Starling Murmuration Spectacle at Bloomfield

Guests at Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa experienced another epic Starling Murmuration over Lough Ennell In February, where thousands of starlings swooped in, encircling the hotel, lake and surrounding meadowland before uniting to perform the phenomenon called a murmuration. The name comes from the murmuring sound the starlings’ wings make while beating in unison. Grouping together offers safety in numbers as a bird of prey will find it hard to target one bird in amongst a flock of thousands. As the bird of prey takes chase, starlings attempt to evade it by performing a hypnotising and mesmerising aerial ballet. Guests and local photographers gathered by the lake edge to witness it all unfold! The starlings then gather to keep warm at night, often on the lake reeds, where they exchange information about good feeding areas! If you are staying with us between January and early March each year, keep your eyes peeled! 

 

Bloomfield House Hotel celebrate winning national Award

A well deserved GOLD award for our amazing Accommodation Team at the IASI Awards. Our Team received this honour for housekeeping excellence in the nationwide 4-star category at the national finals – a recognition of the hard work and dedication the entire Team puts in each day. A huge congratulations to our A-Team who’s enthusiasm and attention to detail has won them this prestigious accolade! Our very own Catherine Fagan and Carmel Earle (pictured left and right) had the pleasure of being presented at the recent Awards night.

 

 

Bloomfield House Hotel’s Mags Matthews Retires after over 40 Years of Service

Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa’s longest serving member of staff, Mags Matthews, has retired after over four decades of wonderful service to the business. The Team at Bloomfield gathered together recently to wish a fond farewell to Mags, surprising her with a guard of honour and gift presentation after her final shift.

 

Mags is a big part of the very colourful history of Bloomfield House Hotel. Back in 1979, Bloomfield House was acquired by a group of local businessmen who saw great potential in the former convent property, transforming the building into a then 29-bedroom hotel. Soon after, Mags joined the original team who had just opened the hotel and were laying the groundwork in establishing Bloomfield as a leading midlands hotel. Since then, Mags has been at the heart and soul of Bloomfield House Hotel during its 40 plus year history. She began working in various roles throughout the establishment, before moving to the weddings and functions side of the business and looking after the early shift in the Hotel’s 240 seater Restaurant. Over the years, Mags has worked hundreds of weddings and events and welcomed thousands of guests through the Restaurant for breakfast, where she quickly became a very well-known face to returning guests. The hotel consistently delivers a genuine and enjoyable Irish experience for its many guests and Mags has played a leading role in this.

 

Mags is extremely proud to have been an integral part of the Bloomfield Team for so many years and has a treasure trove of memories and stories from over the years, having seen many changes to the Hotel during her tenure. In 1998 the hotel increased in size from its original 29 bedrooms to 65 with the addition of a Leisure Club and Spa. Further renovations began in 2004, which involved extending the Bar and adding a new Carvery dining space plus 46 new bedrooms, bringing the total to 111. Mags was part of an active and energetic Team who helped the Hotel achieve official Four Star status from Fáilte Ireland in 2012, springboarding the Hotel into a myriad of improvement projects including the refurbishment of its Ballroom, Lobby and Bar plus the addition of a new Lakeview Dining Room, Leisure Club Lounge and outdoor Coffee Lodge.

 

In 2022, the Hotel launched its new Signature Suites plus 30 new state of the art Family Bedrooms and Dens, further transforming its hugely popular family element. Last month they revealed their stunning new Deluxe and Lakeview Bedrooms and have many more exciting developments on the way, including a new Restaurant being launched in early 2024. This is all part of Bloomfield House Hotel’s ongoing Refurb Programme. A dynamic and committed team complements the superb facilities at Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa. Providing the highest standards of customer service has always been the utmost priority over the past 40 years. The Management Team are extremely proud to have members of staff who have a loyal and dedicated length of service. Mags prided herself on her excellent customer service and always went the extra mile to ensure guests left the hotel with a memorable experience. Regular guests enjoyed the chats and Mags always noted and remembered special requirements guests had, a gesture much appreciated by guests.

