Living & Entertaining Rooms
On the ground floor a glazed entrance door leads inside into a large long Hall. Off this are:
The Library: A very atmospheric room that is the classic country house retreat, lined with bookcases of dark wood and filled with antique books. There is a wood-burning stove in the rare red Killarney marble fireplace and it is furnished with a large oak desk, armchairs and a sofa, all of which contributes to a cosy retreat. There is a TV with DVD and some satellite channels, as well as a CD/Radio.
The Dining Room: Filled with family portraits, this impressive room overlooks the lake and the entrance lawn. The dining table is expandable from an intimate 6 up to 18 places. With gilt pelmets and blue painted walls, the room works well for both elegant lunch parties and long convivial dinners. The Golden Oak dining table and accompanying pieces were especially built for the house. There is a working fireplace in Carrara marble. Double doors lead to:
The Kitchen/Breakfast Room: Originally the Morning Room, the large high ceilinged Kitchen/Breakfast Room faces the lake with glazed double doors that open out onto a gravelled terrace with table and chairs for 10, aligned with a path down to the lake. There are 2 large windows with window seats where guests often sit, mesmerised by the changing views. This room successfully combines the traditional morning room with a generous modern kitchen which has granite worktops and an impressive central island. There are ample facilities: 3 ovens, a microwave, a large induction hob, a dishwasher, large fridge and plentiful china and cutlery. The breakfast table comfortably seats 8 but can be extended to 10. Double doors to the dining room enable a buffet arrangement on the kitchen island or pre dinner drinks outside on the front lawn.
The Drawing Room: This has 2 windows overlooking the lake and another 2 over the rear terraced lawn. It suits equally formal entertaining or informal relaxation. The room has comfortable sofas and armchairs and a working fireplace in green Connemara marble. There is a TV with DVD and satellite. A large bookcase contains CDs and DVDs.
The Studio / Playroom: We finished this room recently, made up of a former butler’s pantry, a staff sitting room and a children’s nursery. Now it is a modern room with double height ceiling and a study gallery with a door to the childrens’ playroom garden. The Studio / Playroom has a sink and a further entrance from the back of the house which has enabled us to use it as a prep kitchen for larger events. In normal use, the room has a sofa, table and chairs, a TV/DVD/XBox and a selection of board games.
The Hall: An unusual feature of the House is the very large Hall, divided into 3 sections. The Front Hall as you enter the House is dominated by a huge Golden Oak sideboard mounted with a stag’s head (part of the O’Connell crest). Prints on the walls include various old maps of the area.
The Middle hall has a large and ornate dark wood staircase to the first floor, lit by 2 large venetian windows, reflected in large gilt mirrors. Victorian cartoon prints relating to events in Daniel O’Connell’s career line the stairs. A ¾ size snooker table (with a table-top to hide my wife’s choice of purple baize!) takes up much of the remaining space, together with a Bechstein baby grand piano.
The Back Hall is a comfortable space to get lost in a book with a large sofa, a chess table and a bookcase full of novels and coffee table books.