Hidden Ireland Houses

Renowned for its warm hospitality and tranquility, Mornington captures the true spirit of Hidden Ireland amidst the sparkling lakes, rolling hills and ancient forests of County Westmeath. This has been the home of the O’Hara family since 1858 and is now in the careful stewardship of Warwick and Anne O’Hara.

Coolclogher House built in 1746 is a historic manor house set on a 68 acre walled estate near Killarney on the Ring of Kerry. Luxuriously restored by Mary and Maurice Harnett, Coolclogher has spacious reception rooms and large, comfortable bedrooms with magnificent views over the gardens and pasture to the dramatic mountains of the Killarney National Park.

Originally built in 1728, Ballyvolane House is a magical house surrounded by woods, vast gardens and parkland. The house has a charming, peaceful and homely atmosphere. There are three lakes and the huge gardens are impeccably maintained by Jeremy Green. Jeremy and his late wife Merrie, a fly-fishing expert, first opened their home as luxurious country house accommodation about twenty-five years ago, and it now run by their son Justin and his wife Jenny.

The immortal line of Percy French ‘Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea’ could well have been written from Tyrella House’s secluded private beach.

Glenlohane is a house of great character, comfort and tranquillity. It contains furniture and memorabilia that reflect the family’s two and a half centuries of residence. In a parkland setting overlooking terraced lawns, the house is surrounded by stately trees and the rolling fields of the 250 acre farm.

Dating from 1863, Lorum Old Rectory sits beneath Mount Leinster in the peaceful valley of the River Barrow. Its warm, yellowish, locally cut granite gives it a distinctive and pleasing appearance. The house sits peacefully on the slopes above the River Barrow at Kilgreaney, about halfway between Bagenalstown and Borris. Behind the house are Mount Leinster and the Blackstairs Mountains while in front, across the river, are the plains of Kilkenny. Bobbie Smith and her daughter Rebecca are known for their warm welcome and splendid home baking. They know the area intimately and are always a fund of local knowledge.

Collon House, steeped in history, is full of character and charm; its gracious rooms are exquisitely furnished with period antiques and paintings, retaining the atmosphere of early Georgian living, making this a rare opportunity to experience less than 1 hour from Dublin City Centre, and 30 minutes from Dublin Airport.

Clonalis House is the ancestral home of the O’Conor family, direct descendants of Ireland’s last High King and traditional Kings of Connacht. The family has lived on this heavily wooded 700 acre estate on the banks of the River Suck for more than 1,000 years–an achievement unrivaled elsewhere in Ireland.

Castle Townshend is a stunning 17th Century castellated house overlooking the harbour of Castlehaven. Built by the Townshend family, the house gradually expanded with the towers being added in the 1800’s. Now 11 generations on and rejuvenated in 2016, The Castle offers both an authentic historic home, with its wood panelled walls, family portraits and museum like ornaments, and all the expected modern facilities such as ensuite bathrooms, heating and wifi.

Kilmokea is a former Georgian rectory, in a quiet, rural location where the Three Sister Rivers, the Suir, Nore and Barrow, meet before flowing out into Waterford Harbour. It’s rightly renowned for its seven acres of award-winning gardens, with a wide range of unusual sub-tropical plants and wonderful organic vegetables.

Ashley Park House has a magical quality that is particularly appealing. The avenue winds along the shore, through deep woods of oak and beech, until–suddenly–you reach the Georgian house, surrounded by tall trees, with beautiful views over a private lake. Inside, the rooms are large, comfortable and well equipped so offering a truly relaxing break away from the busyness of modern life.