Ballinkeele House, Ballymurn, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford has won the coveted
César Award: Irish Country House of the Year for 2012 presented by the
The Good Hotel Guide of Great Britain & Ireland.
The César Awards are presented to the Ten Best Hotels of the Year in the Guide. The winners may vary greatly in size and stature but what they have in common is "how well they look after their guests".
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| Ballinkeele House - Winner of the Irish Cesar Award from the Good Hotel Guide |
The Good Hotel Guide of Great Britain & Ireland, first published 34 years ago, states that it is is totally independent. It "receives no payments, hospitality or advertising from hotels selected for an entry in the printed Guide". Hotels pay to be on the Guide's website but only those hotels who have an entry in the printed Guide are invited to appear. Hotels are recommended by readers, backed up where necessary by an anonymous professional inspection.
Ballinkeele House, says the review, is "a beautiful country house lovingly maintained to immaculate standards.' Praise comes again this year for John and Margaret Maher's Regency manor house which stands in game-filled parkland, with three lakes, woods, lawns and gardens. Another comment, from a Dutch visitor: 'John, Margaret and their daughter give marvellous personal service in their beautifully kept home.' The family have farmed the land since 1808."
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| One of the Drawing Rooms in Ballinkeele House |
The Good Hotel Guide specialises in small owner-managed hotels and B&Bs in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Channel Islands and in Continental Europe. It includes budget B&Bs, good-value hotels as well as luxurious country houses.
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| Six acres of Gardens in 350 acres of estate! |
Ballinkeele promotes the use of naturally produced ingredients by using locally sourced meat and fish, accompanied where possible, with fresh fruit and vegetables from the house garden. With these delicious local foods, owner/chef Margaret (a member of Eurotoques Ireland) strives to satisfy all the senses in her cooking; the taste, the smell and the presentation of each dish combines with the splendid surroundings of the dining room to enhance the enjoyment of really good food.
The walled garden is being restored. Meals are taken communally in a rich-red dining room. Margaret uses her own organic fruit and vegetables in season for her meals. She describes her style as Irish country cooking.
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| The bedrooms are sumptuously decorated and very romantic! |
The classical building, with a pillared portico entrance opening on to a hall with Corinthian columns, was built in 1840. 'There is endless space for visitors to find privacy and tranquillity.' Public rooms have fine decorated ceilings, huge fireplaces; much of the furniture is original. The house has just five ensuite bedrooms of which three are superior rooms and two are deluxe rooms. All rooms have large comfortable beds.
Ballinkeele House Contact Details:
Ballinkeele House, Ballymurn, Enniscorthey, Co. Wexford, Ireland
Telephone: +353 53 913 8105
Website:
http://www.ballinkeele.ie/
Don't forget to Feed the Fish at the bottom of this Post!
zack
