Just on the edge of the Curragh, near Punchestown, Naas and The Curragh race courses, this delightful 200-year old house was built by the famous architect Decimus Burton who also designed the lodges in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, and it is the only known domestic example of this ‘Strawberry Hill’ gothic architectural style in Ireland.
Set in 170 acres of beautifully wooded land it is on a working farm, with free range hens, sheep, cattle and horses, an old icehouse and a well-maintained walled kitchen garden that provides vegetables, fruit and flowers for the house in season.
It is a lovely family house, with very nicely proportioned rooms - gracious but not too grand - open fires downstairs, and bedrooms that are all different, each with its own special character and very comfortably furnished, with fresh flowers.
Meryl Long welcomed guests to this idyllic setting for many years, aiming to offer them ‘a way of life which I knew as a child (but with better bathrooms!), a warm welcome, real fires and good food.’
Although Meryl has handed over the reins to her hotelier son, Edward Booth, and his wife Roisin, they also love the place and the work.
A stay here is sure to be enjoyable, with the help of truly hospitable hosts who offer a delicious afternoon tea on arrival - and believe that holidays should be fun, full of interest and with an easy-going atmosphere.
They have also established a reputation for wonderful weddings and other events - and, in addition to the ten lovely rooms in the house, they now offer a glamping 'village' with ten comfortably furnished bell tents each sleeping at least two guests in summer.
