Blackwater Manor House

Welcome to Blackwater Manor House, a historic Irish country home of extraordinary warmth, style and comfort that provides luxury accommodation and salmon fishing on the river Blackwater, located in the North Cork countryside of southern Ireland.

Should you be seeking the very best country house cuisine, the sporting catch of a Blackwater Salmon, a chest of buried treasure or simply the warmth of open log fires in the comfort and luxury of Irish country living then look no further. The house is an award-winning (recently awarded the Country House of the Year award) Irish Country House and a member of  Ireland's Blue book.

The Manor is not exactly a hotel, guesthouse or a Bed and Breakfast, but an elegantly furnished, family-owned period home, offering warm hospitality and extremely comfortable accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere of informality and friendliness. The sitting room, dining room and six luxuriously appointed bedrooms have beautiful views overlooking formal gardens, parklands and trout lakes.

The Manor is a magical setting for a country house party. Why not catch up with a bunch of old friends for a few nights of fun, delicious food & drink in a glorious country house. Barefoot or ball gowns – make the party as relaxed or as formal as you like - you’ll have the entire place to yourselves. Enjoy delicious food matched by an exceptional wine list around a huge antique polished mahogany dining table laid with old silver, candles and a log fire. We serve breakfast until noon every day too so you can enjoy a well deserved lie in.

Weekly prices: €6600 - €9000
Short breaks: From €4050

For new arrivals, the fine pillared hall provides a warm and inviting welcome, while for our seasoned visitors it maintains that comforting feeling of being home again. It is unarguably the focal point for our guests for all around temptations beckon - straight through to the bar for a stiff drink, on round to the right to relax or read in the sitting room, sharp right to the dining room to be fed and watered, left up the stairs to bed or park yourself down where you are to be entertained by an evening of music performed on the Blüthner baby grand piano. The decorative doors and window panels, the deep orange walls and the luxurious furniture lend the house much of its sense of fun and mischief.

The newly refurbished drawing room is a magnificent space. It commands spectacular vistas of the formal terraced lawns and gardens. Streaming sunlight pours from the south through large Georgian windows, vividly illuminating the Chinese Pagoda wallpaper, original elaborately painted cornice and a large crystal chandelier. Chesterfield sofas and wing chairs rest among a fine selection of antiques, decorative lamps and silk screens. A large bookcase contains illustrated books, magazines and board games to ensnare the inquisitive mind and a large screen can be revealed for watching movies or major sporting events.

There are six guest bedrooms, which are spacious, individually furnished, tastefully decorated and above all indulgently comfortable. They all have televisions, tea/coffee making facilities, a good old wireless (so you don't have to miss an episode of the Archers!), and a selection of books and magazines with which to amuse and entertain. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, some of which have beautiful big old antique baths. The large double sash windows aptly frame stunning views overlooking the formal terraced gardens to the south and to the north, ancient trees, parkland, lakes and mountains beckon.

A uniquely warm atmosphere pervades throughout the gardens and grounds, created largely by the mixture of mature deciduous trees, formal, semi-formal, walled and woodland gardens, not to mention the wide variety of wildlife that thrive therein.

The ornamental lakes which adorn the parkland below the front of the house were originally dug by hand during the 19th century and were recently restored, deepened and landscaped to accommodate trout for fishing. The house is still a working farm and the cattle that graze the surrounding pastures are kept good company by a small herd of donkeys. Archie, the largest cat in Munster, keeps the flock of fantail pigeons on their toes! The ageing spaniel and the terriers are always bubbling with excitement, welcoming guests and begging to be taken for walks.

Croquet can be played on the south top lawn from May to September, weather permitting. You can borrow mallets and balls from the porch. See us for rules, cheating advised! We have a net set up on the lawn behind the dovecot. Rackets and shuttlecocks provided. We have bikes available for your use and can suggest a few good routes and provide you with maps. There are stunning woodland and garden walks all around the Estate which take you through the walled garden, round the rock, the ponds and Tims’ woods.

*Please note, locations shown on the maps are approximations only

The house is 35 minutes drive from Cork Airport, 30 minutes drive from Cork train station and 3.5 hours drive from Dublin. The house is located in East County Cork in southern Ireland between the townlands of Britway and Castlelyons, close to the market towns of Fermoy, Midleton and Tallow and also within a short distance of Cork, Irelands' second city. There are 20 golf courses within 1 hour of the house and the 2 nearest pubs are 3 miles away.

