A special place indeed. For the price of a night in a mediocre hotel in NYC, we were utterly transported by our stay at the Clonalis House. So much history. So many stories. Incredible furniture, artwork, woodwork. A jaw dropping library. Beautiful sprawling grounds. And yet instead of feeling like sleeping in a museum, it felt like a home. There are current magazines mixed in with the rare books. 19th century tables have modern family photos on them. The fireplace in our room had a recent newspaper lining the bottom. This is a living breathing family home, not just a heritage site, and that makes it all the more interesting.We truly felt like house guests, in no small part thanks to the down to earth hospitality of Marguerite and Pyers. They fed us. They waited up for us without complaint when family in Roscommon kept us out later than their typical guests. They welcomed us to join a paid tour of the house at no charge.And let me tell you, there's no feeling in the world like taking a (fascinating) tour of a majestic historic home with a large group of tourists, and then at the end of the tour, instead of getting on the bus, walking up the grand staircase to *your* room!You can stay at hotels/B&Bs with TV, wifi, room safes and keycard locks any time, anywhere. But historic country manors dripping with history, on gated grounds, with cows outside your window, and with eggs from the chickens across the way on your breakfast plate, are few and far between. Unless you are royalty, or a cast member of Downton Abbey, you will not likely experience anything like waking up in the Clonalis House. If you have the opportunity to stay here, take it!
- 11/07/14