Our Story

“Let us tell you Our Story”

We would like to share with you our journey from when we purchased the Hotel, a little insight into us & how we achieved our vision of the acclaimed 4 Star property it is today.

We made the decision to purchase the Hotel, established in 1967 with a long-standing local history, in early 2014.  With a clear perception & dream for it to become Donegal’s most iconic Hotel along the Wild Atlantic Way. Our carefully considered choice of name, Mulroy Woods Hotel, reflects the local Mulroy area & the beauty in abundance that lies here.

Before we set out on our path to the Hotel, we both enjoyed a long history with it, memories held dear of good times going to discos & dancing the night away, to family gatherings & meeting with friends.

“Marty’s affinity with the property over the years was from socialising & attending family celebrations. He also loved the character & charm which led to his vision to enhance these qualities through careful stylish renovation & elegant décor which you will find today. 

Patricia having trained in hospitality and managed local Hotels for 20 years relished the chance to make Mulroy Woods a beautiful sanctuary where guests could go, switch off and indulge in the beautiful scenery, good food & wine, wrapped up with a warm Donegal welcome.”

We met in and married in 2014, our daughter Harper was born in 2015, after whom we named the hotel restaurant.  Both Donegal natives living and working in Donegal for the most part of our careers. We hold a passion & flare for good food and wine, both sharing a love to travel and bring back those experiences to Mulroy Woods.

Together we have lovingly taken the Hotel to its 4 Star status, a place where you the guest love to visit & return to time after time to enjoy true Donegal hospitality.  A place where it excites us to entertain with great food & ample wine. We are proud of our team who we value as true treasures, always ensuring an amazing welcome & service every time.

Starting off with 32 bedrooms, we very quickly realised that we needed to add more! In 2016, another 12 new executive Wood Quarter rooms were added.  The focus of our attention then turned to upgrading the restaurant and bar, followed in 2018 by refurbishing the existing rooms and Mulroy banqueting suite. Over the past two years we have renovated the Glashagh banqueting suite. We continue every year to complete a project that enhances our guest experience, reflecting in the heritage of Glenveagh, the natural unspoilt beauty of Mulroy Bay and that of our dwelling place amongst the magnificent Donegal Landscape. Giving careful attention to detail & consideration, creating a tranquil, calming experience, allowing you to envelop yourself in history & nature.  Ensuring you switch off & enjoy a slow relaxed pace of truly being away from it all. Bespoke furniture & carpets throughout creating a tranquil sanctuary that embodies Glenveagh, our Wood Quarter rooms are filled with soothing colours & stag theme to reflect this. Our Courtyard rooms mirroring the hues and beauty of Mulroy Bay, all just moments away from our doorstep, a peaceful place to rest & unwind.

The business has grown from strength to strength & now boasts 45 Bedrooms. Our Glashagh Ballroom has been completely refurbished, standing proudly as one of the finest Wedding Suites in the North West, alongside music & special occasion events and playing host to our famous Sunday Carvery Lunch

We feel & hope we have created the Perfect place to pause, a place from which to explore, to take time out of the stresses of day-to-day life and unwind in the tranquil setting that we have to offer. We have gained a stellar reputation for genuine Donegal Hospitality and Hotel Keeping. Being recipients of many Awards, Mulroy Woods Hotel is not only ranked in the Top 10% of Hotels in the World for the past 5 consecutive years, but also included in Lucinda O Sullivan’s Great Places to Stay and Eat & Irish Hotel Awards “Wedding Hotel of the Year” for the past 4 consecutive years to mention just a few. We are proud of our team who we see as our true treasures, always ensuring an amazing welcome & professional service every time, allowing us achieve such accolades.

We look forward to sharing our much-loved hotel with you when next you call our way, where you will be assured a true authentic Donegal welcome awaits

Thank you for reading our story & we hope you will be part of our next chapters

Yours in hospitality,

Marty & Patricia Kelly