Fota Island: a retreat for sports stars, and all of us

Situated on its own private island against the backdrop of Cork Harbour, Fota Island Resort has long enjoyed a steady stream of guests looking to kick back and enjoy its spa facilities and golf course. But the resort has carved out another win, as its grounds are fast becoming a popular training facility for high-profile rugby, football and GAA teams.

“This summer we look forward to welcoming two well-known English football teams for their pre-season training camp,” said John O’Flynn, the hotel’s general manager. “The resort has built a very successful reputation as a top-class training facility for both national and international rugby and football teams, having hosted South Africa, La Rochelle, Stoke and West Ham previously.”

O’Flynn said the hotel is used to a variety of bookings, alongside sporting heroes, with spa, golf and Fota Island Adventure Activity packages, popular among families and groups of friends. This month, however, sees the return of international guests, who dominate the market for the summer months.

“This month, we will welcome back our luxury American group business which will continue throughout the summer,” he said. “We love welcoming our American guests as they absolutely adore the resort and what it has to offer including the five-star customer service and experience that we pride ourselves in delivering. It reminds us of how special Fota Island Resort really is and how lucky we are to work here.”

Much of the resort’s business has been driven by corporate guests so far this year, but O’Flynn expects this to change rapidly in the current peak tourist season.

“The difference this year in comparison to last year is that the lead-in times for leisure bookings are quite short,” he said. “Historically, 50 per cent of the bookings for our five-star self-catering lodges would take place between January and March, but this year the booking window for the peak summer months of July and August has moved to May and June.

“Easter was very early this year and that did impact historical booking patterns. The weather has also played its role as a rainy spring did not encourage the domestic tourist to book a holiday at home. However, as the weather has improved following a sunny June bank holiday weekend, bookings for the lodges and the hotel have been strong. Multigenerational family bookings are good again this year where extended families book a few lodges to spend quality time together. The length of stay would range from three to seven days, as the resort is easily accessible to all the attractions and amenities that East Cork has to offer, and it is only a 20-minute drive to Cork city.”

The resort shares the island with Fota House and Gardens as well as Fota Wildlife Park. It is also the base for a boat trip around Cork Harbour to the coastal town of Cobh. It has 131 bedrooms, interconnecting, family rooms or luxury suites, and for longer stays two, three, and four-bedroom lodges.

“It’s home to fantastic facilities on the resort – adults can sit back, relax, and unwind in Fota Island Spa or experience a game of golf on Fota Island Resort’s magnificent championship golf courses,” said O’Flynn. “The whole family can enjoy the thrill and excitement of Fota Island Adventure, relax in the pool, or enjoy the many walking routes and fairy trails through the 780 acres of countryside that Fota Island has to offer.”

The resort has four food experiences to choose from and offers a variety of options to suit all guests. This includes The Cove fine dining restaurant, an intimate dining experience using local produce showcasing some of the region’s talented and dedicated artisan producers.

“With its own wine cellar, the sommeliers at The Cove have curated wine pairings designed to complement the flavours of the food which use ingredients foraged by the head chef on Fota Island,” added O’Flynn. “The newly refurbished Fota Restaurant is the resort’s casual dining experience. It has views of the gardens and is a favourite for families and friends. For a more relaxed option the Amber Lounge and Garden Terrace offers all-day dining, while the newly refurbished Clubhouse and Lakeside Terrace overlooks the 18th green of Fota Island Golf Course.

“Fota Island Resort has a team of more than 450 staff members working across various departments in the hotel, lodges, restaurants, spa and golf club. The team includes a diverse group of Irish and international workers, and is an important employer in the local area of East Cork, with many students working in the resort over the summer months.”

For more information see: Fotaisland.ie