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Viewmount House

James and Beryl Kearney’s lovely 1750s Georgian house just on the edge of Longford town was once owned by Lord Longford, and is set in four acres of beautiful wooded gardens, designed as a series of rooms.

It really is a delightful house and has been sensitively restored with style, combining elements of grandeur with a human scale that makes guests feel very comfortable.

Its warmth strikes the first-time visitor immediately on arrival in the hall, which has a welcoming open fire and a graceful white-painted staircase seen against warm red walls.

An elegant period drawing room and the six guest bedrooms in the main house all have their particular charm (one is especially large, but all are delightful); but perhaps the handsomest room of all is the unusual vaulted dining room, where an extensive (and very delicious) breakfast menu is served.

This is a most appealing house, with old wooden floors, rugs, antique furniture - and, most importantly, a great sense of hospitality; and we have been watching it with great interest in recent years - it has gradually been growing, as the Kearneys have joined the house to restored outbuildings alongside, providing some fine new bedrooms, and a restaurant (see below) which has been created in one of the classic stone outbuildings.

Rooms 13 (4 suites, 1 executive, 2 family, 3 shower only, 1 disabled, all no smoking); children welcome (under 4 free in parents' room, cot available). No pets. B&B €75, ss €10. Gardens. Golf nearby. Open all year.

*Self-catering also available - details on application.

VM Restaurant

Converted stables with exposed stonework make a fine restaurant of character which overlooks a Japanese garden with water features, and has an abundance of candles giving a cosy atmosphere at night. Whether entering from the car park or the house itself, guests arrive in a ‘new’ bar and restaurant reception area with a fire, where Beryl explains the menu while you enjoy a pre-dinner drink.

4-course dinner menus begin with an interesting cover note giving the history of the house, and Chef Gary O’Hanlon’ offers about half a dozen dishes on each course, with a slight leaning towards poultry (duck, guinea fowl, free range chicken) and two imaginative vegetarian main courses; as befits the surroundings,the tone is special occasion - the restaurant is beautifully set up with white linen, elegant white crockery and different flowers on each table, making a lovely setting for well presented food.

All the little niceties are observed, beginning with a complimentary amuse bouche (hoi sin duck in choux pastry, perhaps) before starters, which may include a particularly tasty dish of pan roasted quail with bacon, cabbage & foie gras,served with a fresh berry jus.

Main courses include the mandatory steak of course (rib eye with colcannon, straw potatoes & green peppercorn Courvoisier sauce, for example) and there may be a special fish dish such as pan seared artic char, which is served on marquis potato croquette with fried shitake & a watercress salad.

Ingredients are sourced locally where possible and a few specialist products are mentioned, eg Boilié goats cheese and arctic char (farmed in Co Sligo), although it would be interesting to see more information on local produce.

Rather glamorous desserts might include brulée three ways (ginger & vanilla bean, Valrhona chcolate and berry, served with a tuile disc) and coffee comes with petits fours.

Overall a meal here is a delightful experience, enhanced by attentive service and, especially, Beryl Kearney’s caring interaction with guests.

An informative wine, helpfully organised by style, includes a fair choice under €30 and four half bottles.


Seats 55; children welcome; reservations advised. D daily 6.30-9.30 (Sun 6-8), L Sun only 12.30-3. Set D €55, Sun L €29. House wine €20. Restaurant closed Mon, Tue. Amex, MasterCard, Visa

Directions:

From Longford R393 to Ardagh. 1km (0.5 m), up sliproad to right following signs. Entrance 200m on right.