Courtmacsherry Hotel is a family-run seaside hotel with more than 200 years of history and plenty of personality. Today, Billy and Ellen Adams and their fabulous team run the hotel with a simple approach — good food, a warm welcome, a bit of fun and a place where people can feel at home.
We’re proud to be part of Courtmacsherry, a small West Cork village with a big sense of community. The hotel and village have always been closely connected, and that’s still very much part of the experience today.
The building has stood in Courtmacsherry for more than 200 years. Originally a private house, it later became a hotel and has welcomed generations of visitors to this little corner of West Cork. Much of its original character remains today — and no two parts of the old building are quite the same.
The Adams family took over Courtmacsherry Hotel in 1973. More than 50 years later, the next generation is still here, looking after a building that has seen an extraordinary amount of change over the years. The hotel continues to evolve, but its history and place in Courtmacsherry remain at the heart of it.
Originally built as a summer residence for the Earl of Shannon in the 1800s, the building that is now Courtmacsherry Hotel has seen more than two centuries of life and change.
It later became a hotel and, despite fire, rebuilding and generations of change, much of its original character remains. Old stone walls, tiled floors and unusual little details throughout the building are all part of its story — and part of what makes Courtmacsherry Hotel what it is today.
Planted in 1842, the Cork Tree on the hotel lawn has become one of Courtmacsherry Hotel’s best-known landmarks. It has stood here through generations of the hotel’s history and remains very much part of the place today.
Billy’s parents, Terry and Carole Adams, each played a big part in hotel life. Terry was the hotel’s chef, well known for his cooking, quick humour, stories and the songs he’d burst into without warning. Carole ran the stables that once stood adjacent to the hotel, giving many guests fond memories of horse riding during their stays.
Billy’s grandfather, Dr Dennis Adams, was a talented artist with a great passion for wine. Many people still remember him for his knowledge and love of wine, while his paintings of Courtmacsherry and the surrounding area remain part of the hotel today, displayed throughout the building.
Courtmacsherry is a small village with a big sense of community and, stretching for around 1.6 miles, is said to be one of the longest villages in Ireland.
With local pubs, a café and our community-run shop, there are plenty of places to stop, chat and get to know the village. Local events, music and long-standing traditions are all part of life here, with visitors always made to feel welcome.
The hotel has always been closely connected to village life, and we’re proud to play our part in the community around us.
The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat has been part of village life for 200 years. Since 1825, generations of local volunteers have answered the call to help those in trouble at sea, and the RNLI remains a huge part of our community today.
Many of the crew are people you meet every day around the village — friends, neighbours and local families who give their time to the lifeboat. When the call comes, everything else stops and they go.
We’re incredibly proud of our lifeboat and its crew. It’s part of the story of Courtmacsherry, but more importantly, it’s part of the village we know today.
If you really want to see Courtmacsherry’s community spirit in action, come during the annual Courtmacsherry Harbour Festival. Each summer, the village comes alive with music, family events, competitions, activities and plenty of fun.
Courtmacsherry Harbour Festival 2027: 25th July – 2nd August
The Festival is organised by local volunteers and brings the whole village together, with residents, businesses and visitors all getting involved. It’s busy, lively and great fun — so if you’re planning a summer stay, you might want to plan your dates around it… or, if peace and quiet is more your thing, plan around it!
It’s a great example of what Courtmacsherry is all about — community, character and people coming together.