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Flemingstown House

Imelda Sheedy King’s welcoming farmhouse is on the family’s dairy farm just two miles from the medieval village of Kilmallock; well-signed at the entrance, it sits well back from the road up a long drive flanked by fields of grazing cattle, and leading to an immaculately maintained garden in front of the house.

The original house dates back to the 18th century and has been sympathetically extended down through the years, to make a large and well-proportioned family home with pleasingly spacious, comfortably furnished reception rooms - and huge bedrooms, furnished with antique furniture and unfussy neutral decor that contrasts well with the dark furniture.

En-suite facilities don’t include baths, but have power showers - and, like the rest of the house, everything is well maintained and immaculate. Imelda is a great host, offering genuinely warm and welcoming hospitality - and she’s also a great cook, as guests discover at a wonderful breakfast spread.

Communal breakfast at the huge antique mahogany table helps guests to relax and communicate easily, as does Imelda’s constant attention.

The menu offers prepared fresh seasonal fruit (much of it home-grown, of course), a choice of cereals, home baking and preserves ,and the “full Irish” breakfast which is cooked to order (along with a choice of other hot dishes including kippers, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, and pancakes with fruit); all this, and tea and coffee served in silver pots and the fine local cheeses, has guests oohing and aahing with pleasure.

Dinner is also available, by prior arrangement - there’s a choice of two or three dishes on each course, including treats like chicken liver paté, Slaney Valley leg of lamb (carved at the table), and apple tart with crème anglaise.

Aside from the many things to do and see nearby, Flemingstown House is well placed to break a journey to or from the south-west, and it is a lovely place to stay - the standards of housekeeping, service and breakfast are remarkable, and it is representative of the very best rural Irish welcome.

[*A 2-bedroom self-catering apartment has recently been added, available by the week.]

Rooms 5 (all shower only & no smoking, 1 family room); children over 2 years welcome (2-4 yrs free in parents' room). B&B €60 pps. ss €10. Pets permitted by arrangement. D €45 (residents only). Packed L on request. Likely to be closed Nov-Mar. MasterCard, Visa.

Directions:

R512 to Kilmallock from Limerick; then towards Fermoy for 3.5km (2 m). House set back from road, on left.