This weekend was our annual weekend away and this year we went to Roundwood House in Mountrath Co Laios, just at the base of the Slieve Bloom mountains. We stayed in a lovely country house which has over 10 bedrooms arranged in the main house and some cottages and adjacent old cottages. Frank and Rosemary Keenan own the house and they have been in business for more than 25 years and their goal is "together with our staff, we endeavour to create a special place where personal service comes naturally, life is taken at a more relaxed pace and good food, wine and conversation abound. Each of our ten bedrooms and three self-catering cottages have their own unique and interesting features, are filled with books and paintings and have beautiful views of the gardens." And I have to say that they achieve this admirably. About 3 years ago their daughter Hannah and her husband Patrick have taken over the running of the business and they have kept true to the original aims of the business. The rooms are kept traditional and are very inviting and friendly, just like our hosts. We felt more like friends of the family rather than guests in a house that provide a place to lay your head get fed and head off to your next destination. They looked after us very well with plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits during the day and plenty of refreshments at night. Paddy was a great host at night and even played his guitar and entertained us into the early morning with songs the best of which he wrote himself. The meal on the Saturday night was magnificent.
It however was a camera club outing so we did head off and take a few photographs. We ent for a walk along the Glenbarrow the source of the Barrow river and visited a couple of local towns, but the weather was not the best for taking photographs, but it was no hardship to head back to Roundwood House, where we were just as happy to have good company and a laugh by the large fireside.
Overall a great weekend and a tribute to our social secretary that arranged everything for us.
A photo of the gang taken by Noelle Brooks.
