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Enniscoe House Review

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Enniscoe House

Fodor's Review:

Magnificent and magical, this pink, square Georgian mansion is dramatically sited on the shores of Lough Conn under towering Mount Nephin. However, there's nothing intimidating about its interior, even though its well-worn grandeur is steeped in history. Susan Kellett is a descendant of the original family who arrived here in the 1660s, and will give you the story behind the many ancestral portraits staring at you from the calico-flocked library walls. Your jaw may drop at the sight of the magisterial main salon -- a vast room done in stately house ivories and beiges, swathed in period wallpapers and draperies, set with 18th-century breakfronts, gilded French side tables, Chippendale mahogany chairs, gilt-frame paintings, and enough cozy corners to please even a Jane Austen. A maze of quirky corridors and staircases leads to the guest rooms, which are both charming and characterful, with candy-stripe wallpapers, floral drapes on tall sash windows, and massive beds (some four-posters are so high you need a step ladder to get in). The beauty continues outside, as the demesne's 150 acres are crisscrossed with walks and have more than 3 km (2 mi) of peaceful lakeshore. All paths lead to the 5 acres of Victorian gardens, now under restoration. Here you can find historic farm buildings converted into offices housing independent organizations, including a Mayo genealogy center, an antiques shop, and a tearoom. Meals ($$$$; reserve ahead) include fruits and vegetables grown in the organic garden. There are also four self-catering apartments. The house lies 4 1/2 km (3 mi) south of Crossmolina and 20 km (12 1/2 mi) west of Ballina. All in all, this is a hotel that remains a fabulous destination in itself. Go!

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