On a hilltop in a remote setting overlooking Lower Lake, this refurbished hotel is a surprisingly sophisticated waystation for these rural surroundings. Looking fresher after tearing down one wing of the building and expanding upward, this property offers a crisp contemporary feel. The panoramas from the front rooms are not so much of the two 18-hole golf courses as they are of the ancient cemetery across the street (which further deepens the quiet hereabouts).
A bulky, freestanding stone portico fronts the new lobby and reception area, which is flooded with sunlight and garnished with lots of custom appointments and theatrical lighting. A seating area off to the side features a fireplace that flickers year round. The neighboring lounge offers wondrous views of the lake. Both the acclaimed restaurant and
terrace bar similarly take advantage of the view over the gardens to the sylvan lake beyond. The revamped restaurant may have a traditional menu, but the reworked space shows chic contemporary style. The same dynamic look dominates the new bar, where a rainbow of colors infiltrates the look at night.
For those who choose not to visit the nearby golf courses, the new state-of-the art spa should suffice. Here, guests enjoy a free-form indoor pool with a waterfall and a conservatory design that overlooks the countryside. There is also a gym, whirlpool, sauna, solarium and tennis court. The refurbished treatment rooms in the spa offer a taste of 21st-century chic, with their creative furnishings and modern art. Anglers can spend time casting for salmon and trout on the hotel's private stretch of riverbank seven 
miles away. Exceptional meeting space can accommodate up to 150 people, and weddings frequently commandeer the lawns overlooking the lake. Parking is free of charge. Pets are not permitted.
The uniquely decorated accommodations vary in size, but all are handsomely designed in clean-lined contemporary style with mahogany, cherry or ash furniture, original Irish art and bold designer fabrics. Paired upholstered chairs and draped tables create small sitting areas, and brass reading lamps swing out over the beds. Phones with data ports, TVs, minibars, trouser presses, and mirrored closets are standard, and the patterned carpeting rolls right into big baths with dual basins sunk into wide laminate counters. Most of the rooms support separate stall showers and soaking tubs, mist-free mirrors, slippers, robes and 
forceful showerheads that keep guests content.
The numerous suites are surprisingly affordable. The large lakeview rooms are as big as some suites in Dublin. The vast penthouse unit adds a large lounge. Wi-Fi is now available for a fee, but the hotel does provide complimentary bottled water and daily local newspapers. Room service never stops.
Unlike many hotels, the popularity enjoyed here seems only to fuel better service, maintenance and facilities. This is one of the region's best, and the new spa has raised the hotel's profile nationally.
