An hour and a half from Galway, travelling along the R340 amongst the magnificent Connemara landcsape, you will find Glynsk House. Five minutes drive from Carna village, on a slight incline, you will be greeted by a long low dormer style building in yellow and white - it overlooks Bertraughbay, Cashel Hill and the Twelve Bens mountains and, on a good day, the views are vast. But even if it's not a good day and those splendid views are in the imagination, this is a good place to pull in and take a break, enjoy a homely bite to eat and perhaps do a spot of shopping.
It's run by a local couple, Mary and Paraic Cloherty, who came back from London in early 80’s and set up a 3 bed B&B, then added a small restaurant. Now they have a large Restaurant and Bar and an extensive craft and fashion shop that attracts locals as well as visitors thanks to the quaity (Mary attends the top trade fairs every season) prices that are much less than other tourist craft shops.
For the same reasons - high quality and fair prices - local trade in the restaurant and bar is good and they open for weekends throughout the winter. The restaurant is open plan, with the bar, turf stove and TV at one end, and a modern extension at the other end, which is probably used for the odd dance - birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations of all kinds are held here, and every Sunday all year they serve at least 100 lunches. And no wonder, as the wholesome food served here by Mary and her team is worth travelling for.
An extensive menu offers half a dozen starters and main courses plus a special and catch of the day, along with seven desserts and a kid’s menu.
The fish cookery is outstanding - a delicious starter of Jumbo prawns in garlic butter, perhaps, served with fresh salad and freshly baked brown bread, followed, if you are lucky by a main course of crusty 'out of the sea fresh' roasted cod, cooked just to perfection - sublime. Other choices will probably include steaks and a crisply delicious honey roast duck with red berry sauce....Sides, while not unusual, are full of flavour, including that rare treasure - perfect mashed potato.
Desserts are sure to include something seasonal and homely - such a apple and blackberry crumble, topped with cream and ice cream and served piping hot - that will take you back to,your childhood.
This is a country style operation and some visitors might prefer smaller portions, but the cooking is so honest, informed and delicious that you're sure to love every mouthful and want to return. Many will find this welcoming place a comforting change from all the smart new restaurants - and want to become regulars too.
