Mayo island boutique hotel to offer 'an unparalleled visitor experience'

A PROPOSED luxury 12-suite boutique hotel on Achill Island will offer guests 'an atmosphere of calm sophistication' with the hotel masterplan including a tranquil Zen Garden and a terrace overlooking the sea and direct access to the beach.

A planning application made by Trasa Jones has been lodged with Mayo County Council to develop a 12-suite hotel, including spa and leisure facilities, a wedding function room, cinema, yoga studio, and amenities for wellness retreats in the village of Dooagh on Achill Island.

Located adjacent to Dooagh Beach, the project will involve the demolition of an existing dwelling house and replace it with a luxury hotel which the applicant says will deliver 'an unparalleled visitor experience'.

The design of the 'Beach House Hotel' was drawn by Westport-based Keith Walsh Architects who stated in report submitted to Mayo County Council that the design 'reflects a careful and considered response to the unique context of its location on Achill Island'.

“Every aspect of the architecture is informed by the surrounding landscape, the sloping topography, and the desire to create a sustainable, luxurious, and immersive experience for guests,” the design report read.

The total floor area of the hotel will be 1,662 square metres and will be 'seamlessly nestled into this natural gradient, ensuring that it is both visually unobtrusive and harmoniously integrated into the landscape'.

The design will include a stone-walled courtyard located near the road as well as a sea terrace which 'offers a dramatic yet tranquil outdoor experience, ideal for relaxation or events, with uninterrupted sea views'.

The building’s exterior is 'wrapped' in local stone cladding, 'ensuring that the structure blends seamlessly with the rugged Achill landscape' while the hotel roof is finished with a sedum green roof blanket containing a mixture of local plant varieties.

A computer image of the proposed luxury boutique hotel to be built in Dooagh on Achill Island

Each of the 12 bedroom suites will offer 'floor-to-ceiling glazing, private balconies, and outdoor baths, allowing guests to luxuriate while taking in the views of the waves crashing below' while the spa and leisure facilities are designed as 'sanctuaries of peace, complemented by the Zen garden, which provides a meditative retreat from the world outside'.

“The proposed luxury hotel in Dooagh is a strategic addition to Achill Island's tourism offering, reinforcing Mayo's status as a premier destination on the Wild Atlantic Way,” the design statement read.

“By integrating sustainable design and respecting the local environment, this project delivers economic and cultural benefits to the community while aligning with the goals of the Mayo County Development Plan,” it concluded.

A landscape masterplan for the Beach House Hotel was also included in the planning application which stated that it aspires to create a strong connection between the architecture and the dramatic coastal setting of the west of Ireland.

The existing house in Dooagh which will be demolished to make way for a proposed luxury hotel

“The aim is to design spaces that complement the boutique hotel’s intimate scale while enhancing its relationship with the surrounding natural beauty,” it read.

The landscape masterplan also outlined out that the hotel is 'thoughtfully divided into three key areas, each enhancing the connection between the architecture and the dramatic coastal setting'.

“The Arrival Courtyard offers a warm and elegant welcome, with practical features framed by lush planting and natural materials. The Walled Gardens provide intimate retreats, including a tranquil Zen Garden for yoga and meditation and a private garden for the master suite. The Hotel Terrace, overlooking the ocean, serves as the social hub with zones for dining, lounging, and direct beach access. Together, these spaces create a cohesive and atmospheric experience that celebrates the surrounding landscape,” the masterplan stated.

A marketing report on the viability of a luxury hotel for Achill was prepared by Catherine Cronin of Cronin Marketing Communications who found that Achill has a fragmented accommodation offering dispersed throughout the island with just three hotels registered with Failte Ireland.

She added that Achill is losing out on high end visitors because of the lack of luxury accommodation to cater for events such as weddings and corporate events.

Ms Cronin outlined that a small luxury hotel in the heart of Achill Island will bring new business to the area and will be a unique destination offering with year round appeal to visitors.

A decision on whether to grant planning permission for the proposed hotel is expected to be made by Mayo County Council in early spring in 2025.