IB PARTNER PROFILE ROSSNAREE HOUSE
Quiet Exclusivity at Rossnaree One of Hidden Ireland’s luxurious country houses, Rossnaree House in Co Meath, offers a relaxing retreat in beautiful surroundings.
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James Fennell
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lavish new publication from Blackstaff Press, Hidden Ireland, Discover Ireland’s Most Beautiful Houses documents some of Ireland’s most alluring properties. Hidden Ireland is a fascinating family of historic and family-run private houses located around the country, each of which is full of character, charm, history and fine, traditional food. Featuring eclectic interiors, family portraits and prized collections of art, antiques and fine porcelain, as well as the marvellous architecture and magnificent gardens that these houses are known for, James Fennell’s evocative photographs combine with Josephine Ryan’s lively, authoritative text to tell the story of Hidden Ireland – the history, the style and above all the personalities that are at the heart of these glorious houses. As Ryan says in her introductory text, “The selection criteria for membership of Hidden Ireland is strict, and it’s as much about the people as the bricks and mortar. The houses are all privately owned, and the owners are as different as the properties, but they all have one thing in common – they are genuinely delighted to receive visitors. In return, they offer visitors a slice of their own lives – usually in an oasis of calm with the occasional bit of madness thrown in for the craic.” There are 30 historic properties in Hidden Ireland, alongside 22 properties available for self-catering stays, spread throughout the country.
Among these hidden gems is Rossnaree House, a private country house in Slane overlooking the Boyne Valley’s famous megalithic site of Newgrange. With views to the bend in the River Boyne, guests can still see the ruins of a small cottage where monks from the Cistercian Abbey of Mellifont set their salmon traps. Proprietor and artist Aisling Law, great-granddaughter of Irish revolutionary Maud Gonne, oversees the day-to-day operations of this boutique bed and breakfast. Combining beautiful Victorian and Italian architecture with a breathtaking landscape, guests can stay in one of four luxury and individually styled rooms – The William Morris Room, The Bird Room, The Tiger Room and The River Room. Aisling’s private collection of Irish antiques and special artefacts from her travels in India and Africa combine beautifully to give Rossnaree an individual, eclectic style. Guests can enjoy a sumptuous Irish
breakfast in the elegant dining room or an artisan picnic basket on private land along the River Boyne. The kitchen’s mission is to eventually source all of its food from Rossnaree’s land – the grounds are home to a small farm with flocks of free-range farm fowl, including geese, guinea fowl, hens and roosters, cared for by resident bird-man Jurandir. Rossnaree House also offers an exclusive fishing package with private access to beats on the nearby Boyne, while the on-site Rossnaree Art School provides intensive three-day summer art courses for students in June, July and August 2017. Located only 40 minutes from Dublin and an hour from Belfast, Rossnaree offers an unrivalled experience, a peaceful retreat that you’re unlikely to forget. For more information, phone 041 982 0975 or visit www.rossnaree.ie InBUSINESS | Q2 2017
27/07/2017 14:00