I'd booked accommodation by email, but when we arrived (finding the house by luck as there was no sign at the entrance to the drive) we had to ring the bell, shout and generally walk about for five minutes or more before someone eventuallycame out from the kitchen (we could see movement in the house when we were walking round the outside, trying to get a response). The woman who eventually emerged said she was not expecting anyone although I had exchanged emails with someone whom I believed to be her. So we had to tramp around the "award-winning gardens" (when? in 1986?) for half an hour or more while she got a room ready.

The room itself was rather shabby, having last been updated in about 1975 by the look of it. She very kindly gave us some tea and good home-made cake in the sitting room, which was embellished by some sort of creeping plant growing through the skirting board from the outside in several places. One of the upstairs windows was totally covered by this plant, making the landing somewhat gloomy.

Breakfasts were superb, though, and I recommend the stewed rhubarb, from the vegetable garden, with yogurt as well as the usual bacon and egg etc.

It was the most expensive of the bed-and-breakfasts we'd stayed at in the Republic of Ireland but the least value for money.