 

Now retired, Mags intends to spend her well-earned retirement enjoying all life’s quality moments with her husband Ray, sons Raymond and Leon, daughter Elaine, 6 adored grand-children and great-grandchild. She looks forward to spending time at home with her family and grandchildren while doing some traveling. Following her retirement, Mag’s paid tribute to her former colleagues - “Thank you to the Staff and Management at Bloomfield for their best wishes on my retirement, I know a huge amount of work went into my farewell, thank you for all the photos and messages displayed around the hotel, for my beautiful flowers and gifts and especially the slide-show and to all who came to wish me well. Bloomfield I thank you for all the years I spent with you. It was a life experience. I would like to take this opportunity to wish your beautiful hotel the very best, keep up the great hospitality you give to all who walk through your door's”. 

 

The Team at Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa would like to thank Mags for her many years of exceptional service and wish her all the very best in this next chapter, as she finally puts her feet up!

Check out Mag's farewell video here  

 

 

Lakeside Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa launch stunning new Family Bedrooms

Nestled amid magnificent parkland on Lough Ennell’s edge, Mullingar - the charming Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa has just unveiled the latest chapter in its renovation programme. Having completed renovations on its ground floor in recent years including the Ballroom, Function Rooms, Bar & Bistro, it has now launched its stunning, superior family bedrooms. In recent months Bloomfield House Hotel undertook an ambitious project with the aim of creating functional, bright and spacious state of the art Family Bedrooms that can cater for families up to six.

 

Works which were not purely aesthetic began on the family wing of Bloomfield’s 111 bedroom Hotel with the fitting of new triple glazed Windows followed by the installation of a new Air Conditioning System to ensure the highest level of comfort for guests. Next the Bathrooms got kitted out with stunning Rainshowers, Baths and sleek sanitary ware with tiling, marble bath surrounds and L.E.D backlit mirrors finishing it off! Back in the room, timber wall panelling was put in place before work on the bespoke bunk beds began. With everything wired up and taking shape, the rooms were ready for the next stage - painting, decorating and filling each room with loads of plush furniture, mod cons and so much more. 

 

With building prep work complete and rooms ready for painting, colour was added to the bedroom walls with vibrant paints and a classic wallpaper header strip. Features such as the golden brass lighting fixtures and wall lights each side of the bed (with a clever flexible reading light) radiate opulence and the tailored headboards add another pop of colour. Plantation Window Shutters are a smart touch which beautifully frames the stunning view of Lough Ennell. The crafted wardrobes, Dining Table & Chairs and marble top desks fit in perfectly, along with a sleek wall mirror framing the 43” Smart TV which is sure to be a big bit with kids. 

 

 

These newly designed Family Bedrooms certainly ooze wow factor and are ideal for families up to six, incorporating the best in contemporary and fresh décor with custom-designed furniture and bedding. Families can choose from four different options including Family Den’s for four, five or six which include Bunk Beds, and a Family Room which features one Double and two Single Beds. The 33 bedrooms each feature specially sourced, bespoke fabrics and furniture while the vibrant colour scheme has created an easy on the eye, inviting space for both Adults and Kids to enjoy and relax in.

 

Commenting on the renovations, Director of Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa Liz Connaughton said “Over many years, we have invested heavily to establish Bloomfield as a tourism destination and one of the leading hotels in the midlands, and we remain firmly focused on investment. This latest investment sees 33 Bedrooms upgraded in this lakeside property. Our challenge was to work seamlessly behind the scenes without creating any impact on the guests. On the completion of this project, we plan to make more investment and extension announcements in the near future”. 

 

Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa offers the perfect escape with its combination of traditional Irish hospitality, elegant surroundings and modern facilities on the shores of Lough Ennell, Westmeath. Enjoy lake walks on-site with 20 acres of parkland to explore with a Kids Playground on-site. Little ones can enjoy hours of indoor and outdoor play activities and games along with evening tea at the Kids Club while Grown-ups can treat themselves to some relaxation and pampering at the Spa. Inside the 111 bedroom hotel, there is plenty for guests to enjoy such as the 20 metre Swimming Pool, Kids Pool, Jacuzzi, Sauna, Steamroom and Gym while guests can dine at the Bar & Grill or Charles Brinsley Restaurant. Ideally located in Irelands Hidden Heartlands there are plenty of family activities in the area and a wide range of things to do to keep everyone entertained during their break at Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa.

