Love in Longford
If you’re looking for somewhere for a foodie night away, then you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise if you choose Viewmount House just outside Longford town. This 17th-Century house is complemented by its lovely countryside surroundings and by four acres of meticulously maintained gardens. The Viewmount has a warm welcome, making it just what the doctor ordered for a cosy getaway this winter. Beryl and James Kearney bought this lovely 400-year-old farmhouse in 1989 and spent years restoring it in a manner that’s faithful to its past while taking into account the needs of modern visitors. Rooms are decorated in keeping with the era of the house with pretty floral wallpapers and four-poster beds you have to climb into, but with modern and bright bathrooms. The chef at Viewmount, Robert Groot Koerkamp, is doing really interesting things with the dishes here, focusing on seasonality and what he can obtain locally. A set menu of three courses is a very reasonable €60 and there are some surprise courses thrown in along the way. As you’d expect in a country house hotel, breakfast is also seriously good – Beryl’s granola is highly recommended – making Viewmount a gem in the Longford countryside. viewmounthouse.com