My guest this week on the Travel Tales with Fergal Podcast is Les Walsh, Head Concierge at the stunning Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, County Waterford.

Ardmore is a beautiful seaside village that is close to my heart, and a place I return to every summer for swims off the pier. Taking its name from the Irish Aird Mhór, meaning “great height”, Ardmore is steeped in history and local tradition, with strong links to Saint Declan, who is said to have founded a Christian community here in the early 5th century.

The Cliff House Hotel sits dramatically above the sea and is one of Ireland’s most special five-star hotels. Home to the Michelin-starred House Restaurant, and the newest member of Ireland’s Blue Book, it has helped place Ardmore firmly on the map as a luxury destination.

Les is a member of the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or, the international association of professional hotel concierges, and in this episode he shares his insights into great hospitality, the magic of Ardmore, and the experiences that make this corner of Waterford so memorable including nearby Lismore, Youghal, the Mahons Falls in the Comeragh mountains and foody favourite town Dungarvan on the Greenway.

We also touch on Ardmore’s rich heritage from St Declan’s Monastery to its 12th-century Round Tower, in a conversation full of sea, stories, history and five-star hospitality

I love the Blue Book because they are often family-owned and run Irish Country House Hotels, Manor Houses, castles and restaurants. A Blue Book voucher would always be my top travel gift recommendation and their website is https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie.

Check out the Cliff House Hotel here https://cliffhousehotel.ie

Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 award winning travel podcast Travel Tales with Fergal listened to in 140 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

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