Standing at the heart of Killarney since 1854, The Great Southern Killarney is Ireland’s first purpose-built railway hotel, set within six acres beside Killarney National Park. Part of the Scally Hotel Collection and now five-star, it opens its summer programme with refreshed menus at Arbour and Brownes, Mr. Browne’s Whiskey Club, and 1854 Champagne Moments.
Taking an ingredient-led approach, the hotel’s recently launched brasserie-style restaurant, Arbour is delighted to unveil its new summer menu. The kitchen showcases the region’s exceptional producers throughout the menu and celebrates the best local produce. Highlights include premium beef and lamb from Denis Cronin of Cronin’s Butchers in Killarney, alongside fresh leaves and cresses from Mary Walsh’s Little Black Hill Farm, located just outside the town. Signature dishes include Cromane oysters served with classic sauce mignonette, Monkfish and Mussels Marinière with cider, chorizo and kale, and dry-aged ribeye accompanied by a choice of chimichurri, peppercorn or nduja butter. The bar reflects the same commitment to craftsmanship, offering a carefully curated cocktail list featuring creations such as The Hidden Oak: an Irish Old Fashioned made with Jameson Black Barrel.
Brownes Cocktail Menu & Whiskey Club
Inspired by the legacy of the Browne Family and Lord Kenmare, whose generational history is intertwined with Killarney and the hotel itself, Brownes invites guests to relax in luxurious, storied surroundings. Launching for Summer 2026, its new cocktail menu tells the stories of Kerry’s landscapes and the Browne dynasty through thoughtfully crafted serves. Highlights include Full Steam Ahead, an Irish whiskey cocktail that recounts the legendary conditions Lord Kenmare placed on gifting the land for the hotel; Cliffside, a coastal-inspired pour evoking the Wild Atlantic Way; and Rare and Wild, a floral sour celebrating Kerry’s extraordinary native wildflowers.
Returning this Summer, Brownes will also host an upcoming series of Mr Browne’s Whiskey Club events. Offering an intimate tasting of exceptional Irish whiskeys, each evening is led by whiskey expert Mark Lonergan, including a complimentary welcome pour and accompanied by a carefully paired charcuterie board.
Mr. Brownes Whiskey Club will take place from 8.30-10pm on 10th July and 14th August. Tickets priced at €40 per person and available to book via evenbrite or the hotel’s events team: [email protected] or 064638000.
1854 Champagne Moments
Every Friday evening at 18:54, guests are invited to gather in the hotel lobby to mark the end of the week with a glass of champagne. The time is a deliberate nod to 1854, the year The Great Southern Killarney opened as Ireland’s first purpose-built hotel. New this summer and introduced to celebrate the hotel’s recent five-star achievement, it is a simple and considered ritual that invites guests to pause and raise a glass in a hotel with over 170 years of history behind it.
Taste the Wild Foraging Experience
Celebrating the local landscape and inviting guests to taste Killarney at its source; the hotel also offers a ‘Taste the Wild’ package. Available for two-night stays over the summer, the package includes a local foraging experience and a four-course dinner in Arbour, alongside two nights’ luxurious accommodation for two adults sharing and full Irish breakfast each morning.
