House & Grounds
PYERS O’CONOR NASH.
ELEGANT COUNTRY HOUSE
Escape the everyday, indulge the senses and feed the soul. Intimate, timeless and with a fascinating history at your fingertips, Clonalis reclines peacefully on a 700-acre wooded estate on the edge of the River Suck among meadows of tangled wildflowers and tightly trimmed croquet lawns. Staying at Clonalis, feels like a best-kept secret and is ideal for a relaxing break at ‘home’.
ALL ABOUT US
Clonalis is an elegant country house that is now home to the 27th generation of O’Conors since the last High King of Ireland. A warm and welcoming family run country house set amidst 700 acres of secluded and idyllic estate, we chose to keep things small and intimate allowing guests to relax in a timeless atmosphere and enjoy a uniquely personal experience. As custodians of this historic home we are proud to share with you the charm and character at the heart of the estate.
WHERE WONDERFUL MEMORIES ARE MADE..
The library lined with ancient tomes, some of which date to the 16th century, is a wonderful room to spend time sitting beside the fire and absorbing a sense of history.
CLONALIS ESTATE
THE GROUNDS
STEAL AWAY TO YOUR VERY OWN COUNTRY HOUSE RETREAT
It’s not uncommon to be greeted by a pheasant, a hare or a red squirrel for that matter for, at Clonalis, rare wildlife is very much at home yet there is plenty more to admire. A place of quiet beauty, time seems to slow from the moment you enter the magnificent gates and meander your way up the mile-long avenue to the historic house – regarded by many as one of Ireland’s most important historic properties.
HISTORIC ORIGINS
From its origins ‘Chluain Mhalais’ (meadow of the forts) in 1617, and as far back as the time of Christ to 14th century castles, the eighteenth century O’Conor houses at Ballanagare and the present-day estate, Clonalis conveys a profound sense of place, embracing the charms of the rural Irish countryside and a unique story that has woven its way through Irish history of High Kings, castles and abbeys.
In its 400 years, it has evolved but gently. Like the house itself, the grounds are a living history; a 2,000-year-old story of generations of O’Conors who have dedicated their lives to the husbandry of the estate. A country estate bound by the seasons and the rhythm of nature. Not much has changed over the centuries, the ancient woodland must look quite the same as in the time of the High Kings, but for the occasional convoy of welly-clad guests eager to discover its ancient ruins and meandering paths, and maybe Pyers driving a tractor with the same deftness as Lewis Hamilton at the wheel of a Formula 1 Car.
FRESH AIR FOR EXPLORING
On the outskirts of Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, the estate is near enough to be considered ‘in town’ and yet feels worlds away from civilisation, huddled back among rolling green fields, parkland of oak, copper beech, cypress and redwood trees, wild woodland gardens, walled orchards, wildflower woodland and trickling streams that carve through deciduous forests. Arm yourself with a map and a pair of wellies from the owners and you can disappear for the best part of the day.
Winter evenings by a log fire, long walks through the Autumn leaves, vivid bluebells in Spring and wildflowers meadows in Summer – whatever the season Clonalis is the perfect weekend hideaway where you can let go of life’s demanding schedule and escape for a few days.
Explore More
Divinely comfy beds and sink-into-me sofas create the most relaxing and tranquil of hideaways.
Delicious seasonal fare that showcases the very best of the Irish countryside.
