Ballyvolane House
A house-party atmosphere prevails at Jenny and Justin Green’s Italianate mansion set amid romantic gardens and parkland. More
Good Hotel Guide Review
A house-party atmosphere prevails at Jenny and Justin Green’s Italianate mansion set amid romantic gardens and parkland. Built in 1728 and remodelled in the 1870s, this is, say the hosts, not quite hotel, guest house or B&B, but a lived-in home, filled with an accretion of possessions – antiques, portraits, saggy sofas, hunting trophies and snoozing dogs in front of blazing fires. Each bedroom has its own character, perhaps a Victorian bath encased in mahogany, with an enamel jug for a makeshift shower. Views through tall sash windows are of terraced gardens, ancient woodlands, trout lakes and the far Galtee mountains. A coffee machine and Bluetooth speaker nod to modernity, but there is no TV, just a transistor radio, home-made elderflower cordial, Ribena, and chocolate. New chef Olive Brennan cooks a communal dinner of home-reared or locally farmed, fished and foraged produce, fruit and vegetables from the walled garden, wild salmon from their beats on the River Blackwater, and rare breed pork. Children have a ball, with tractor trailer rides, trampolines, a tree house, high tea, animals to feed and eggs to collect.
Hotel details
Address
Castlelyons
Fermoy
Co. Cork
P61F P70
Ireland
Telephone
00 353 25 36349
Bedrooms
6. Plus ‘glamping’ tents May–Sept.
Open
all year, closed Mon, Tues, Wed in winter except for group bookings, Christmas/New Year (self-catering only).
Facilities
hall, drawing room, garden hall (honesty bar), dining room, wedding facilities, barn (table tennis), 80-acre grounds (15-acre garden, croquet, tennis, trout lakes).
Background music
none.
Children
all ages welcomed.
Dogs
allowed, but kept on lead during shooting season July–Jan.
Credit cards
MC, Visa.
Prices
per room B&B single €200, double €200–€260, glamping €160–€185. Set dinner €65.
Other reviews
Good Hotel Guide articles about
Ballyvolane House
- USA Today: 20 of the most beautiful hotels in Ireland
- The Lady: Top 10 romantic hotels for Valentine’s Day
- Huffington Post USA: Seven of the most beautiful hotels in Ireland
- The Independent: 10 of the best hotels for fishing in the UK and Ireland
10% discount voucher
This hotel accepts discount vouchers which entitle readers to a 10% discount off their normal B&B rate for a single night’s stay. To take advantage of this offer, you must present the voucher at the time of booking.
Upgrade voucher
This hotel accepts room upgrade vouchers which entitle readers to a space available room upgrade. The voucher must be presented at check-in and is entirely at the hotelier’s discretion.