Sustainability at DunbrodyWhere everything began with the Kitchen Gardens
Sustainability has always been at the heart of Dunbrody – where everything began with the Kitchen Gardens
Our Gardeners and Chefs work hand-in-hand to create our constantly evolving Seasonal Menus. What we can’t grow ourselves, we source from our local heroes, the best farmers, fishermen and foragers we know. We are obsessive recyclers and restorers - we love anything home-made and ultra-local. We have also consciously planted perennial flowering plants to encourage our bee population and coffee grounds are reused as compost in the garden. We have our own beehives on the grounds that produce honey we use in the hotel, as well as supporting pollination in the area.
The estate gardens supply the restaurant with fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs year-round. The estate includes century-old trees and plenty of new planting all designed to show off the flora and fauna of the Hook Peninsula to perfection. Try a spot of tree hugging along our woodland path, pause a while to enjoy the birdsong and at night-time look up to the stars and indulge in some digital detox.
This philosophy follows through with our wine list and bar offerings where the emphasis is firmly on organic and biodynamic viniculture and sustainable farming. Our cocktails are designed with our own homemade seasonal syrups and reductions and local suppliers include Tintern Abbey’s cider and apple juice.
Our House-Keeping team promotes more efficient water and energy usage and optimised waste management. Our bedrooms and public areas are lit by energy-efficient LEDs and free from single-use plastics. Toiletries are paraben-free and organic. We are champions of antique furniture and restoration enthusiasts too so all our rooms are individually-styled and decorated. Our gardeners also supply the fresh herbs and flowers that House-Keeping use in our bathsalts for an aromatherapy experience and pop on the pillows to promote good sleep.
In the cookery school Kevin & Julien are very much champions of local Wexford food heroes, artisan producers and organic, in season ingredients. They teach about low food miles, the benefits of eating and cooking local both from a personal health point of view but also an economic one.
The Coastal loop walk is a must-do when staying at Dunbrody and allows guests to experience the sounds, smells and natural coastal habitat of the Hook Peninsula where you can enjoy watching pods of dolphins in the bay below every year, hear the cuckoos annual return and the distinctive sounds of the woodpeckers. Not something soon forgotten. The woodland walks also provide a fabulous Nature experience especially for those who might like to try the ancient Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku - forest bathing which promotes de-stressing and boosting health and well-being.
The Estate Boutique promotes local art and crafts and offers a wonderful selection of paintings, photographs, woodcrafts, jewellery, candles, woollens and felts all locally created by wonderfully dedicated craftspeople. Dunbrody continues to commit to keeping sustainability at our heart and we look to include a more diverse and inclusive working culture through all the areas of our operation.
