Having celebrated 100 years in business in 2013, this ‘grande old dame’ in Naas continues to thrive. It was originally opened for 'lunches and accommodation' by the legendary Mrs Brigid Lawlor in 1913 and, since being rescued from examinership in 2014 by the equally legendary Irish footballer Niall Quinn and Kilcullen Bakery, Lawlor's Hotel is back in its rightful place - at the heart of the local community.
President Eamon de Valera attended a dinner in Lawlor’s to honour the Kildare men who had taken part in the struggle for independence; Ronnie Delaney took tea here on his way home from Shannon, having won a gold medal for Ireland at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. With such luminaries giving the nod of approval, it’s no wonder that the name Lawlor’s Hotel has been synonymous with Naas town for many decades.
Today, this handsome hotel continues to cater equally well for visitors to the area and the local community but, although the lovely old ivy-clad facade is unchanged, the new ownership has brought a fresh and rather more modern look to the interior and there are plans for further development.
Many of the guest rooms have recently been refurbished and, while the accommodation is varied - and includes some suites - the rooms are all comfortably furnished and they are a good size, as are the bathrooms.
The welcome is genuinely warm and the comfortable public areas are popular meeting places. Breakfast is served in the dining room, reached by walking ‘over the bridge’ from reception; a bright and spacious room, it has a central dedicated breakfast buffet offering homemade brown bread, juices and cereals as well as hot food cooked to order. Light streams in through the large windows, with views out to the busy town centre - a pleasant place to start the day.
Food is available throughout the day, from either the carvery or the Bistro - where the speciality is their 'famous Steak on the Stone'. No provenance on menus unfortunately, but the staff - as elsewhere in the hotel - are invariably friendly and helpful. There is also a traditional Irish pub, The Random Inn, which opens in the evening - at one time a separate business, this is now integrated with the hotel and there is traditional Irish music here on Thursday nights.
On the Gordon Bennett Route and ideally situated for visiting a wide range of sporting attractions including top golf courses, race courses, and motor racing at Mondello, the hotel is also convenient to Kildare Village Outlet, barge trips on the Grand Canal and more. Magic.
