Hidden Ireland – Dine in Ireland’s Country House B&Bs
Ireland is famous for its B&Bs. The delicious home-cooked breakfasts, the unique attention of an Irish Mammy (not to mention the scones), and local hosts only dying to impart tips like the sandiest beach nearby or the best farmers market for picnic supplies.
But what if the B&B expanded to include a dinner party? A type of ‘Come Dine With Me’ with fellow visitors, making your stay B&B&D? You could spend the afternoon tramping forest paths or snuggled fireside with a novel, and come evening, a home-cooked feast shared with like-minded travellers awaits. Well, no more what ifs, because the people at Hidden Ireland are way ahead of you. They manage historic country houses that treat visitors as honored guests, offering an unforgettable stay among sublime architecture and a scrumptious meal among charming hosts.
They have 33 of these hidden gems dotting the island, so we’ve invited six of them to the table to see what’s on the menu.
Is there a house better situated than Delphi Lodge in County Galway? We think not.
Delphi Lodge, County Galway
Now, when we first set our eyes on Delphi Lodge in we couldn’t manage more than, ‘Look….house….pretty….so pretty’. Luckily for us the more articulate chaps at the Financial Times managed to sum it up when they described it as ‘an estate of fabulous beauty’. A playground to the privileged since 1830, the 1,000-acre estate is famed for its fly-fishing, shooting, great wine cellar and delicious dinners around one big table. It is now run by Peter and Jane Mantle, who took on the task of DIY TLC and refurbished the house in 1985 making it one of the most sumptuous homes on the island. Oh good, our words are coming back now.
The beautiful winding staircase at Woodbrook House, County Wexford
Woodbrook House, County Wexford
Stairs can be such a chore can’t they? If they look like those in Woodbrook House however, we’d be up and down them like a yo-yo. Coincidentally, the house is set against the rather dramatic backdrop of the aptly named Blackstairs Mountains where owners Giles and Alexandra Fitzherbert can climb and say with complete confidence ‘Hey, we can see our house from here!’. The drama doesn’t end there, as the house makes the perfect accompaniment to the nearby Wexford Opera Festival in October, and each summer when an opera production takes place either in the garden or another country house in the neighbourhood. What a neighbourhood.
Tyrella House in County Down. Run by the multi-tasking Mr David Corbett
Tyrella House, County Down
Tyrella House in County Down boasts Ivy-clad walls, a Doric columned porchway, huge bay windows, a secluded private beach, and a home to the Corbett family for many years. We can’t help be a little jealous of owner David Corbett. If he’s not maintaining his vegetables in the garden or cooking up gastronomic glories in the kitchen, he’s galloping along miles of sandy beach or teaching polo in one of the fields. We’re guessing someone else does the dusting.
The cozy, inviting atmosphere of the Roundwood House Sitting Room in County Laois
Roundwood House, County Laois
Let us set the scene if you will – the grand sitting room of Roundwood House , snow is pelting the window, your family are crowded around a contentious Monopoly board and a fire crackles behind you. Just as you’re about to pass Go and decide you’ve never felt more cozy in your life, your host Hannah Flynn beckons you into the dining room for a home cooked feast. As you retire to your bed later, you tarry a moment at the window and watch the stars illuminate the dusting of snow on the Slieve Bloom mountains. Even if you lost at Monopoly, that’s a really great evening.
Rest, repose and rhododendrons at The Manor House in County Wicklow
The Manor, County Wicklow
The Manor House in is the type of sprawling country retreat you’d imagine great artists and writers would sojourn to, for a ramble around old paneled rooms while tapping a pen against their chin. A stroll in the blooming gardens would surely follow, before finding inspiration in the sun warming petal of a purple rhodendron bush. At that point host Margaret Cully would probably call them in for breakfast, and they’d have to put their steaming fresh, buttered scones ahead of penning their latest masterpiece. Sometimes, art can wait.