The scenic Bride and Blackwater Valleys provide a haven for anglers, walkers, golfers, horse-riders, garden-lovers and sightseers. Blarney, Cork City, Fota Island, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Lismore, Rock of Cashel and Waterford Crystal, the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula can all easily be explored on day trips.

Salmon fishing on the Cork River Blackwater is unique. We offer 8 privately owned beats, stretching from Killavullen to Ballyduff. If you prefer the smaller game of trout fishing, you can try your cast on the recently restored lakes in the parkland.    

The Old Railway Station in Lismore is home to the Centre for Traditional Skills, a place dedicated to the conservation and revival of age old crafts and skills. The magnificent stone built goods shed is busy again with a working forge, workshops for woodturning, country carpentry, coopering, toolmaking and tinsmithing. Book one of the weekend courses.

Beaches: Ballyquin, located on the Youghal to Dungarvan Road. Whiting Bay, located on the Youghal to Dungarvan Road. Ardmore, signed from Youghal to Dungarvan
Youghal Strand. Ballycotton, signed from Midleton Youghal Strand.

Tennis: Conna Tennis Club, 15 mins. Horse riding: Ballybrack Riding School, 15 mins. Clay Shooting: Claybird Limited, 1 hour.
 
The point to point season in Ireland begins on New Years Day and finishes the last day in May. If you are lucky enough to be touring North Cork during those months, the point to point experience is a must.

The food is ‘country house’ in terms of style and is meticulously prepared by house chef Teena Mahon. The menus feature lots of good roasts, fresh and salt-water fish and game in season supported by home-grown vegetables and fruit. We only use ingredients from here. This means from the walled garden, farm, river and from the local area. We are lucky being situated in County Cork as there is an abundance of fantastic artisan food producers close by. Our beef, lamb, mutton and pork come from Michael McGrath in Lismore, fish and shellfish from O’Connell’s Seafood in the English Market, Cork and from Ballycotton Seafood in Midleton, our bacon, sausages, black and white puddings and loins of bacon come from Caherbeg Pork Ltd in Rosscarbery and artisan cheeses from all over Cork, Waterford and Tipperary.

We grows a huge amount of vegetables throughout the year in the vast walled garden. Exotic vegetables such as sea kale, asparagus and globe artichokes as well as lots of different varieties of salad leaves, 4 kinds of potatoes, chard, spinach, courgettes, all sorts of cabbages, curly kale, beetroot, Jerusalem artichoke and much more besides. Fruit such as loganberries, figs, pears, apples and raspberries are served up in season and the green house is used for growing cucumbers, chilies and tomatoes.

We are keen foragers so a lot of the food is wild. Wild Atlantic salmon caught on our beats on the river Blackwater as well as feathered and furred game appear on the menu in season. We have 30 happy hens that scratch around a large 1-acre walled haggard and they produce wonderful eggs for breakfast and baking.

We make all our own fruit preserves for breakfast, we bake our own breads, pastries and cakes. All our guests enjoy complimentary homemade elderflower cordial, homemade Ribena and a jar of homemade chocolate in the bedrooms.

Breakfast may be taken in the dining room anytime before 12 noon – the full cooked or continental. Picnics can taken with you on day trips or can be eaten in the house or on the grounds. Enjoy our selection of loose leaf tea, herbal infusions, homemade cake and shortbread in the hall, sitting room, in your room or, weather permitting, out in the garden.

The Manor is a magical setting for a country house wedding and we have hosted a number of weddings in all shapes and sizes over the years. If you are interested in having your wedding.

 * No size too small or too large
 * Traditional or eccentric
 * We are very very flexible
 * Breakfast served till noon each morning
 * 35 minutes drive from Cork Airport
 * 30 minutes drive from Cork train station
 * 3.5 hours drive from Dublin

- Security deposit: This is paid on arrival and will be refunded in full after departure subject to damage inspection.
- Linen & towels: All linen and bath towels are included in the rental price.
- Energy costs: Included in the rental price.
- End of stay cleaning: Included. Please leave the property in the state that you found it.
- Arrival time: 4pm onwards.
- Departure time: 10am.
- Pets: Please enquire.
- Smoking: No smoking in the property.
- It is recommended that all guests take out insurance to cover against potential cancellation and any accidental damage caused during your stay at the property.