2 Best Hotels in Ballyhack, The Southeast

One of Ireland's finest country houses, Dunbrody is a sprawling, two-story 1830s Georgian manor house with beautiful gardens, cooking classes with an Irish celeb chef, guest rooms that charm with a judiciously luxe combination of period antiques and fine reproductions, and restful views over the Barrow Estuary. A delightful three-bedroom lodge house is also for rent. No need to rush the next morn: the famous breakfasts are served until 11:30. There's even a small but luxurious spa area and a champagne seafood bar with alfresco dining and lighter fare as an alternative to the award-winning Harvest restaurant. A cozy pub on the grounds, the Local, lives up to its name, drawing a mix of locals and guests, and offers a beer garden and live music on weekends.

Originally an 18th-century stone rectory, the authentic Georgian-country-house experience is promised and more than delivered at luxurious Kilmokea, known for its award-winning gardens. An elegant hideaway, Kilmokea is set amid 7 acres of gardens that include formal walled gardens, more than 130 species of plants, and woodland gardens with winding paths—a delight for amateur and serious horticulturalists alike. While you may want to nest in the fragrant and tranquil gardens, you will have to settle for gorgeous views from one of the seven elegant bedrooms. Rooms are appropriately named for beautiful flowers like the rose, the lily, and the daffodil: the Magnolia Room boasts a period four-poster bed, sumptuous mahogany furniture, and the required garden views. Breakfast is served in the large conservatory beside the gardens and dinner is available in the impressive main dining room. The on-site spa offers aromatherapy treatments and a heated swimming pool. There is also a self-catering cottage that's ideal for families.