Recently, while visiting one of my favourite spas in Ireland, I mentioned to a colleague that I almost always end up shedding a tear post-treatment. No dramatic sobs, just a quiet, unexpected release. It usually hits afterwards, when I’m tucked into the post-treatment haze with herbal tea in hand. But this time, it happened early. I was sitting in the dimly lit “dark room”, wrapped in a robe, doing absolutely nothing, but waiting to be collected by my therapist – and that was enough to start the tears.
“It’s because you’ve slowed down,” she said. “People are carrying so much. And when they stop, even for a minute, it all catches up. We never really sit with ourselves any more.”
She’s right. It’s always go-go-go, next-next-next. And while it’s easy to dismiss spas as indulgent or fluffy, I’d argue the opposite: Ireland’s spa industry is not just an essential part of the beauty sector, but a key player in the wider wellness movement.
It’s also big business. Research by Phorest Salon Software a few years ago found that spas and salons in Ireland contribute more than €500 million to the economy each year, with about 600,000 bookings made each month, with people actively seeking out time to pamper themselves, rest and reset (or just breathe in a eucalyptus-scented room without their phones).
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Ireland is home to some of the world’s most unique spas and award-winning wellness brands. As their offerings have evolved, spa days, spa nights and spa weekends are now no longer reserved for birthdays or hen parties – they’ve become part of the way many of us cope, decompress and feel like ourselves again.
With that in mind, here are three unique new spa treatments worth knowing about, with prices ranging from a doable €145 to a €940 blow-the-budget getaway.
Tenalach by Ground Wellbeing at Castlemartyr Resort, Co Cork
Developed for Castlemartyr Resort by Ground Wellbeing’s Peigín Crowley in collaboration with spa manager Eoin O’Sullivan, Tenalach is an intense back-of-body ritual designed to ground you physically and mentally.
The treatment begins with a discussion about preferred scents and pressure points, followed by breathwork and a slow, intuitive massage that gradually builds in intensity, targeting tension through the legs, glutes, shoulders, neck and head. Two versions are available: a 60-minute treatment that includes back of body, face, and scalp work (€145), or a 90-minute option (€180) that adds a foot ritual and extended face and scalp massage.
At the centre of the experience is Castlemartyr’s own signature oil – blended by Crowley using calming, mood-soothing botanicals – designed to support the nervous system and encourage deep rest. You’ll want to bring a bottle home with you.
The Aromatic Ritual at Ballyfin Demesne, Co Laois
In keeping with the quiet luxury Ballyfin Demesne is known for, the Aromatic Ritual offers a 24-hour escape designed to restore body, mind and mood.
At the heart of the experience is a 90-minute spa treatment featuring the Pevonia skincare line and locally foraged botanicals. This is a heat-focused ritual, where warm compresses are applied to the face, neck, shoulders and back to help relieve built-up tension – particularly through the upper body, where most of us hold stress without noticing. Breathwork is gently woven in to help regulate the nervous system and encourage deeper, slower breathing. Scent plays a central role in this treatment, too. It’s subtle but deliberate, and the overall effect is one of slow release.
The package includes lunch, dinner, an overnight stay and breakfast, along with full access to the estate’s 614 acres of ancient woodlands. Prices start from €940 per person.
The Radiant Ritual by Germaine de Capuccini at The Johnstown Estate, Co Meath
Spanish skincare heavyweight Germaine de Capuccini has landed on the new treatment menu at The Spa at The Johnstown Estate. The brand was founded more than 60 years ago and is widely used in high-end spas across Spain and Italy, known for its blend of natural ingredients and science-led formulas.
One of the standout offerings is The Radiant Ritual (€165). It begins with a smoothing full-body exfoliation to slough away dullness and prep the skin for what’s next: a deeply relaxing back-of-body massage inspired by shiatsu. Working along the body’s energy lines, it’s designed to restore balance and calm. The treatment concludes with a power hydration facial that leaves the skin fresh, dewy and visibly more radiant. It’s a 75-minute treatment, but the price also includes 90 minutes in the thermal suites, and a two-course lunch at The Johnstown Estate.
This week I’m loving ... Laura Mercier Translucent Hydrating Setting Spray
Laura Mercier, best known for its translucent setting powder – a long-time staple in pro kits and make-up bags alike – has entered the setting spray fray with Translucent Hydrating Setting Spray Ultra-Blur (€38 from Space NK). A fine, hydrating mist with soft blurring capabilities, it adds a fresh, skin-like veil over make-up without flattening the skin. A light hand is key, however – apply too much and you’ll be left with a damp finish that takes time to dry.
