Beautifully located overlooking Lough Ramor and the rolling Cavan countryside, this eighteenth century sporting lodge is on the edge of Virginia town and at the heart of a 150 acre estate. It was built by Thomas Taylour, Lord Headfort, as a summer escape from the family's principle residence twenty miles away at Headfort and has been operated as an hotel for many years.
The lodge has a particularly charming combination of informality and grandeur, which has endeared it to many people through the centuries - including a famous local man, the celebrated chef Richard Corrigan who tied the knot with his wife Maria here in 1991 and has had a grá for it ever since. He bought the property in 2013, following a period of closure, and lost no time in renovating the house and establishing productive gardens, which are now supplying his London restaurants (Corrigan's of Mayfair, Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill in Piccadilly, and Bentley's Sea Grill at Harrods) as well as the kitchens here.
It's a big project, managed with inimitable style by the man himself, and is already a very desirable private venue for weddings, corporate events and sporting weekends. But, although not (yet) operating as an hotel, the Lodge opens for pop up dinners and Sunday lunches, themed weekends (game shoot, for example, or Valentine's) and sometimes even afternoon tea. Dates are given on their website (where you can book) and you can sign up for email alerts, which are well worth having as they sell out quickly.
The bar has been substantially remodelled around a new entrance at the back of the main house, but most of the public rooms are faithful to the original vision and they make an elegant and atmospheric setting for Richard Corrigan's famously direct seasonal, ingredients-led cooking. In summer there may also be outdoor meals - a Gooseberry Garden Lunch in July, for example.
Accommodation is spread around several areas - the house, a newer wing at the back, and apartments around the courtyard. The best rooms are in the old house, with views of the golf course and lake, but the whole property has great character and the different types of room available are clearly detailed on the website. As in the kitchen, Corrigan's attention to detail is to be seen in the rooms - in very good beds, for example, made up with beautiful linen, and the choice of VOYA organic seaweed-based toiletries (from Sligo) in the en-suite bathrooms (some of which have shower only).
Breakfast for overnight guests is an exceptional experience. The long fireside table in the room alongside the reception area is set up atmospherically with candles and decorative foliage and, even in summer, a welcoming log fire is lit in the huge fireplace. Rustic charm is the order of the day and the foods displayed on a nearby sideboard have all the Corrigan trademarks of simplicity, quality and irresistibility. Big jugs of freshly squeezed juice, poached garden fruits, wonderful homebakes and buttery pastries - even if you don't like croissants, you must try these. Hot dishes range from a simple, extremely tasty rendition of the traditional Irish (with fresh tomatoes from the garden, in summer) to house-smoked salmon and more contemporary favourites like a Breakfast Burrito. Terrific coffee, gorgeous breads, butter and home made preserves too - everything is perfect.
Additional accommodation is available on site in the form of hand crafted Woodland Huts, offering charm and tranquillity in the woods. Longer term plans include a professional cookery school and, in the meantime, bespoke courses are available by arrangement for groups of 12 or more.
This is a wonderful place, and it is a joy to see it coming back to life in the care of a dedicated and inspiring owner.
* The Deerpark Inn, in Virginia village, is a lovely add-on to VPL - a rustic gastro-pub serving delicious all-day menus, it has a genuine Irish country pub ambience and offers accommodation too.
