Athlone designer leads midland hotel ballroom redesign

Athlone-based interior designer Susan McGowan of Ashen & Cloud led a major project to renovate the ballroom at the popular County Arms Hotel in Birr.

The hotel described the renovated Moorpark ballroom as "a space that blends timeless elegance with refined, contemporary detail" and reflects a "heritage-forward" design concept.

Inspired by the Georgian character of Birr, the renovation reinterprets traditional features such as cornicing, ceiling detail and wall panelling for a modern setting.

As Susan explains, the guiding question behind the project was simple, "what does heritage look like in 2026?”

The answer, she says, was to "honour the architectural language of the past while reimagining its details for the future".

“This project is about bringing the heritage of the building forward to a new generation. The inspiration came from the town of Birr, its Georgian architecture, its sense of place and history. We wanted to reinterpret those elements in a way that feels refined and modern, while still clearly connected to the building’s history," Susan said.

Couples are invited to experience the space in person at the upcoming Wedding Showcase on Sunday, April 19. For further information or to arrange an appointment, contact the County Arms at: countyarms.ie or (057) 9120791.