Authenticity is the key.

That’s what it takes to become part of the prestigious family of landmark Relais & Châteaux properties… and it’s something its newest Cork member has in spades.

Liss Ard Estate in Skibbereen is just the seventh property in Ireland, one of only ten new member hotels and the only Irish hotel added to the worldwide association this year.

With member properties in 67 countries, from the Napa Valley vineyards and French Provence to the beaches of the Indian Ocean, Relais & Châteaux properties celebrate excellence in food, experience, and in culture.

Announcing the new additions Relais & Châteaux said Liss Ard’s lush, 163-acre estate, and elegant, Georgian-style mansion “epitomises the enchantment of the Irish countryside”.

They also mention the bright, fresh guest rooms with their generous natural light, furnished in modern country style, and the award-winning Garden restaurant, with its menu featuring in-season ingredients, including vegetables grown in Liss Ard Estate’s own organic vegetable garden.

“During your stay,” continues the entry on new member Liss Ard Estate by Relais & Châteaux, “you can choose to stroll along paths lined with cypresses and century-old Lebanese cedars, go kayaking or stand-up paddle-boarding on the serene waters of the private lake, or join an outdoor yoga class followed by a relaxing massage at the wellness centre.

“The hotel also offers guests a nearly metaphysical experience with its Sky Garden: a giant earth-and-stone crater lined with emerald grass, the work of landscape artist James Turrell, that beckons you to contemplate the heavens and the unique sensation of the earth and sky changing places.”

Liss Ard Estate General Manager, Alexi Argyris said the news was “fantastic for each team member who made this possible with their incredible work and commitment”.

“It has been a dream to have Liss Ard Estate be part of the Relais & Châteaux family and we are proud to join our sister property in Burgundy, the historic Abbaye de la Bussière, as a member of this prestigious family,” he added.