 

Discover more on our New Family Rooms here

 

 

Bloomfield House Hotel undertake ambitous Family Room project

We’ve been busy! 

In spring 2022, we undertook an ambitious project with the aim of creating functional, bright and spacious state of the art Family Bedrooms, that can cater for families up to six! We are thrilled with how they have turned out! Here we showcase the journey to completion. 

 

 

Upon all Family Rooms being completely gutted, work began with the fitting of new triple glazed Windows followed by the installation of a new Air Conditioning System. Next our Bathrooms got kitted out with stunning new Rainshowers, Baths and sleek sanitary ware before tiling and marble bath surrounds finished it all off! Back in the room, timber wall panelling was put in place before work on the bespoke bunk beds began. With everything wired up and taking shape, we were ready for the next stage - painting, decorating and filling each room with loads of plush furniture, mod cons and so much more...

 

 

With building prep work complete and rooms ready for painting, we couldn’t wait to add splash of colour to the bedroom walls and the classic wallpaper header strip turned out perfect. Once the golden brass lighting fixtures were in place, wall lights were installed each side of the bed (with a clever flexible reading light) and the headboards added another pop of colour. Plantation Window Shutters were then installed before the crafted wardrobes and marble top desks fitted in perfectly, along with a sleek wall mirror framing the 43” Smart TV. Carpet was fitted snuggly before adding the Marble Top Dining Table & Chairs, bed bases, comfy mattresses and lots of beautiful fabrics and furnishings. Our Housekeeping Team then got to work, ensuring a pristine finish ahead of our first guest’s arrival.

 

 

Our newly designed Family Bedrooms ooze wow factor and are ideal for families up to six, incorporating the best in contemporary and fresh décor with custom-designed furniture and bedding and a luxurious En-Suite with Rainforest Shower & Bath. Choose from four different options available:

• Family Den for 6
• Family Den for 5
• Family Den for 4
• Family Room for 4

 

Each New Family Room features:

• Smart TV (featuring a range of apps including Netflix, Youtube & Disney+)
• Bespoke Beds dressed with crisp white duvets and pillows
• Contemporary and fresh décor with custom-designed furniture
• Luxurious En-Suite with Rainforest Shower & Bath
• Marble Top Dining Table & Four Chairs
• Crafted Marble Top Desk
• USB Charging Ports
• Bedside Night Lights
• Tea & Coffee Hospitality Tray
• Iron & Ironing Board, Telephone and Hair Dryer
• Toiletries

Discover more on our New Family Rooms here

 

 

Royal Canal Greenway: a Midlands cycle fit for a royal

The Royal Canal Greenway is an ideal journey into our hidden heartlands, writes Marie Toft, who stayed at Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa during her recent adventure...

 

A heron swooped out of the rushes nestling the Royal Canal Greenway as we cycled along on a balmy August afternoon and I decided it was official — after years of insisting on family holidays beside the coast, I was falling for the many attractions of Ireland’s lush, peaceful heartlands. It’s hard to take the Cork out of this woman and in the dark months of coronavirus lockdowns, we truly discovered how fortunate we are to live right beside the Atlantic Ocean.

 

But in the summer of staycations, we definitely needed a change of scenery so we swapped the sea for the rolling beauty of south Longford, Meath, and Westmeath and took off on a two-day cycling holiday along the Royal Canal Greenway. After decades of restoration and a cost of €12m, this wonderful walking and cycling amenity launched last March, just as we were all starting to contemplate being able to move beyond our small patch of ground. At 130km, it’s now Ireland’s longest greenway, stretching alongside the historic 225-year-old Royal Canal. So it’s now possible to boat, paddle, walk, or cycle all the way from Maynooth, Co Kildare, through Meath and Westmeath until you finish at the Shannon in Clondra, Co Longford.

