Set right in the heart of Roscommon town, overlooking the square, Mary and Eamonn Gleeson’s townhouse and restaurant provides just what every visitor requires: a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and wholesome food.
Over the last 25 years, they have made huge changes to their nineteenth century home. Having started out with just a coffee shop and four rooms, today there are 19 ensuite bedrooms, the original coffee shop and a restaurant. Bedrooms are comfortable, with all the usual facilities, including Internet access. There’s a junior suite and an excellent executive suite with adjoining sitting-room that would make an ideal base for touring the area.
The coffee shop opens for breakfast along with home-made scones, bread and cakes, and then light lunches include delicious seafood chowder and beef and Guinness stew and lasagne.
Manse Restaurant:
The Gleesons are great supporters of local produce, buying organic when possible; the weekly Farmers' Market is held next door. An excellent residents' breakfast is served in the restaurant, until 11.30 - freshly baked breads, croissants and brioche, fresh juices, cereals and porridge served with honey and cream, homemade brown bread – plain or walnut - then hot dishes like the full Irish breakfast or avocado, spinach and poached eggs on sourdough.
Quite an extensive all day menu offers a good choice, maybe starting with that famous chowder, packed with fresh fish and served with home-made breads. Follow with Roscommon lamb stew or Gleeson’s famous lasagne.
Dinner is à la carte and typically offers main dishes like pan-seared Gannons free range chicken, grilled seabass fillet and the House stir fry. Finish with a very moreish sticky toffee pudding, perhaps, and a good coffee. A good reasonably priced wine list includes some organic wines, and there are also some craft and bottled beers, cocktails and a decent gin menu.
