From humble beginnings as a 4 bedroomed farmhouse offering guest accommodation just over 45 years ago, Mary Fitzgerald has grown her business into the award winning Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa. Mary’s hotel has Guaranteed Irish Accreditation thus demonstrating their commitment to exemplifying a unique Irish family hospitality experience.

Mary is proudly assisted by her four children who work in the business as well as a team of over 270  employees all of whom espouse a ‘Never Say No Policy’. Mary has also contributed to many local & national organisations as well as having the honour of being the first lady President of the Irish Hotels Federation. She was chairperson of Original Irish Hotels for 16 years, which markets 60 hotels worldwide. Presently, Mary serves as the chairperson of the Adare Community Trust (A.C.T), an overarching entity representing various voluntary, sporting, community, and business organisations in the village. Additionally, Mary lends her expertise to several boards, including Our Lady of Lourdes, CERT (the former state Tourism Training Agency), and the Limerick County Council Development Board. Her involvement also extends to her past role as a class patron at Shannon College of Hotel Management.

Mary’s visionary leadership extends beyond providing exceptional hospitality; she has also spearheaded initiatives to integrate innovation and sustainability into every aspect of the resort’s operations. Recognising the importance of environmental stewardship and the growing demand for sustainable tourism, Mary has led the resort to implement cutting-edge practices that have positioned it as a national leader in the industry. 

Mary’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic showed that resilience is key. Her unwavering passion and commitment to innovation insured that Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel rose from the pandemic with a renewed determination to provide the best possible experience to guests and customers.