 

This feat of engineering, which boasts 19 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours, and four aqueducts took nearly 30 years to build and was a powerhouse of barges and activity until it was overtaken by the railways and roads and officially closed in 1960. Now it’s been restored and reimagined as a tranquil holiday destination which you can explore all at once (we weren’t fit enough, I’m afraid!) or choose the shorter designated routes — ranging from 6km to 15km between the 14 connecting access points and towns. Ballymahon, Co Longford, was the starting point for our trip and after a three-hour drive from Cork, we were glad to stop for lunch at Wilder & Gold cafe. It had been over six years since I had last visited Longford; I discovered a transformed county.

 

 

 

Wilder & Gold owner Marie O’Dowd credits Center Parcs — the high-end holiday village which opened in Longford Forest in 2019 — with this metamorphosis. Originally from Lanesborough, she moved back from Dublin to set up her stylish cafe/shop and ensure the influx of visitors, along with Longford locals, could enjoy excellent coffee, tasty salads, and fabulous carrot cake. Then it was time to get down to this cycling business so we headed straight to the newly opened Ballymahon Cycles to meet owner John Fitzgerald and his 10-year-old son Tadhg — who encouraged us to try out their ebikes. So after a quick cycle round their shop to get our ebike cycle legs, we decided to go for it. We had a ball — it’s genuinely like someone is at your back giving you a gentle push.

 

We swept along the Royal Greenway, spotting so much wildlife alongside gentle horses ambling the banks of the canal. After about 30 minutes, we arrived at the Corlea Trackway visitor centre, to discover an inspiring relic of pre-history. Built in 148BC, this heavy oak road is the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe. That night we stayed at the remarkable Castlecor House, a Georgian residence stepped in heritage and history. Loretta and Brian Grogan, who live here with their three children, have been lovingly restoring this 41-room mansion for the last 10 years. They only recently threw their doors open to guests and we stayed in gracious, high ceilinged bedrooms which boasted beautiful bed-linen. It’s regularly said Ireland would be a great country if you could only put a roof on it. The owner of Cooney’s Hotel in Ballymahon, Michael Cooney, has decided to give it a go, if only in his hotel’s courtyard! Seeing the success of outdoor dining, he’s installing a remote-controlled retractable roof for the way we live now. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Cooney’s and couldn’t resist their famous chicken wings and blue cheese dip.

 

The following morning and Mullingar was our next stop for an extremely healthy brunch at Wholesome Kitchen. This innovative, family-run food company is on a mission to make healthy food delicious and fast. It uses primarily plant-based ingredients and we loved the fresh acai bowls with banana, mixed berries, and granola. Then it was back on our bikes, which we picked up at Mullingar Bike Hire to enjoy more of the peaceful Royal Greenway. We cycled over 25km and worked up a sufficient appetite to justify a tasty lunch of mussels and duck spring rolls at the four-star Hamlet Court Hotel in neighbouring Meath’s Johnstown Bridge.

 

We spent our second night at Bloomfield House Hotel in Mullingar — our 13-year-old daughter was thrilled to have a dip in its large pool while we relaxed in their leisure club and spa. Idyllically situated overlooking Lough Ennell and nestled in acres of rich parkland and lofty trees, the service at Bloomfield was excellent and it was fantastic to see the hotel full of families making the most of their summer holidays. I’m very glad I woke up to the serene and peaceful landscape of our hidden heartlands and, considering how sheltered the Royal Canal Greenway is, it would make a great destination for exhilarating autumn and winter activity holidays, no matter what your fitness level. 

 

Click here for further information on the Walking & Cycling amenities nearby Bloomfield House Hotel

 

Bloomfield sponsor Milltown GAA Teamwear

Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa are delighted to team up with local club Milltown GAA, Rathconrath and kit out their Men’s Football Squad & Management with sponsored gear. Pictured at the presentation is Liz Connaughton (Hotel Director) and Milltown Footballers (l to r) Dáire Hynes, Gary Byrne & Ja Boyce. All the Team at Bloomfield wish Milltown GAA continued success in this year’s Championship.

