Ashley Park House

Ardcrony, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

Tel: 067 38223 
Fax: 067 38013

e-mail: margaret@ashleypark.com
website: www.ashleypark.com

Guests arriving at Ashley Park House know they are about to experience something rather special as they enter the grounds, passing beneath an 18th century stone arch and past the old gate house. They soon catch their first glimpse of Lough Ourna, a favourite local fly-fishing spot where trout as large as 12lbs have been caught. The long driveway through the 76-acre estate of beech woodland and formal gardens provides some superb views of the lake, framed by the ring forts on the shore and the Slieve Bloom Mountains beyond.

Arriving at the house that stands on the shore of the lake, guests are welcomed at the door and invited into the octagonal hallway. The interior has been faithfully restored to its original grandeur, complete with fine period furniture, and there's an immediate sense of tranquillity and peace. On the way to the guest bedrooms, you pass the grandfather clock in the hallway and the upstairs stained glass windows. The spacious bedrooms retain the original decorative features, most rooms enjoy views of the lake and all have large, comfortable beds and en suite bathrooms.

Downstairs again for afternoon tea in the drawing room, or perhaps a walk around the gardens and orchard, or a row around the lake visiting the ruins of the fort on the island. Dinner can be booked in advance and enjoyed in the large dining room looking out across the lake. All palates can be catered for, including vegetarians. After dinner, options include taking coffee in the Chinese Reading Room or on the terrace, settling down in front of a roaring fire, or visiting one of the many local pubs offering traditional Irish music.

In the morning, the breakfast choice ranges from a full Irish cooked breakfast to a more moderate Continental breakfast with fresh fruit. During the day, there's a wide range of activities available in the area the newly lengthened Nenagh golf course is just five minutes away and major championship courses such as Ballybunion, Lahinch, Roscrea and Limerick are all within 60 miles of Ashley Park.