Mount Juliet | Luxury Hotel Refurbishment

McKeon Group delivered a high-end luxury hotel refurbishment within the historic Manor House at Mount Juliet Estate, one of Ireland’s leading five-star hospitality destinations.

Project team

Main Contractor & PSCS

McKeon Group

client

Mount Juliet

Designers

O’Donnell O’Neill

Project Managers

FESP

M&E Consultant

PMEP

Assigned Certifier

Knapton

Overview

The project involved upgrading 32 guest bedrooms and key circulation areas, including the library corridor, morning room, Major’s Bar, Lady Helen parlour and dining room, Tetrarch lounge, stairwells and the sunroom. Works were delivered within a partially operational setting, with the Manor House closed while the wider Mount Juliet Estate remained open to guests. This complex heritage project required careful planning and coordination to minimise disruption while delivering a premium, five-star finish. The interior design was led by Aisling Healy of O’Donnell O’Neill, whose design sensitively balanced heritage restoration with contemporary luxury.

The Challenge

The project was driven by the requirement to upgrade and replace the existing fire alarm system, forming a critical element of the overall refurbishment scope. Delivering this within a protected structure, while coordinating a full rewire and system installation alongside high-end interior works, significantly increased the programme’s complexity.

This heritage refurbishment was delivered within a tight 10-week construction programme, with a fixed deadline aligned with the hotel’s reopening milestones. Operating within a protected structure, the works required exceptional care to preserve original features while upgrading services and finishes to modern standards. The accelerated timeline, combined with ongoing operations across the wider estate, demanded a highly agile approach, extended working hours and precise sequencing to ensure programme certainty without disruption.

The Delivery

As experienced fit out contractors in heritage environments, McKeon Group implemented a phased, room-by-room refurbishment strategy across multiple floors.

Key works included:

Structural alteration and amalgamation of existing bedroom layouts
Installation of a new fire alarm and emergency lighting system
Mechanical and electrical upgrades, including general wiring and air conditioning enhancements
Bespoke joinery and high-spec internal finishes
Flooring, decoration and FF&E installation
Protection and careful restoration of existing heritage fabric

To meet the demanding programme, our team worked intensively, coordinating a specialist supply chain and maintaining strict quality control at every stage. The project required a high level of craftsmanship, with intricate detailing and precision in restoration work. The scope included a full upgrade of building services, incorporating a complete rewire and integration of a new fire alarm and emergency lighting system, delivered in collaboration with PMEP as M&E Consultant. All works were carried out in full alignment with the interior design by Aisling Healy of O’Donnell O’Neill, ensuring design integrity from concept through to completion. The project was led by FESP as Project Managers, with Knapton appointed as the Assigned Certifier. Delivery was underpinned by McKeon Group’s ISO-certified quality, environmental and health & safety management systems.

The Outcome

The project was successfully delivered on programme, despite the complexities of a heritage hospitality environment. The completed refurbishment enhances Mount Juliet Manor House as a premier luxury destination, with upgraded guest rooms and circulation spaces that sensitively combine traditional character with contemporary comfort. This project demonstrates McKeon Group’s expertise in luxury hotel fit-out and heritage refurbishment, delivering exceptional quality through craftsmanship, attention to detail and programme certainty.

“Delivering a refurbishment within a building of such heritage significance requires a careful balance between preservation and modernisation. Working alongside McKeon Group, we achieved that…