Rosleague Manor Hotel.
, Letterfrack, Co Galway.
Resting on the quiet shores of Ballinakill Bay, and beautifully secluded within 30 acres of its own private woodland, Rosleague Manor Hotel in Connemara is one of Ireland’s finest country house hotels. Tucked away near the town of Letterfrack, just 15 kilometres from the buzzing town of Clifden, the Manor has been discreetly converted in to a first class hotel by its owners the Foyle family, who have used meticulous care and attention to detail to retain its 19th century charm and character.
The public rooms include a choice of drawing rooms with open fireplaces, elegant curtains, big comfy sofas and original paintings. Day or evening, the big Victorian conservatory is an ideal place to settle down to read, chat with other guests or take afternoon tea.
Fine dining at Rosleague Manor restaurant is a traditional occasion in a traditional dining room and the staff take great pride in making it a unique, yet relaxed affair for guests. Fresh seafood and Leenane mountain lamb are the restaurant’s speciality, with a strong focus on the finest and freshest locally-sourced ingredients and produce. Cleggan Bay crab and line-caught mackerel are also some of the popular choices among guests. All dishes are freshly prepared and the selection of wines has been meticulously chosen to complement the menus.
Retaining its old-world country house ambience, each room at Rosleague Manor is unique in its layout and design, and has been lovingly appointed featuring original antique furnishings and accoutrements – many with their own story to tell. There are four junior suites, seven Superior Sea-view rooms and nine Superior Garden-view rooms. Every room benefits from an en-suite bathroom with bath and/or shower, bathrobes, luxury toiletries, a flatscreen television, direct-dial telephone, wi-fi internet, complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water and those all-important views.
Minutes from Kylemore Abbey, The Twelve Bens, Lough Inagh and the 5,000 acre Connemara National Park, there’s plenty to see and do right from the hotel doorstep. For active visitors, there is some great cycling country for meandering around the many bays and peninsulas of Galway and Connemara. Ballinakill Bay is beautifully sheltered for open water swimming, and Mark recommends Doonloughan for some spectacular surfing and can also suggest some gentler spots for families.