Glynnis & Michael return to Bloomfield for Silver Anniversary Celebrationson

What better way to celebrate 25 years of marriage than by returning to the place where it all began. Having held their Wedding Reception in Bloomfield House Hotel on September 6th 1996, Mr & Mrs Michael and Glynnis Reidy returned to us last week, 25 years to the day, to mark their silver wedding anniversary. Michael, originally from Mullingar married Glynnis, also from Mullingar and a well noted athlete with Mullingar Harriers who also represented Ireland in the 90’s. The happy couple, who now reside in Kilcock, Co. Kildare returned to Bloomfield to mark this very special anniversary, and took the time to capture some photos on the grounds, along with some original photos from their big day which was a great throwback for our longer serving staff! All the Team at Bloomfield wish Michael, Glynnis and family health and happiness for the future and many more happy occasions together. There’s always a welcome at Bloomfield.

  

  

Sharon Kirby celebrates 20 years of service at Bloomfield House Hotel

Congratulations to our very own Sharon Kirby who celebrates a fantastic 20 years’ of service at Bloomfield House Hotel. Well done Sharon! 

Sharon is a very familiar face to all our guests, in particular those who have attended Weddings & Events at Bloomfield over the years - her knowledge and experience ensures that everythinig is ran to perfection! Sharon always goes above and beyond making sure that nothing is overlooked, nothing is too much hassle and knows exactly what it takes to deliver the perfect occasion. 

All the Management & Staff at Bloomfield House Hotel are extremely proud of Sharon and wish to commend her for her loyal and dedicated length of service. Enjoy the celebrations Sharon - thank you for everything you do!

 

Pictured is Ronan Byrne (General Manager) making a presentation to Sharon Kirby (Food & Beverage Manager).

 

Real Guest Experience | Dublin couple embark on a 'Camino de Belvedere'

Dublin based husband and wife Frank Murphy and Mary Keaveney are no strangers to Westmeath but their most recent trip came about because like many they had to cancel their summer trip abroad. Mary, an avid walker, and Frank, a retired hill runner, have already walked the Camino routes from Pamplona, Lisbon and Iran and were looking forward to hitting the Santiago trail until Covid-19 turned the world as we know it upside down. So impressed were they with the Bloomfied House Hotel and the Mullingar area in general, that they wrote an account of their stay to share with the readers of the Westmeath Examiner.

 

Unable to hit the Santiago trail this year with the Covid-19 pandemic we decided to head for a few days on the Camino de Belvedere. Because of the fraught times in which we are living, instead of moving from place to place, we chose to base ourselves in Bloomfield House Hotel, where we have been fortunate to spend many happy days in those old normal times.

 

Monday

Arriving on Monday 4pm for check-in, we were delighted that apart from the social distance, sanitiser and shield cover, things weren’t too different from the usual arrival in Bloomfield. Of course it shouldn’t have too much difficulty; wouldn’t it be in its genes as it was a hospital once. The welcome was warm as always, if having to book your breakfast and dinner times in advance was somewhat strange. Fripperies have disappeared but the essentials are still there. Newspapers and information leaflets are gone but the room is clean and restful. We head out for the wonderful walk down to see again those waves so beloved of the poet Betjeman in the poem printed for him by the Westmeath Examiner.

 

7.30pm: Dinner in the bar and there’s a good crowd in, yet all is well ordered. We hear there are fewer tonight than were here earlier in the bank holiday weekend, when it was a full house. We are shown to our socially distant table and the shank of lamb is excellent, as is the perfect panna cotta. All the new protocols and procedures are fully adhered to with little fuss. It appears neither adults or children are bothered in the least as evidenced by the usual happy holiday hum.

 

Tuesday

8am: Breakfast in the dining room. We’re put sitting near the window and it’s carvery style but it’s handed to you rather than helping yourself and the food is of its usual fine quality.

