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Longueville House Hotel

When Michael and Jane O'Callaghan opened Longueville House to guests in 1967, it was one of the first Irish country houses to do so. Its history is wonderfully romantic, "the history of Ireland in miniature", and it is a story with a happy ending: having lost their lands in the Cromwellian Confiscation (1652-57), the O'Callaghans took up ownership again some 300 years later.

The present house, a particularly elegant Georgian mansion of pleasingly human proportions, dates from 1720, (with wings added in 1800 and the lovely Turner conservatory - which has been completely renovated - in 1862), and overlooks the ruins of their original home, Dromineen Castle.

Very much a family enterprise, Longueville is now run by Michael and Jane's son William O'Callaghan, who is the chef, and his wife Aisling, who manages front of house. The location, overlooking the famous River Blackwater, is lovely. The river, farm and garden supply fresh salmon in season, the famous Longueville lamb, and all the fruit and vegetables.

In years when the weather is kind, the estate's crowning glory is their own house wine, a light refreshing white, "Coisreal Longueville" - wine has always been Michael O'Callaghan's great love, and he now uses their abundant apple supply to make apple brandy too.

Public rooms include a bar and drawing room, both elegantly furnished with beautiful fabrics and family antiques, and accommodation is equally sumptuous; although - as is usual with old houses - bedrooms vary according to their position, they are generally spacious, superbly comfortable and stylishly decorated to the highest standards.

Dining here is always a treat (see below) and breakfast is also very special, offering a wonderful array of local and home-cooked foods, both from the buffet and cooked to order; Longueville was the National Winner of our Irish Breakfast Awards in 2003, and it's worth calling in even if you can't stay overnight - what a way to break a journey!

As well as being one of the finest leisure destinations in the country, the large cellar/basement area of the house has been developed as a conference centre, with back-up services available. The house is also available for small residential weddings throughout the year.

Conference/banqueting (50/120), secretarial services, free broadband wi/fi. Children welcome (under 2s free in parents' room, cot available free of charge, baby sitting arranged). No pets. Garden, walking, hunting/shooting, fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting. Equestrian, golf and garden visits nearby. (Shooting weekends available in winter; telephone for details).

Rooms 20. (6 junior suites, 1 superior, 3 family, 2 single, 2 shower only; all no-smoking). B&B €110 single room, from €235 - €360 for a double. Closed early Jan-mid Mar.

Presidents Restaurant:

Presidents Restaurant: Named after the family collection of specially commissioned portraits of all Ireland's past presidents (which made for a seriously masculine collection until Ireland's first woman president, Mary Robinson, broke the pattern) this is the main dining room and opens into the beautifully renovated Turner conservatory, which makes a wonderfully romantic setting in candlelight; there is a smaller room alongside the main restaurant, and also the Chinese Room, which is suitable for private parties.

William O'Callaghan is an accomplished chef, and home- and locally-produced food is at the heart of all his cooking, in starters like house smoked salmon, or salad of crab with dry cured Longueville ham; main courses of Longueville lamb and home-reared pork; and desserts such as a croustade of caramelised apple with Longueville apple brandy ice cream - and it is hard to resist the local farmhouse cheeses.

Delicious home-made chocolates and petits fours come with the coffee and as elsewhere in the house service, under Aisling O'Callaghan's direction, is outstanding.

Menus have been shortened and simplified recently, allowing William more direct control in the kitchen - an improvement which makes for a more intimate, and even more enjoyable dining experience.

A fine wine list offering many treats has particular strength in the classic French regions and includes a half a dozen champagnes, and a good choice of dessert wines and half bottles; it includes many wines imported directly by Michael O'Callaghan.


Children welcome (high chair, childrens menu). Seats 84 (private room 12). D daily, 6.30-9; Set 2/3 course D €40/60, Menu Gourmand €85; light meals 12.30-5 daily. House wine €30, SC 10% added to parties of 8+. Restaurant closed Mon& Tues in Nov and early Dec. House closed 7 Jan - 16 Mar. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

5km (3 m) west of Mallow via N72 to Killarney.