Wedding Venue - Glenlo Abbey Galway

emldeen

Can anyone help me with an honest review of a wedding in Glenlo Abbey in Galway either as the married couple or as a guest? - I am trying to organise my wedding from abroad and i keep hearing very mixed reports on the hotel e.g late meals, bands being delayed etc.

Has anyone been to a wedding there or had their wedding there in the last year? or are planning on having their wedding there? - just looking for some true stories before i lose my mind!

westernlass

A friend got married there and raved about the place. I wasn't at the wedding. It was last month.

Have you visited it before as its quite dated decor wise? You may love it but just checking are you going off photos

emldeen

Thanks for your reply - nice to hear something positive! We are looking for something that is not modern and standard hotel looking... silly i know - we are just making it harder for ourselves!

westernlass

That's cool, was checking as visited to check it and wanted to make sure you realised that. Don't know your numbers but screebe house might suit as well and Galway based. Or in the area is lough Cultra castle also

super_furry

Went to see it and decided against going with it, going with the Lodge at Ashbourne instead. There wasn't a whole lot wrong with it, but I didn't like their layout and the fact that you have to bring everyone on a long, winding trip through the hotel to get to the event room. The rooms were very expensive for guests to stay and the residents bar down in the basement and pretty small.

emldeen

Yes it a bit disjointed which is something I am concerned about as well.. I think I could forgive it if I felt that the food and service were guaranteed to be excellent

johnny osbourne

hi emldeen, i was at three weddings in the glenlo,

overall a good experience , if you've any specific questions , ask away,

the weddings i was at had 100, 120 and 150 guests, all different experiences,

emldeen

oh great - thanks johnny - I really appreciate your time - we will be approx. 170 so will be in the main banquet room.

I guess my biggest concerns are

- is the food tasty? it is an expensive menu so I am hoping the food justifies that!

- was the food timely or dragged out? - I have heard of a wedding there were it was after 10 when the mean was finished.

- any issues in relation to the band? - I have heard rumours that glenlo has asked bands to finish early or play quietly??

as I have said in my original post - lots of rumours so its very frustrating!

I really appreciate your help. thanks!

kippy

I was at a wedding (afters) there about 4 years ago.
Cant recall that the band finished early - seemed to go on late enough and the disco wrapped up around 2.30 which is normal enough.
The meal didnt go on any longer than normal I think *late running meals are more likely caused by the speeches getting dragged out to be fair more than issues with the hotel.
By all accounts anyone who had been to the whole day really enjoyed it.

johnny osbourne

oh great - thanks johnny - I really appreciate your time - we will be approx. 170 so will be in the main banquet room.


no bother, the wedding of 150 we were elbow to elbow, great craic though,

the wedding of 100 was also nice because we had a bit of space, and faster service


I guess my biggest concerns are

- is the food tasty? it is an expensive menu so I am hoping the food justifies that!

i was there mainly for the drink but the beef and spuds were the best i ever had, easily,




- was the food timely or dragged out? - I have heard of a wedding there were it was after 10 when the mean was finished.


the wedding with 100 had the fastest/best service,

with 150 , ya what can i say, there could/should have been more staff,




- any issues in relation to the band? - I have heard rumours that glenlo has asked bands to finish early or play quietly??


in my opinion all bands were too loud, nice music but impossible to talk to anyone

as I have said in my original post - lots of rumours so its very frustrating!

I really appreciate your help. thanks

no bother,

emldeen

Thanks again.. I think we might be best to keep our numbers down so if we go with Glenlo... or at very least insist a timely service in the contract. really appreciate the help

johnny osbourne

emldeen wrote: »

Thanks again.. I think we might be best to keep our numbers down so if we go with Glenlo... or at very least insist a timely service in the contract. really appreciate the help

you got it in one,

if i was having my wedding there i would clarify how many staff will be available, as with any function...


overall i recommend the place,


good luck

seriouslysweet

Have been at 3 weddings here in recent months. Am aunt, a cousin and a sister. All were somewhat different but the opulent nature of the place and competent staff made them fabulous weddings. I know it is a bit more expensive than some venues but the hall really lends itself to dancing. Only cons I see are numbers since they were not let have their extension. Neighbour no longer gives out about music and drink served til the wee hours at all.
Pros. The grounds on a sunny day. Wow. The food and the staff. I had always thought of Gregans or Ashford but neither come close for me anymore.

gaeilgegrinds1

Haven't been on this in ages. The food is Glenlo shocked me in a good way. All guests served together and to such a high quality. I loved the walk to the venue as it helped build excitement but perhaps that was just the particular wedding we were at as they really made it fun. Bar The small room it's unrivalled in Galway, the Meyrick comes close. Lough Cutra is very nice too but I disliked how special guests stayed in the castle and ate in the main room and others ate in another room and stayed in different accommodation. Glenlo really surprised me in all the right ways.

Shyboy

emldeen wrote: »

- any issues in relation to the band? - I have heard rumours that glenlo has asked bands to finish early or play quietly??

That definitely used to be the case in the Glenlo a few years back when it was under previous management/ownership, music had to be finished by 1.30am...but that is no longer the case...the DJ can play until about 2.30am...

gaeilgegrinds1

Shyboy wrote: »

That definitely used to be the case in the Glenlo a few years back when it was under previous management/ownership, music had to be finished by 1.30am...but that is no longer the case...the DJ can play until about 2.30am...

Was at a wedding in Glenlo recently. All issues re band and neighbour resolved. We danced until the early hours.