Given it's 5 stars the expectations were there but not met. As a USA based Tour Operator I took a trip to check out the Irish Hotels.

We were first given rooms below ground level with a strong odor of mildew and mold.

We asked for a room change and were given rooms overlooking the garden, not much better, still the smell of mildew and mold, old beds, shabby covers. The only upgrade I saw since the hotel open in 1996 was the plasma TV.

The hotel needs an urgent renovation, dirty carpets in the hallways, stacks of room service trays left for hours leaving the reality that housekeeping is lacking.

We were kept awake by noise from the garden area until 2.30 am from drinkers from the bar. Several complaints to the night manager had little effect as each group spilled outside the bar
to party on.

The business center had one old computer with a filthy keyboard.

Pool area fair but no-one around to reomove or clean up used towels, broken plastic glasses on the deck.

I asked to speak with the General Manager the next morning but he failed to show-up.

At best I would rate this property a 3 star and I have been in the travel business for 30 years.

Best experience was the doorman Louis a charming and welcoming man, the rest of the staff could learn from him and smile, you are in the service industry!

We stayed at the Hayfield Manor for one night in June 2007 as part of a Tauck tour.
It was excellent from start to finish.
Checkin was a breeze - all our keys were ready to go.
The room was beautiful - not huge, but a good size, and well laid out.
The restaurant was excellent with perfect service.
The staff were all extremely helpful.
Checkout was quick and efficient

All in all, a wonderful stay.

Hayfield Manor is a small elegant hotel that is perfect for weary travelers for a night or two. The bedrooms are lovely, and food is very good. The swimming pool is to die for -- right off the main floor of the hotel, so there's no climbing or searching for it. It and a hot tub look out into a nice little garden that you can wander in or just sit and relax. Not conveniently near enough to any shopping by foot, but who cares!

We stayed for one night only in this hotel. Service from all the staff we met was unobtrusively excellent. There are some lovely touches like toiletries and water in the public bathrooms. The pool and outdoor jacuzzi was wonderful and as it's only open to residents, it's never very busy. Our room was not the best in the house, on the top floor and overlooking a building site. The decor was a little confusing (black fake fur throw on the beds!) but the linen and pillows were very comfortable and the bathroom was excellent (great power shower). Breakfast was excellent too (although the decor in the dining room is quite dated). It's a pleasant walk into the city centre (and the UCC campus and Glucksman gallery nearby is definitely worth a detour). The ground floor reception rooms are very comfortable and staff don't bother you if you just wish to sit and read. Recommend the afternoon tea in the drawing room. This is a very comfortable hotel with a lovely warm atmosphere - would recommend it without hesitation.