Revel in an afternoon tea at Adare Manor and discover a tradition that quests for beauty, gentility, and joy in life’s simple pleasures. 

Some say tea is gentle. Indulge in an afternoon tea inside the great estate of  Adare Manor, and you will discover it is also elegant. 

On a warm spring day, my partner and I make our way up to the entrance of Adare Manor. Its gothic splendor appears before us as we walk along the groomed gardens leading us to the entrance. A few rose bushes begin to bud, giving us a peek at the splendid color they promise. 

Passing under an old willow tree, we head up the steps. “Welcome to Adare Manor,” says a footman opening a pair of wide wooden doors. We are here to enjoy an afternoon tea inside the magical setting of the Gallery.

The Village of Adare and The Manor House

Adare sits along the River Maigue, about twelve miles southwest of the larger city of Limerick in County Limerick, Ireland.  Adare stands on its merit as a designated heritage town, adorned with colorful cottages, thatched roofs, and oodles of charm. It is the perfect picturesque Irish village.

Charming thatched cottages in the village of Adare. Photo courtesy of Richard Schmitz

Tea at Adare Manor

Tea is served in The Gallery, the manor’s grand salon. Inspired by Europe’s great cathedrals and castle galleries, this long room measures 132 feet long. Its ceilings reach a staggering 26 feet high. Handmade tapestries embroidered by local school children engulf the walls while the five enormous bay windows are inlaid with stained-glass depictions of the noble family. Family crests shimmer in the sunlight alongside illustrations of noblemen dressed in their finery. The original windows were commissioned around the time of Queen Victoria’s crowning illustrating the antiquity of the family lineage. As part of the conservation project in Adare Manor, these windows have been meticulously restored to their former glory,

During the mid-19th century, afternoon tea was considered a mainstay of the gracious life. Surrounded by the grandeur of The Gallery in Adare Manor, the feel of this elegant tradition lives on.

Inside the Gallery at Adare Manor. Photo courtesy of Adare Manor

The Story of Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is more than a quick cuppa; it is never consumed on the go. Instead, it is leisurely, slow, and not rushed.

Before delving into the splendor of Adare Manor’s afternoon tea, it is important to appreciate the history behind this beloved tradition.

The afternoon tea originated in 1840 with Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. Legend has it that the Duchess felt faint and a little peckish around four o’clock in the afternoon. With the evening meal typically taken around eight, this was a long time to wait to eat.

To remedy this, the Duchess asked for a tray of tea, bread, butter, and small cakes to be delivered to her room during the latter part of the day. Becoming a favored habit, she invited friends to join her, creating a fashionable social event around tea. It symbolized refinement and sophistication.

With time, the bread and butter evolved into the finger sandwiches popularly served today, freshly baked scones, and decadent desserts. The pause for an afternoon tea is a small meal unto itself and at Adare Manor, the tea tradition is celebrated with meticulous attention to detail. From combining the finest selection of teas with delectable treats and impeccable service, the experience will leave you feeling like royalty for a day.

A Little Bit of History on Adare Manor

The village of Adare is a special place to me as the ancestral home on my mother’s side. My great-great-grandfather likely worked as a tradesman at Adare Manor while it was being rebuilt.

The renovation of this 13th-century structure began in 1832 and spread out over the next forty years. The 2nd Earl of Dunraven, who was 50 then, and his wife Caroline, had a keen eye for grand architecture and held it in high esteem. Schooled through their travels in the latest styles, they designed everything in the fashionable Tudor Revival Style, otherwise known as Victorian Gothic.

A display of Victorian Gothic Architecture at Adare Manor. Photo courtesy of Richard Schmitz

Caroline’s inheritance funded the decades-long project. She was the only surviving child of Thomas Wyndham, a prominent Welsh landlord and politician. She became the sole heiress to her father’s 26,000 acres of land, spread through three Welsh estates, including the more commonly known Dunraven Castle.

But her fortune did not stop there, for in the mid-1820s, a new development occurred. Coal was found on the Dunraven estate in Wales. This area soon produced the richest coal seams in northwest Europe. This new income stream subsidized the massive upgrade to Adare Manor, bringing it to its full glory and earning it the title of a “grand home of Ireland.”

Forty Years of Renovation

This new wealth also boosted the village community of Adare. It employed locals as skilled laborers, carpenters, stone masons, and brick layers like my great-great-grandad. It saw Adare manor and the adjoining village through the Great Hunger (aka – the Famine) of the 1840s when so many estates went bankrupt, and thousands of people starved due to their primary crop and source of food, the potato, suffering a blight.

