The Longueville mansion is for sale.
The hat feels like the kind of information you share up front. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t book. If anything, it means you have to experience the classics of Irish country house before it becomes hospitality history.
Set on 400 acres near Mallow, County Cork, Longville is a distinctive pink Palladian mansion built in 1720. Over two generations before the pandemic, it developed into a country hotel and restaurant renowned for its locally grown, farmed and foraged cuisine. menu. But the big pause clearly prompted a rethink. Sotheby’s and Lizney now.
“We put our heart and soul into it,” says Aisling O’Callaghan, who runs Blue Book Stay with her husband William.
Before Covid it was up to 90 people for leisure guests, weddings, lunches, dinners and afternoon teas – after Covid a new chapter is coming. “You only get one chance like this in your life. That’s it.”
However, the sale can take months or years. In the meantime, we’ve moved to exclusive hiring and occasional weekend sales for leisure guests: “We’re back to doing what we’re most comfortable doing,” he says.
Last call in Longville? I didn’t have to ask twice.
arrival and location
near
Longueville House dating back to the 1700s
Our navigator takes us on a tour of the back roads of North Cork and sneaks up to the delivery entrance. But if you look out onto the main entrance avenue, the view opens up to the Blackwater River, the mansion blushing in the afternoon sun and frustration being laser-blasted.
We arrive in an August heatwave, shimmering haze over the fields, and deckchairs on the lawn. A Springer Spaniel lying in the shadow of a Doric porch. Aisling appears wearing a sun hat, greets you warmly, and guides you down the corridor. As my eyes adapt from the sun, it reveals antique cabinets, oil paintings, and fan arches leading to a bifurcated staircase. Check-in is completed at a small desk and luggage is taken upstairs to him.
After settling in, relax in the drawing room stocked with coffee, tea and freshly baked treats, along with a large Kilner jar filled with well water and fresh mint. 7/10
service and style
near
Cocktails made with Longueville family apple brandy
I think Aisling and William are in their element. It enjoys a less frenetic lifestyle and enjoys a steady stream of fewer guests. In a way, that’s what William’s parents were doing when they first had guests in 1968. And visitor feedback suggests that people like it too, she says Aisling. Bookings range from family gatherings to intimate weddings. The Turner School of Music is a gorgeous setting for ceremonies.
It feels like home from home — if your home was a country mansion, that is (only offers over €7 million please). Features such as marble fireplaces and mahogany floors can seem stuffy. There’s no spa, but a handful of staff are easily on hand, and the well-worn armchairs scream you want to unwind. It feels grand and casual at the same time.
Outside, there are trails and walled gardens to explore, as well as paid activities such as fishing and falconry. Take a short walk through the orchard and you’ll see hares under apple trees, wrens flying about, and swallows flying out of their huts. 7.5/10
room
near
Deluxe Suite at Longueville House
Whether it’s a painting of the President of Ireland, a built-in hatch bar, an antique iron used as a door stopper, or a slightly spooky collection of dolls in the TV room, there’s something for everyone to wander around the country pile and get a feel for the tales of antiques and heirlooms. love. “Lots of details,” says a smiling bartender as he walks by.
It spans 12 suites and bedrooms. These are all unique styles, but dominated by the country luxury sensibility you’d expect. In our house there are crocosmia twigs on the dresser and fresh roses on the table by the sash window. increase.
Natural wallpaper, sage-green wood paneling, fabric lamps, antiques, and marble bathrooms with a mix of Voya products, although the showers are quite dated. There is decent Wi-Fi, but no TV in the room. 7/10
food drink
near
Dining at Longueville House
“He calls himself a cook, not a chef,” William’s mother, Jane, tells me. When I met him at breakfast—a brief, unpretentious presence showcasing his own ham, fruit, scones and juices—it made perfect sense.
For dinner, guests gather in the drawing room from 7pm. William Roast He Pork, Garden Plum Sauce, Red He Cabbage, Potatoes with Fresh Chives and Butter Mains It seems that. We had no choice but emailed in advance asking for allergies and preferences (his wife’s celiac needs were well taken care of). Pork is a bit wintery, but it’s delicious, and after that, we sit around the hearth and chat.
Longueville cider and apple brandy are available for purchase from the hall cabinets. A unique way to experience House and O’Callaghan’s philosophy is at the annual Mushroom Weekend (September 30th through his October 1st). Experts guide guests through the on-site meadows, and harvests are served at picnics and dinners. 8/10
near
Drawing room at Longueville House
Conclusion
On our heatwave visits, we found the house breathless, but when the seasons begin to change, the fireplace lights up a very different mood. says the ring.
A friendly, gourmet and utterly Irish stay, Longueville recalls country house breaks such as Ballyvolane, Newforge and Roundwood. I will miss it.
insider tips
There is also a self-contained lodge, which sleeps up to 10 people in a 5-bed courtyard.
price
Mushroom picking weekends include 2 nights B&B, picnic and dinner, from €800 for 2 people (30th September to 1st October).
Exclusive rentals start at €5,000 per night. This home sleeps from a minimum of 2 nights up to 26 people. Additional meals and other activities.
Pol was a hotel guest. 022 47156;
