MONART DESTINATION Spa outside Enniscorthy has been in business for only four years but was placed second in the world at a glitzy ceremony on Monday night.The Spa, owned by Griffin Group of hotels, headed by former All-Ireland winning hurling manager Liam Griffin, came one place off the top at the The Best Spas in the World Awards in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.
The list is compoled by magazine Conde Nast Traveller (regarded by many as the bible of the discerning traveller) and on Monday night Liam Anthony Griffin and Mark Browne from the luxury hotel collected the award.
“I was very emotional when they rang me from London last night,” Liam Griffin told the Echo yesterday. “It is absolutely fantastic and a huge achievement for an Irish tourist product to win such an award.”
Mr. Griffin paid tribute to the over-100 local staff working in Monart saying the award was down to their hard work. “We have 100 people working here from around the area. They are fantastic people and I am so proud of them. It is their achievement.”
Monart is the only Irish based destination in the top ten and one of only two European destinations.
The other, Les Sources de Caudalie in Bordeaux, France, was the one to pip Monart to the top spot.
“It has been a lot of hard work by our team to get this worldwide recognition. If you think that beating Kilkenny in hurling is hard, you should see what we have had to do to get to this position,” Mr. Griffin added.
The former hurling manager also thanked the people of Enniscorthy and Wexford for their generosity and support during the past four years.
“The people around here have been great. We are so grateful for all the support from people. They have kept us motivated and have been so kind to us,” said Mr. Griffin, who was still coming to terms with Monart’s achievement yesterday.
