Home & Away with Robert Walshe
Weekend Hotspot – The Mustard Seed Ballingarry Co Limerick
The Mustard Seed a stunning period property in Co Limerick set on acres of magnificent gardens, with mature trees is worth travelling to for the dining experience alone. The original restaurant in nearby Adare opened in 1985 before moving location. Following years of success in Ballingarry, owner Dan Mullane decided to retire and former manager John Edward Joyce has taken full reign. There are also fourteen quirky bedrooms and suites in this
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perfectly proportioned Country House should you wish to stay over and make a weekend of it! As food and hospitality are at the heart of The Mustard Seed much of the produce is home grown with a wide ranging seasonal menu to offer. Feel free to browse the organic fruit and vegetable gardens in terraces behind the hotel while the hens in the kitchen garden provide fresh freerange eggs for breakfast. The decor in the dining room reflects the former owner’s unique style very much matching the vibrancy of the food. Expect some residents dining with you however outside guests
dominate the proceedings such is the popularity of this hidden gem. The restaurant has also received much acclaim over the years, and was listed as one of the top 3 finalists for Best Restaurant Ireland Award in 2014. The emphasis of a “Mustard Seed Wedding” is tailor made from the beginning offering a smaller, stylish, more select venue perfect for an intimate gathering of family and friends. The property also welcomes guests to stay with their well-behaved pets. Accommodation options here include a deluxe suite with doors opening onto the garden for convenience and lots of space for your pets sleeping arrangements. The Courtyard mews is also ideal with added spaciousness and access to the outside without having to come through the hotel reception areas. From a tourism perspective the local area is historically rich, culturally diverse and very beautiful. Nearby Adare village was once a marketplace during the Middle Ages, and was then part of the Dunraven Estate. As a result, the village’s appearance is more planned than others in Ireland, with the architecture a mixture between traditional Irish and a more English style. There are also a number of old abbeys and fortresses in the village, adding to Adare’s architectural charm. The region is also renowned
for its wild Atlantic coastline (the Cliffs of Moher, Baltard and the Burren) and the River Shannon, which runs through rolling green hills and farmland. For the sports enthusiast there is a lot to do: horse racing at Limerick, Gaelic football, scuba diving, trout fishing in lakes or rivers – and, of course, the lure of some excellent golf courses including Adare. The Mustard Seed is a member of Ireland’s Blue Book a collection of Irish Country House Hotels,
Manor Houses, Castles and Restaurants located throughout the island of Ireland. These charming and stylish hideaways are the perfect choice for a midweek or weekend break and those seeking a romantic getaway. Activities vary from golf, fishing, spas and cookery schools or just relaxing in warm and comfortable surroundings. Residential packages at Mustard Seed includes one nights deluxe accommodation, with evening meal and fully cooked to order Irish Breakfast the following morning all from €129.00 PPS. You’ll feel the difference the moment you arrive. www.irelandsbluebook.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio in Northern Ireland and Travel Editor for River Newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com