Rosleague Manor

Rosleague Manor is a lovely Irish hotel—a comfortable country house hotel overlooking Ballinakill Bay and an ever-changing panorama of wild Connemara countryside. This is a quiet, sparsely populated land of steep hills, tranquil lakes, and grazing sheep, where narrow country lanes lead to little hamlets. Manager Mark Foyle is much in evidence, making certain that guests are well taken care of. The hotel is beautifully furnished with lovely old furniture, and the sitting rooms are cozy with their turf fires and comfortable chairs. The garden-style conservatory is a popular place for before- or after-dinner drinks. Bedrooms are most attractive, my preference being for those with views across the gardens to the sea and distant hills. Two particularly lovely ground floor rooms are perfect for those who have difficulty with stairs. The dining room is my favorite room in the house: tall windows frame the view and lovely old tables and chairs are arranged in groupings. There is an à-la-carte menu as well as the fixed-price menu that offers four or five choices for each course. Dishes vary with the seasons and include a wide selection of locally caught fish and Connemara lamb. This is a peaceful place to hide away and a well-located base for exploring the ruggedly beautiful countryside of Connemara.