Ashlee Lodge

Anne and John O'Leary's luxurious purpose-built guesthouse is just a couple of miles outside Blarney and within very easy striking distance of Cork city. (A bus from the city will drop you outside their door.)

Everything is immaculate, beginning with the impressive reception area with highly polished floor, and there are well-kept plants and fresh flowers in all the public areas, including the breakfast room.

Bedrooms may not have views, but the high level of comfort more than compensates: spacious, stylishly decorated rooms have king size beds and all the latest technology - wide screen TV, radio and CD unit, direct dial phones with modem access, personal safe and individually controlled air conditioning - as well as tea/coffee facilities, trouser press, hairdryer and (just the thing for padding along to the hot tub on the first floor) bathrobes and towelling slippers.

But the most outstanding feature of Ashlee Lodge is the O'Learys themselves, who are exceptionally helpful hosts and genuinely wish to assist guests in every way possible - notably with local knowledge of all kinds, especially the many golf courses nearby; they arrange tee times, provide transport to and from golf courses and generally act as facilitators.

They also take great pride in giving a breakfast to remember - an impressive buffet is beautifully laid out with lots of juices, cereals and fresh fruits in season, then there are freshly-baked breads, real honeycomb on every table, and a wide range of hot dishes including fish of the day, all impeccably cooked to order - and prettily presented too.

Everything is pristine and the only small downside is that the hard flooring used throughout the house can be noisy.

*Dinner is sometimes available, by arrangement - Anne is the chef, and she offers an appealing choice of about five starters and half a dozen main courses There's also a choice of 14 wines, all available by the glass and preserved by 'La Verre de Vin' system.