Ivyleigh House

Portlaoise has been bypassed with a new road and you can once again enjoy the quiet in this heart-of-Ireland town. Situated close to downtown on a side street, Ivyleigh House is set back from the road, its immaculate Georgian façade heralds a first-class interior furnished and decorated in a delightful traditional style. A lovely sitting room is available for guests’ use and for breakfast there’s a handsome dining room, its large communal table decked out with china and crystal. Dinah does an excellent breakfast with the freshest of local ingredients including free-range eggs, local bacon, and natural yogurt with geranium jelly. Then there’s perfect porridge with cream, homemade brown bread, tea made with leaf tea, and freshly brewed coffee. The spacious bedrooms are particularly comfortable with top-of-the-line beds, linen sheets and pillowcases, and large shower rooms with power showers. One is located downstairs on the garden level. There is no shortage of restaurants for dinner. Portlaoise is well placed for visiting Tullamore, Kildare, Kilkenny, and Carlow, the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Emo Court, and the Rock of Dunamase, an ancient fort. A 2 bedroom cottage at Killenard is available for weekly rental.