Purchasing our tickets for Belvedere at reception, we are informed that now you have to book. We get a prompt email back confirming our 10.30am slot.

If everything is going well up to this, then it’s out now for the, as usual disappointingly terrifying, road walk from the hotel down to Belvedere. It’s such a pity that a beautiful country walk should be so dangerous with no path or hard shoulder but just a narrow road with cars in the main racing by at excessive speeds. Its all quite unnecessary and to think that the two properties were once jointly owned. On this occasion, for the first time ever, a friendly local driver slows down as he passes us and offers us a lift. He can’t imagine how his kindness contrasts with his fellow motorists. He reminds us too of the great friendliness you receive on the Camino de Santiago and how the yellow arrows tailor a safe way for the peregrino.

 

The leader of the 1922 Everest expedition, Col Howard Bury, would be proud of how his successors have organised today’s Belvedere explorers by appointment. Everything is marshalled with the greatest of ease.

Needless to say, the whole estate is in its August prime and the walled garden, which we enter by the fairy gate, is bursting with blooms. The goldfish are shining in their sunlit pond. While we cannot find the Chumbi roses brought back from Bury’s Himalayan travels, the magnificent array of flowers more than compensate for their reticence. Presumably due to the pandemic, Belvedere house itself is closed so we can’t follow the downstairs/upstairs lives of all those who have gone before. We sit instead in the shade of the Jealous Wall and enjoy a salad before inspecting all the apple trees, including the Ballyvaughans and Finnertys, on our way out.

 

6pm: We grab a slot in the swimming pool, where the life guards instil us with confidence, before 7pm dinner.

 

Wednesday

After our 8am breakfast we wait for the rain to ease before heading for a cycle. Again it’s out on the narrow road where the cars race past far too fast, which makes the ride into Mullingar unnecessarily stressful, having missed the turn off for the quiet canal path. Up the Tullamore Road passing the greyhound track by Lynn Road and the James Joyce mural on Mount Street. Despite the rain, there’s a lot of traffic in town and many folk out and about. We check the books in Oxfam and Eason and in Market Square take a selfie with the great Joe, who can’t say no! Then it’s into the Ilia Cafe for mushroom soup and another warm welcome.

When the rain eases, we head out up Dominick Street by the station for the Royal Canal path and greenway. It may be raining, as we cycle along but the freedom of being able to cycle on the path without being in fear of getting knocked down by a passing car makes a truly memorable experience.

 

Having previously had the joy of cycling the whole Old Rail Trail from Athlone, it’s easy to understand the benefits of the canal bank path. You’re beside the water and the vegetation and away from motorised vehicles. Your mind is in a good place as you pedal the wheels along the way. Only the one solitary fisherman on the bank as the rain clears. The lone cyclist on her constitutional confirms we’re at the correct turn off for Bloomfield. Down around the dip under the bridge by the stud farm along the quiet back road before we reach the junction for the busy road again, where there’s a slight incline to the hotel.

It’s only been a short cycle but for the wet day that’s in it, it’s good to be back dry. Another swim at 6pm, dinner at 7pm and Saoirse Ronan a stunning Ladybird on RTÉ.

 

Thursday

10.45am: we cycled out of Bloomfield heading up to access the greenway at Kilpatrick, and already there were other cyclists runners and walkers about but still plenty of room for everyone on the Royal Canal bank.

We hit the Bellmount access in 1.2k and the playground at the Ballinea access in another 1.5k; there two fishermen were seated silently pursing their sport. As we pass, one man caught a little leebeen, released him from his hook and threw him back into the water. Here we turned off from the canal as it headed for Longford and took to the Old Rail Trail, heading for Athlone along what is the disused railway track half hidden with vegetation. It was a straight 4.9k to the Dysart access and then another 2.2k to Castletown station. The old station house closed in 1963. Now privately owned, it looks in fine repair but there is plenty of space to park, picnic and play. We sat at one of the picnic tables and took out our flask and sandwiches. Later we heard that there’s a nice cafe in the village.

