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Ballyvolane House

The Greene family’s gracious mansion is surrounded by its own farmland, magnificent wooded grounds, a trout lake and formal terraced gardens - garden lovers will find a stay here especially rewarding.

The Italianate style of the present house - including a remarkable pillared hall with a baby grand piano and open fire - dates from the mid-19th century when modifications were made to the original house of 1728.

Jeremy and the late Merrie Green first welcomed guests to their home in 1983, and is now run by their son Justin and his wife Jenny; Justin has management experience in top hotels and they are an extremely hospitable couple, committed to ensuring that the standards of hospitality, comfort and food for which this lovely house is renowned will be maintained.

Elegantly furnished and extremely comfortable, it has big log fires, and roomy bedrooms furnished with family antiques look out over beautiful grounds.

Ballyvolane has private salmon fishing on 8km of the great River Blackwater, with a wide variety of spring and summer beats, so it is logical that delicious food should be another high point, and memorable modern Irish dinners are served in style at separate tables or around a long mahogany table, depending on the occasion.

Tina Mahon, formerly at Buggy’s Glencairn Inn near Lismore , took over the kitchen in 2008 and the style remains country house, with all ingredients home grown or sourced from the local area, and organic where possible: wholesome house specialities include wild garlic soup, roast rib of McGrath’s Hereford beef with béarnaise sauce, and carrageen moss pudding with walled garden rhubarb.

A carefully chosen, evocative and very informative wine list complements the food; among the treats in store you’ll find a clutch of lovely house wines (including an organic red), half a dozen champagnes, and a good choice of dessert wines.

A lovely relaxed guest Drawing Room at the back of the house has recently been restored (and looks as if it has always been that way), and five extra ‘retreat’ bedrooms are under construction in one of the walled gardens at the time of going to press – also a weddings venue in the farm yard.

There is much of interest in the area and the hospitality is wonderful, making this an excellent base for a peaceful and very relaxing break.

A self-catering cottage is also available. French is spoken.

Conferences/Banqueting (50). Rooms 6 (all en-suite, 1 shower only, all no smoking). B&B €135 pps, ss €35; children welcome (under 3s free in parents' room, cot available, free of charge, baby sitting arranged); free Broadband wi/fi; dogs permitted (staying in bedrooms). Garden, croquet, fishing, walking, cycling. D daily at 8pm, non residents also welcome (all by reservation); 4 course D €60; house wine from €24. Closed 24 Dec - 1 Jan. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Turn right off main Dublin-Cork road N8 just south of Rathcormac (signed Midleton), following house signs on to R628 .