‘A beautiful place with great hosts.’ Guide readers ‘highly recommend’ this well-located former Norman castle-turned-farmhouse-turned-country guest house in Ireland’s Ancient East. Surrounded by a working dairy farm, it is owned by Kathleen and Jack Mernagh, whose father acquired the property in 1920. ‘We were warmly welcomed by Kathleen, who showed us around before inviting us to have a cup of tea and home-made biscuits in a lovely snug.’ Traditional interiors include gilt-framed mirrors, a grandfather clock and country-style bedrooms reached by an elegant 17th-century staircase. ‘Our room was beautifully decorated, in keeping with the house’s history. We slept soundly on a huge, comfortable bed. The tasteful, well-equipped bathroom had a great tub.’ Some rooms survey the distant coastline. In summer months, Patrycja Mernagh cooks modern Irish dinners, while ‘tasty breakfasts’ are served every day. Using the farm’s produce and home-baked bread, the cooked element ‘is especially good’. ‘Baked eggs with chorizo and mushroom, and the Full Irish, were to die for.’ Ask the hosts for sightseeing tips: ‘The Mernaghs added a few gems to our itinerary.’ Rosslare ferry terminal is eight miles away. (RF)