It costs €60 million but looks worth every penny
12:07, 27 Nov 2025Updated 09:21, 28 Nov 2025
The Hawthorn hotel’s golf clubhouse(Image: Andrew Bradley photography)
The Connacht Hospitality Group has unveiled plans for the imminent opening of The Hawthorn by Galway Bay, a landmark five-star hotel set to welcome guests in early 2026.
This will be the first new five-star establishment in Galway to open in over two decades.
With an investment of €60 million, The Hawthorn by Galway Bay is poised to offer a world-class hotel experience, a championship golf course, and an immersive wellness spa on the fringes of Galway Bay.
Situated on a stunning coastal headland near Oranmore, the hotel says they to “redefine luxury” on Ireland’s west coast whilst embracing the unique spirit, craft, and landscape that characterise Galway.
Christy Jnr. designed the original Galway Bay Golf Course in 1993, envisioning the site as a global destination that would marry exceptional golf with outstanding hospitality.
Now, three decades later and ten years after Christy’s passing, this vision is being fully realised by the Connacht Hospitality Group.
Over the past ten years, the Group has been steadily gathering the land, assets, and expertise required to transform the former Galway Bay Golf Resort into one of Ireland’s most ambitious hospitality projects.
At the heart of this transformation has been a multi-year enhancement of the championship course and clubhouse, raising the golfing experience to a five-star standard.
A comprehensive equipment renewal programme has improved playing conditions, whilst a three-season gorse renovation has restored ocean views and reconnected the course with its dramatic coastal setting.
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Sustainability has been a key focus, with approximately 22 acres re-wilded using tall fescue grasses, reducing intensive maintenance and encouraging biodiversity – including the return of the native skylark.
The introduction of a fully electric buggy fleet further underscores this commitment to responsible operations.
A significant bunker renovation is currently in progress to refine the course’s strategic coastal layout, and the clubhouse will undergo an additional refurbishment in early 2026, with upgraded facilities designed to meet the expectations of global golf travellers.
Membership has also expanded through the IMG Prestige network, offering access to 150+ top courses worldwide, all initiatives that reinforce the Group’s long-term commitment to quality, sustainability, and exceptional service, creating an exceptional member experience, and positioning Galway Bay Golf as one of Ireland’s premier coastal golf destinations.
The Hawthorn hotel(Image: Andrew Bradley photography)
The Hawthorn by Galway Bay started with the restoration of the golf clubhouse in 2023, and is now progressing well, generating roughly 200 jobs during construction and once operational. When it opens, it will bring Connacht Hospitality Group’s total workforce to more than 700 employees, solidifying its status as Galway’s biggest hospitality employer.
“The Hawthorn by Galway Bay is a hugely important project for the Connacht Hospitality Group,” says Peter Fitzgerald, the Group CEO. “For us, it’s much more than a hotel. It’s the fulfilment of a vision that began with Christy O’Connor Jnr. and his belief in this extraordinary place.
We’re proud to continue that legacy, creating a destination that brings the warmth and authenticity of Galway hospitality together with the standards of a world-class luxury experience. Every detail, from the design to the service, reflects our ambition to create something truly exceptional for Ireland’s west coast.”
The Hawthorn by Galway Bay will offer 114 guestrooms, including 47 Junior Suites and 17 Penthouse Suites, with several able to be connected to form multi-generational family accommodations with separate entrances. The hotel’s main live-fire restaurant will be named The Skylark, whilst The Oyster Catcher Bar will provide panoramic views across the championship course and Galway Bay.
The Hawthorn hotel’s Clubhouse Restaurant(Image: Andrew Bradley photography)
Visitors can also explore The Chocolate Laboratory, The Whiskey Room, and The Wine Cellar, each crafted as exclusive spaces for tastings and private gatherings. The centrepiece of the hotel is The Spa at The Hawthorn, a wellness haven offering thermal and hydrotherapy zones, holistic treatment rooms, and tranquil spaces.
Outside, guests can explore walking and running trails, embark on sailing adventures, and experience sea safaris along the Wild Atlantic Way.
John Keating, an Irish hotelier with over thirty years of luxury experience globally, most recently at Fairmont St. Andrews in Scotland, will lead the pre-opening and launch as General Manager. Dean Montgomery, who brings world-class operational experience from prestigious courses such as Royal Liverpool and Yas Links Abu Dhabi, joins as Director of Golf.
Upon completion, Ireland’s latest five-star establishment, The Hawthorn by Galway Bay, will mark a fresh chapter in Irish hospitality, narrating a tale of rejuvenation, vision, and locale. Surrounded by native hawthorn trees, rolling greens, and the ever-shifting Atlantic horizon, The Hawthorn by Galway Bay is gearing up to welcome guests from Ireland and across the globe to savour the charm and beauty of the West in five-star luxury.
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