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Rosleague Manor Hotel - Connemara

This lovely, graciously proportioned, pink-washed Regency house looks out over a tidal inlet through gardens planted with rare shrubs and plants.

Although the area also offers plenty of energetic pursuits, there is a deep sense of peace at Rosleague and it’s hard to imagine any better place to recharge the soul.

The hotel changed hands within the Foyle family a few years ago and its energetic young owner-manager, Mark Foyle, is gradually working his way through a major renovation programme: the conservatory bar, restaurant and a number of bedrooms (and their bathrooms) have now been refurbished (two were actually demolished and re-built) and some have four-poster beds; and the gardens (already extensive, and listed in the Connemara Garden Trail) have been further developed to make new paths and establish a wild flower meadow.

This is a very pleasant, peaceful place to stay and, with a choice of two lovely drawing rooms with log fires, as well as the bar, guests have plenty of space. And the restaurant - a lovely classical dining room, with mahogany furniture and a fine collection of plates on the walls - is open to non-residents by reservation.

Head chef Pascal Marinot, who has been at Rosleague since 2000, offers a daily-changing dinner menu in a quite traditional style - starters like oysters with shallot vinegar & lemon, or Rosleague Caesar salad, a soup course, and straightforward main courses such as honey roast duckling or roast Connemara lamb.

For dessert, Rosleague chocolate mousse is an inherited speciality - going back to Mark’s uncle, Paddy Foyle’s, time in the kitchen.

In recent years Rosleague has become very popular as a venue for small weddings.

Small Conferences/Banqueting (16/85), free broadband wi/fi; Rooms 20 (4 junior suites, 3 family, 2 ground floor). B&B €125pps, ss €35; children welcome (under 4s free in parents' room, cot available free of charge, baby sitting arranged). Garden, tennis, fishing, walking. Pets permitted (stay in bedroom free of charge). Restaurant Seats 50 (Private Room seats 12). D 7.30-9 daily, non-residents welcome by reservation; Set D €48. House wine €21. Closed mid Nov-mid Mar. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

On N59 main road, 11km (7 miles) north-west of Clifden.