia, the Maldives, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Guam and now in Killarney.

The Angsana Spa is a complete sensory experience steeped in holistic Asian healing customs.

Angsana Spa’s refreshing blend of treatments place a special emphasis on the use of natural ingredients such as fresh fruits, herbs and spices.

From Thai to Ayurvedic massages, Shirodhara to Tropical Rain Mists, the treatments are influenced by traditional Asian practices.

A young Thai girl called Bahm was my personal masseuse.

She was no more than five foot but her sheer strength straightened out any knots I had in my shoulders.

My skin was as soft as a baby’s bottom after being wrapped in sesame seeds and oil.

And I spent the whole day drifting on a cloud of relaxation after my massage.

With magnificent views, award winning cuisine, the best in spa treatments and friendly staff catering for your every need, The Brehon should be seen to be believed.