Old Convent (The)

Country House & Restaurant

Looking for a place to spend some quality down time with your other half? We’ve found the perfect spot! The Old Convent, just outside the lovely old village of Clogheen, at the foothills of the Knockmealdown Mountains in beautiful County Tipperary, has romance seeping from every pore of the building. From the moment you step into the graceful, black and white tiled hallway with sweeping master staircase, you’ll feel you’ve entered another world entirely.

Originally the convent was home to a holy host of nuns who prayed and worshipped amid its walls. Today though the house provides a luxurious, peaceful setting for romantic getaways and total relaxation for friends looking to escape busy everyday routines. Owners Christine and Dermot Gannon have been in residence here for over four years building a fine reputation for quality accommodation and superlative dining with a menu focussed entirely on local produce. Christine who looks after proceedings front of house says the ethos at The Old Convent is to provide a place where couples can spend much needed quality time alone together and friends can disconnect from busy lives to share some R&R in extremely comfortable surroundings. To this end, a no children policy applies and you won’t find a TV in the place. Mobile phones aren’t really popular here either and funnily enough once you hit the off button you’ll find you don’t miss it at all. It’s amazing how modern technology dominates life so it’s nice to be in a place that actually insists on leaving it behind for a while.

Bedrooms here are converted from the original nun’s cells on the first and upper floor of the building. Furnishings are extravagant in their luxury, a far cry from the stark little spaces where the original occupants would spend hours in prayer and contemplation. The six rooms offer a mix of large doubles, twins and suites. The Honeymoon Suite has a hearts and flowers theme, with large corner bath in the bedroom, antique wardrobe and separate lounge area. But if you want to pop the question best ask for the Professor’s Suite with its giant four-poster bed and elegant furnishings. It takes the prize for the most marriage proposals – successful ones of course!  Christine says it’s the most romantic room in the house from that point of view, and she can’t count the number of ladies who’ve come down to dinner sporting a rock on the third finger of their left hand!

The Connemara Suite has a theme of heather and turf and can become a twin room on request, and the Loft Suite has a large old-fashioned slipper bath to recline in. If you really want to get to know each other, book the cosy and secluded Crow’s Nest at the top of the house, which has a double ended soaking tub in the mix! On the first floor landing, another small room, known to Christine and Dermot as the  ‘Nun’s Tuckshop’ houses a kitchen area with tea and coffee making facilities and cupboards stocked with organic traditional tea, speciality herb and detox teas, fine fresh coffees and hot chocolate, crockery and glasses, a fridge for water, juice and soft drinks. You’ll find treats like chocolate cookies too and marshmallows for topping your hot chocolate. One wall is lined with books, board games and dvd’s and there’s a stack of portable dvd players. The idea is that guests feel comfortable enough to help themselves to whatever they wish to drink then retreat to the luxury of the bedroom to watch a movie together, catch up on some reading, or embark on a bit of fun with a Scrabble board or Monopoly! And if you’ve forgotten your toothbrush, toothpaste or other essential toiletries, you’ll find a selection of useful items in here also. It’s these lovely touches that make the stay such an enjoyable one.  

Of course, as a Good Food Ireland establishment, you’d expect fine cuisine to lie at the heart of this enterprise and you’d be hard pushed to better the standards here. Dermot Gannon is a highly skilled and adventurous chef, firmly committed to supporting local producers and using their produce on his menus. The gourmet experience begins with an aperitif taken in the well proportioned and finely decorated lounge, complete with crackling fire. Big comfy sofas, high ceilings, ornate cornicing and neutrals creams and beiges give this space a modern elegance. Enjoy your pre dinner drink while browsing the pleasurable feast to come. The eight course tasting menu is served across the hall in the magnificent dining room, which is open to residents and the public – but booking is essential. Once the nun’s chapel and still with the original stained glass windows intact, this room is still used to pay homage, but nowadays, it’s to the religion of good food enjoyed in unique surroundings. Table candles and two ornate ceiling candelabras cast a romantic glow over crisp white linen clothed tables, high backed, brocade covered dining chairs, and gleaming glass and silverware.

We were treated to a to an appetiser of James McGeough’s aromatic and flavoursome Air Dried Mountain Lamb with Melon Mojito, fresh beetroot and warm Ardsallagh Goat’s Cheese. Connemara Smokehouse Organic Salmon with Dunmore East Crab, sushi rice and pineapple pickle followed before we indulged in a demitasse of Sweet Potato and Cardamom Veloute with Argan Nut Oil. The latter was a riot of sweet, spicy nutty flavours which knocked spots off any soup we’ve tasted in a long time for originality. A palate cleansing Tipperary Organic lemon and Ginger Sorbet served with Con Traas’ Blackcurrant and Apple Jelly was most welcome afterwards in readiness for the main event. Appropriately for a menu served in an old convent, Jack McCarthy provided the juicy Maiden Heifer Beef Fillet, cooked to perfect pinkness in the centre and accompanied with potato gnocchi, fresh spinach and tiny wild mushrooms. Which was a difficult choice given the delicious alternatives such as the Crowe Brothers Organic Pork served with mature Cashel Blue Famhouse Cheese, pear confit and candied pecans. Was there room for the Valrhona Macrae Hot Chocolate dessert? You bet there was! It’s name is a simple way of describing the three various chocolate desserts, include a warm chocolate pudding with yummy runny centre, accompanied with Baldwin’s Dairy Farmhouse Ice Cream and a refreshing orange and blueberry salad to cut the richness. Wines here are well chosen to compliment the variety of dishes and flavours on the menu and Christine is happy to recommend for those who simply can’t choose.         

Outside the old walled garden and orchard where the nuns grew vegetables and fruit is still intact and flourishing and home to another flock of females – the Gannon’s friendly free range hens who strut their stuff among the old apple trees. Dermot loves to gather freshly laid eggs for his baking and to serve as part of The Old Convent Breakfast. He also grows herbs and salads and hopes to extend that to other vegetables in the future. Two Tamworth pigs that were reared from piglets, and originally destined for the table, are now fully grown family pets he can’t bear to part with. They occupy a part of the large field behind the house, which leads to country walks up into the Knockmealdown Mountains. You might enjoy a brisk walk after the blow out breakfast, which includes homemade breads, muffins and scones, local sparkling apple juice, fresh fruit and farmhouse natural yogurt and a choice of traditional full Irish with local bacon sausages and Gannon eggs or a dish the chef decides on each morning, like our Baked Eggs with goat’s cheese and tomatoes or Connemara Smoked Salmon. For those wishing to take this unspoilt part of Ireland, a short drive to the scenic ‘Vee’ offers views over rolling countryside and woodlands, with the welcome anticipation of coming back after a good day out to the tranquillity of the house,  to enjoy a much needed cuppa by the fire in the drawing room. Heaven – if you’ll excuse the pun!

Click here to view Sample 8 Course Dinner Menu>>>

* Reservations Essential for Non Residents

Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

The Old Convent
Mount Anglesby
Clogheen
Co Tipperary
+353 (0) 52 7465565
Email: info@theoldconvent.ie
Web: www.theoldconvent.ie

 

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