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The Fairways Bar & Orchard Restaurant

Situated just a short distance outside Nenagh, this country pub is useful to know about because it offers lunch and evening meals every day of the week.

The well stocked bar area is decorated old-style, with old pub mirrors, enamel signs for plug tobacco, sit-up-and-beg bikes and so forth, and most people lunching will settle here, although there is a snug - and those who prefer a room of their own can move into the adjacent Orchard Restaurant.

At lunch the menu of the day is presented, with six or more choices of first and main courses as well as desserts, although curiously there are no prices. (At the time of visiting, these turned out to be €4.95 for both first and last courses and €9.95 for main meals.)

Amongst the starters you might be pleasantly surprised to find lobster and blue mussel salad, or a mince and chilli tartlet, as well as more mainstream egg, red onion and tomato salad.

Main courses always include a roast or two – roast beef, roast pork, say – and fish is something they like to offer daily. Portions are hearty and, unusually, teas and coffees are complimentary after pudding (raspberry and custard flan or tiramisu are popular).

Evening menus are more sophisticated, and may include game in season.

The wine list offers over 20 bottles, with a couple of reds and whites available by the glass, and prices are moderate.

Being a pleasant and laid-back venue, the Fairways has built up a loyal following locally, and it is certainly useful for travellers going through a part of Ireland that offers remarkably little in the way of journey breaks.

Seats 55 (outdoors, 16); toilets wheelchair accessible; children welcome (high chair, childrens menu, baby changing facilities); L Mon-Fri, 12-2.30pm; D 5.30-8.30pm; Sun L 12-3pm. Set 3 course L €35. Closed Good Fri, 25 Dec. MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Three minutes drive from Nenagh town on the Cloughjordan Road, one minute from Nenagh Golf Club