Lady Caroline, Countess of Dunraven, devoted the next four decades to improving her house and Adare village. Not only did the Earl and Countess offer employment, but stories tell of her holding weekly dinners for the workers and their families. Outwardly, the Earl’s politics leaned toward the conservative Tory party, although he actively supported Catholic emancipation, which earned him favor among the villagers of Adare.

Adare Manor became a beloved and grand home of Ireland. Enjoying an afternoon tea at Adare Manor is a glimpse into this world of the past and only an inkling of the future.

Adare Manor Today is a World Class Hotel

After the 7th Earl of Dunraven passed away in 2011, without any male heir, the title of earldom became extinct. Despite the continued management of the estate, first by the widowed Countess and then by her daughter, the fate of the manor and surrounding acreage became clear. The estate must be sold.

The manor sold twice with the current owners, the McManus family, purchasing the entire estate, including the world-class championship golf course in 2015. It was their decision and forward thinking to redevelop, restore, and enhance this elegant and honored home, now turned into a luxurious 5-star hotel and resort. The guiding edict was the family’s desire to achieve absolute excellence at every step.

Like the 1832 renovation, they welcomed the public with splendor and beauty when the doors opened again. Spending time here and taking afternoon tea at Adare Manor is just the beginning.

Splendor and beauty of this grand home at Adare Manor. Photo courtesy of Richard Schmitz

An Afternoon Tea at Adare Manor

We wait for a few minutes in the great room. Surrounding us stood an ornate stone fireplace, larger-than-life oil paintings, and plush furnishings. We are led upstairs to the elegant Gallery and tea room at our appointed time. 

Stepping through the entry we are shown to our table with sincere warmth and grace. As we walk the length of this long room, listening to the low hum of voices in conversation mixed with the soft clinking of china, I picture the room in the days of Lady Caroline and the 2nd Earl of Dunraven. 

A favorite room and hub of daily life, the family dined at one end before retreating to play games at the other end that overlooks lush gardens rivaled only by Versailles.

Gardens rivaled by Versailles at Adare Manor. Photo courtesy of Richard Schmitz

A simple and elegant display of three roses sits in a vase at the center of our table next to a sterling silver tea service. A server hands us the tea menu, which looks like a small book. We browse leisurely through the extensive collection of blends from around the world. Listed on the pages inside, we find familiar black, chai, green, and even white teas.

Karina, our server, introduces herself and asks if we would like to start with a particular tea. We choose the old favorite and stand-by of Earl Grey. After all, this seems a nod to the family title of yore. With this pot, the iconic Earl Grey tea aroma of sweet, citrusy bergamot did not disappoint.

Adare Manor curates a menu that embodies the essence of indulgence. Each element of the tea service delights the senses, right down to the white-and-baby-blue striped Bernardaud porcelain china.

The Three-Course Tea

Afternoon tea at Adare Manor consists of three courses and five teas. Every course pairs with a unique tea blend, much like a sommelier pairs wine with cheese. Karina became our tea sommelier!  

Our next chosen tea is their signature blend—1832—a refreshing aroma of mild spices infused in black tea. A tray of daintily cut, savory sandwiches with an assortment of sumptuous flavors accompanied our new pot of tea. 

A Savory sandwich tray and tea at Adare Manor. Photo courtesy of Richard Schmitz

Taking Karina’s suggestion, we pair a white ginger pear tea with the next course of freshly baked scones. The scones come with lemon curd, strawberry preserves, and clotted cream. The light flavor of juicy orchard fresh pear and spicy ginger married well with the sweet pastry and berry preserves.

As an interlude, an African Solstice Roobios tea came served cold in small, slender glasses. This ruby tea cleansed our palette and offered us a reprise as we let our meal settle. Sipping slowly, we sit back, listening to the crooning tones of Louis Armstrong playing in the background, setting a mood.

We start to feel satiated with one more course to go, but there is always room for dessert, right? Karina brings out a tray laden with edible works of art. Miniature cakes of chocolate ganache sit next to strawberry cheesecake, carrot cake, and apple custard. Pairing these sweets with a tea lightly infused with raspberry and notes of tropical hibiscus creates a symphony of flavors. The course was the piece de resistance and a celebration of artistry and culinary skill.

Delectable Desserts at Afternoon Tea at Adare Manor. Photo courtesy of Richard Schmitz

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Revel in Gentility at Adare Manor

With the first sip of this three-course tea, we slip away for a few hours to a bygone era housed in the Gallery. Revel in an afternoon tea at Adare Manor and discover a tradition that quests for beauty, gentility, and joy in life’s simple pleasures.

Let Wander With Wonder be your guide when planning a visit to Ireland or other historic towns around the world.

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An Afternoon Tea at Adare Manor