Clontarf Castle is a protected, early 19th Century Tudor-revival house, designed by Morrison. A principal element of the architectural composition is a pair of replica 11th Century towers.

By the early 1990's, the hotel had become dilapidated, and lacked any modern facilities. The clients' brief was to add 88 bedrooms, a large function room, a number of smaller function rooms, restaurant, kitchens, bars and ancillary facilities to create a contemporary hotel.

A light, glazed atrium was used as a device to create a tenuous link between the modern hotel facilities and the original structures.

[Note: the architect was not responsible for the interior design].