The Neo-Classical Drenagh on its walled parkland estate of a thousand acres in County Down
Drenagh, County Londonderry
In the year 1836 the McCausland Family built Drenagh House in County Down and luxury moved in, too. Drenagh is dripping in verdant bling and features the intriguingly-named Moon Garden as well as being dissected by the charmingly named Curly River. In true regency fashion the grounds even boast their own cricket pitch. And as the house sits on a thundering 1,000 acres of parkland, you don’t have to worry about hitting a six through the kitchen window. Hosts Sheelagh and Conolly McCauseland probably have no time for games, what with the 70 acres of gardens on the estate to be strolling through.
a bit posh really…We have family there and when we visit, we like to go & do what the locals do.
Hey there Cathy!
Sorry that the accommodation isn’t your cup of tea! While the houses look ‘posh’, and they were generally all built by the aristocracy, they are nearly all run by young families with kids or couples who invest rather scary amounts of money into their upkeep. Without that there’s a great chance that they would fall into ruin or disuse. I myself know some of the families and they’ve lived in the area for even longer than I have (i’m a bit of a blow in!).
Still, nothing beats staying with family and I’m sure you have a wonderful time when you come here. Nothing like a bit of local insight!
Cheers,
David.
Such beautiful homes ~ we’ve been in Ireland on three wonderful visits and have stayed in all types of places ~ loved them all, but especially the country-houses ~ real gems! Thank you for your web site. God bless you.
Delphi Lodge. Give me the West everytime!
I would be delighted to stay in any and all. The sense of place and
connection to the not so distant past adds a very special dimension to an Irish vacation. My grandparents worked at such country houses…my grandfather with horses and hounds and my grand-
mother caring for the family’s children before they came to United
Sates. I think they’d be happy to know I can return as a guest.
That sounds like a very exciting ancestry story Joanne! The grandfather of a friend of mine was a butler in Russborough House in County Wicklow. Imagine all the fascinating people and things they would have seen and all the gossip they would have been privy to?!
Spent many a night in country houses on various trips to Ireland. My favorite is Gregan’s Castle on Galway Bay. Not really a castle but a beautiful country house in a wonderful location. The dining is exquisite!
These stunning old homes have in abundance what most modern hotels lack..a bit of history and character..love them!
We stayed at smaller B&Bs when in Ireland. Next time we’ll have to look up some of these places – they are so beautiful! Ireland is just such an all-around gem, no matter what accommodations you find. Nowhere else is there such hospitality as that of the Irish, who, by the way, consistently make the best coffee in the world!
looking for B&B,’s near Belfast for july any suggestion’s
Hello Betty. I’ve recently been to Belfast myself actually and I was just taken aback at how friendly people are there. Everyone from shop assistants to barmen were just so welcoming so I think you’re in for a wonderful trip.
You mentioned ‘near’ Belfast so I’d suggest you try Marlagh Lodge (another Hidden Ireland property – http://goo.gl/0DpNJ). It’s located outside Belfast in Liam Neeson’s home town of Ballymena.
If you’re staying in the city this looks like a cosy spot, too – http://goo.gl/DLviZ.
Hope this helps and have a great trip!
These look like beautiful places to stay. I am travelling in Ireland the first two weeks of July. I hope to book from night to night. Is this a wise idea?
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@Kim, that is a pretty busy time to travel. I would at least have a room booked for your first night (nights) in Ireland so you have somewhere to go right away and don’t have to be looking when you are exhausted from the trip. I usually make reservations for the next day the night before. You do run a chance of not getting into the place you really want, but I just find it much more satisfying traveling without being stuck to a schedule.
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Happy Mother’s Day to all wonderful moms in the World! Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday here in the US and I know that eventhough it is celebrated on a different date depending on where you are, I still wish to greet all mothers on this special day!
Planning a trip to Ireland in a couple months and just want to see the country but have NO idea where to go? What did you like best? East? West?