New eco-friendly Wooden Keycards 

Introducing our new eco-friendly wooden Keycards – durable, reliable and a sustainable alternative to our plastic cards which we are phasing out. Environmental sustainability is one of the defining issues of our time with wide-ranging implications for society and for every sector of our economy. How we respond will be key to the future success of our industry.

 

Bloomfield House Hotel Scoops Top Wedding Award for 5th Year

Bloomfield House Hotel, the Four Star Lakeside Wedding venue has just scooped the hotly contested Top Rated Wedding Venue in Westmeath Award for a fifth year from the Irish and UK venue finder website, WeddingDates.ie.

There was great excitement and celebrations at the hotel as the winner was officially announced. “We were overwhelmed by the response we got from all our past Brides & Grooms. We had amazing comments and feedback this year and were still up against it with the competition from other wedding venues” explained Nicola Forkan, Wedding & Events Manager at Bloomfield House Hotel, who was thrilled on hearing the results. “I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all the wedding couples who added such amazing wedding reviews” she added. Ciara Crossan, Founder & CEO of WeddingDates.ie says; "The WeddingDates Awards represent the best of the best wedding venues from across the country. They are based purely on reviews from past wedding couples who have experienced the service and quality, and we feel that they are the most authentic awards and something that all the winners should be extremely proud of. I’d like to extend massive congratulations to Bloomfield House Hotel and all our award winners this year who represent the crème de la crème of wedding venues in Ireland.”

On top of being crowned Westmeath’s Top Rated Wedding Venue, the four star lakeside Hotel was also awarded Ireland’s Country House Wedding Venue of the Year. This crowns a fantastic year with Bloomfield House also being awarded Midlands Wedding of the Year at the Hospitality Awards hosted by Midlands 103 earlier this year. Ronan Byrne, General Manager at Bloomfield House Hotel thanked all their past couples for their kind and honest reviews. “We are delighted and honoured to have received these awards from WeddingDates.ie. Accolades that are based on our Brides & Grooms feedback drive us to continue to create unique and memorable weddings. This really is the icing on the cake as we celebrated our 40th Anniversary this year. It is fantastic to be recognised as Westmeath’s Top Rated Wedding Venue and Ireland’s Country House Wedding Venue of the Year based on the opinions of those who know us best – our Brides and Grooms. These awards are a testament of the hard work and dedication of our team” he added.

The Wedding Team are looking forward to an exciting 2020 as they showcase many new additions to their Wedding Packages including the spectacular Lakeview Ceremony Room, elegant bespoke Wedding Chairs, Cherry Blossom Trees, exquisitely decorated Ballroom and much more to complete that opulent look on your special day.For more information on Weddings at Bloomfield House Hotel, click here

Picture below l to r: Lucy Dillon, Nicola Forkan & Katrina Leech were thrilled with Bloomfield House Hotel receiving Awards for Westmeath’s Wedding Venue of the Year and Ireland’s Country House Wedding Venue of the Year.

 

Bride & Groom return to Bloomfield House Hotel for Ruby Anniversary Celebrations

What better way to celebrate 40 years of love and marriage than by returning to the place where it all began? Having held their wedding reception in Bloomfield House Hotel on September 1st, 1979, Mr & Mrs Tom and Jackie Connell returned to us today, 40 years to the day, to mark their ruby wedding anniversary.

Tom Connell originally from Cullion, Mullingar married Jackie­­­­ ­­­­­­­­­­Cooney from, Rahan, Co. Offaly in St. Carthage’s Church in Killina, Rahan. A lavish reception at the then newly opened Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar awaited the newlyweds, their family and friends.

The happy couple, who now reside in Crookedwood, Co. Westmeath returned to Bloomfield House for a celebratory meal with their family to mark this very special anniversary.

Tom and Jackie were among the first couples to celebrate their wedding at Bloomfield House Hotel, the beginning of a long tradition of truly memorable weddings. Thirty six years later, daughter Sinead followed in her parent’s footsteps and chose Bloomfield House Hotel as the venue for her big day to husband Hugh.

All the Team at Bloomfield wish Tom, Jackie and family health and happiness for the future and many more happy occasions together. There’s always a welcome at Bloomfield.

