Poulaphouca House & Falls takes exclusive-use weddings for up to 190 guests in its restored barn, as well as corporate events and full property rentals outside the wedding calendar. The family-run estate covers 36 acres of woodland, lakes and a waterfall at Blakestown, Hollywood, in West Wicklow, about five minutes from Blessington and 45 minutes from Dublin.
Seminars and company events
The estate offers high-end corporate events and full rentals of the property during periods without weddings, so a company can take over the house, the barn and the grounds. Outdoor events are also considered, and the estate rents its historic spaces for film, television and advertising shoots. It does not host christenings, birthdays, anniversaries, communions or confirmations. The site does not give meeting-room capacities, so the layout for a working day should be agreed with the team.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings are exclusive use, with the whole estate reserved for one couple. Ceremonies usually take place in the Garden Pavilion from March to October, and in the Barn in winter. Guests gather for drinks in the Main House before dinner in the Barn. All rooms on the property must be booked for the wedding night, and a minibus can be arranged for guests staying nearby. The estate presents itself as a place for relaxed celebrations with family and friends.
Rooms and capacities
The Barn is the main room, for up to 190 guests. It was restored from the building that held the Poulaphouca Barn Dances in the 1970s and 1980s, keeps its ivy-covered exterior and exposed wooden beams inside, and looks over the lower Blessington Lakes. The other spaces are the front terrace, the Old Bar, a traditional Irish pub, the Garden Pavilion, the Tree Top Bar and the Music Room.
Accommodation
The estate has 21 ensuite rooms spread across the Main House, the Hunting Lodge, the Shepherd's Huts and the Stable Rooms. The newly renovated Main House includes the bridal suite and family rooms, and the Hunting Lodge has rooms over the courtyard with double and single beds.
Catering
Chefs Hugh and Trevor lead the kitchen, with a team that counts 81 years of combined experience in Michelin-starred and five-star hotel kitchens. Menus are written for each event, using local produce and the estate's own herb and vegetable garden, with modern classic cooking techniques.
History and setting
The house was founded in 1893. The Poulaphouca waterfall, with a drop of over 150 feet, is reached by a restored historic path, and the estate highlights its links with James Joyce. The grounds run along the Blessington Lakes, part of the River Liffey, and the woodland gives space for photographs and walks.
Getting there
The estate is in County Wicklow, about 45 minutes by car from Dublin and five minutes from Blessington. Dublin Airport is the nearest international airport.