 

Bloomfield House Hotel beats off stiff competition to win ‘Wedding Venue of the Year’ at Hospitality Awards

Bloomfield House Hotel has been awarded ‘Wedding Venue of the Year’ at the 2nd annual Hospitality Awards hosted by Midlands 103. The Hospitality Awards celebrate the best in hotel and hospitality excellence in the Midlands counties of Laois, Offaly and Westmeath that go above and beyond to deliver a best in class customer experience. The ‘Wedding Venue of the Year’ award was a highly contended category, with a long list of worthy nominees from across the region. Each hotel was assessed against a number of key criteria to measure quality, facilities, wedding packages and service.

Commenting on the win, Ronan Byrne, General Manager said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this prestigious award at the Midlands 103 Hospitality Awards. Thank you to all of our valued and loyal customers who nominated us and to the hardworking team at Bloomfield House Hotel”.

“Having opened its doors in 1979, this year will mark 40 years of truly wonderful weddings at Bloomfield House Hotel” he continued. “As a long established hotel, we are always striving to offer the best experience possible to our Wedding couples. The extension to the Restaurant and Leisure Club area is near completion. We have more exciting enhancements on the way to celebrate our ruby anniversary”.

Pictured receiving the award from Seanie Morris of Midlands 103 are (l to r) Nicola Forkan (Weddings & Events Manager), Lucy Dillon (Weddings & Events Co-ordinator) & Oliver Gaffey (Sales & Marketing Manager)  

 

Team Bloomfield take on Westmeath's Fittest Company 

Congratulations to our very own Gary, Oliver, Elaine & Shane who flew the flag for us at Westmeath's Fittest Company event recently. A kayak, obstacle course, bog run and hang tough challenge awaited the guys where they came home 1st their heat and made it right through to the final. The elements were tough but a superb day was had by all including team mentor Sharon Scally who drove the guys on all day. Well done to organisers Maurice Looby Fitness, all the competitors and everyone who played a part in organising a brilliant event.

Bloomfield House Hotel First in Westmeath to be Accredited for Excellence in Customer Service by Fáilte Ireland

Purple Flag Mullingar

 

Chef Roger gives a roasting!

Happy Hearts at Bloomfield

Every year in Ireland many people suffer a cardiac arrest caused by arrhythmias in the heart due to uncoordinated electrical impulses. These electrical impulses can be corrected with the use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) which delivers a shock to the heart to try and correct these arrhythmias. Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa are pleased to announce that they have installed a Defibrillator on their premises. This is a portable electronic device that applies electricity allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm in the event of a cardiac arrest. The hotel have installed the life saving device not only to protect their guests but also for their employees who spend even more time at the hotel.

 

“We have taken action into ensuring the safety of our employees and guests by installing a defibrillator within our premises. Considering our location, ambulance response times and although we are only a short distance from town, we want our guests and staff to have the confidence that the life-saving equipment is available if required in the event of an emergency” explained Oliver Gaffey, Sales & Marketing Manager. 

 

Sadly, everyone is at risk of suffering a cardiac arrest, from young children to the elderly. They are often triggered by an underlying heart condition which can be unknown; however they can occur without warning from something as simple as suffering a blow to the chest.

 

One of the most important factors in the survial of cardiac arrest is the early use of a defibrillator. For every minute a casualty is in cardiac arrest without treatment, chances of survival decrease. Should a cardiac arrest occur on the hotel grounds, this move by the hotel will ensure a defibrillator will be at the scene and the victim can be analysed within minutes of collapse.

 

Mr. Gaffey went on to say “The safety of our staff and guests is top priority but we would like to make the local community here in Lynn and Belvedere aware of our AED and should an emergency occur please do not hesitate to ask for our assistance.”

 

Birthday Celebrations

Thursday 5th July was an extra special day as we helped a fabulous lady celebrate an extra special birthday! A very Happy Birthday to our Director, Liz. Lots of love from all your Bloomfield family. Enjoy all your well deserved celebrations!