THE first thing to greet us as we drove through the gates and into the sprawling Farnham Estate was the sight of a golfer searching for his ball in knee-high grass. Thankfully, while golf was a key reason for an invitation to spend a night at the luxurious Co Cavan spa and golf resort, there was nothing as punishing in store for us.
To coincide with the opening of a new clubhouse to accompany the par-72 parkland course within the confines of the wooded 1,300 acre Farnham complex, a group of journalists and partners had been invited to take in all that was good on the property.
It's been a long time since my golf has been described as anything close to good, so thankfully the only demand put on us was a relaxed short game lesson under the watchful eye of head PGA professional Neil McNulty, who ironed out a few technical flaws, before we returned to the clubhouse for a splendid lunch of sushi and salads, prepared by executive head chef Daniel Willimont of the Cedar Rooms restaurant in the hotel itself.
The clubhouse is only a short walk from the four-star hotel which stands resplendently on a hill, keeping a watchful eye on the rest of the property, which is also home to 7km of walking and biking trails for the more energetic guests.
My wife and I had stayed in the hotel once before, and couldn’t wait to get back to sample the facilities without an accompanying post-wedding headache. After checking in, we were hardly disappointed to make our way to a spacious, comfortable ground-floor room with a seated area through the patio doors, which proved a nice place to relax for a while given that the Cavan weather had decided to co-operate.
There wasn’t that long to relax, however, as the spa awaited, with something for everyone. The infinity pool with views across the Cavan countryside is a perfect place to chill out and watch the world go by, while the hot stone massage can be personally recommended as a way of working out the aches and pains picked up while sitting about doing very little all day.
Yet the highlight of the visit was still to come, and it wasn’t even the pre-dinner cocktails – pomegranate gin was a particular hit – in the drawing room situated in the original country house that now forms part of the hotel.
The Cedar Rooms restaurant is another recent addition to the list of attractions at Farnham that also include Maxwells Grill Room and the Wine Goose Cellar Bar. An old stone building once used as accommodation for the estate managers now houses a restaurant which has become the fastest to pick up two AA rosettes under the guidance of Daniel Willimont.
And from the minute the starters arrived it was abundantly clear why the Cedar Rooms has been racking up awards and favourable reviews in equal measure. The set menu, at a cost of €55, might not be to everyone’s taste, but it is well worth splashing out for.
Pan seared scallops and bacon and pea soup were our choices and both disappeared pretty quickly, to be replaced by the mains of a duo of Navan lamb for myself and wood smoked chicken supreme for my travel companion.
All of the accompanying vegetables and herbs are grown and picked on the estate, while the chicken is smoked using wood also chopped on the grounds as part a conscious effort to only use products from the surrounding area.
With the mains tucked away, there was barely room for dessert but it would’ve been rude not to indulge and the Pear Hélène with a dark chocolate pave, pear gel and chocolate brownie crumble which simply maintained, and perhaps even surpassed, the levels of what had gone before.
Willimont and his staff have created something very special in the Cedar Rooms, which is rather befitting in a location that is excellent in every way.
Farnham probably remains a bit of a hidden gem in terms of Ireland’s luxury hotels, but that really need not be the case as it is only a couple of hours from both Belfast and Dublin and is ideal for a wide range of clients, be it golf societies who can avail of the demanding course and quality clubhouse, or indeed couples looking for rest, relaxation and a spot of quiet indulgence.
I would imagine even the golfer searching for his ball as we arrived ended up enjoying the experience.
:: For more info, offers and booking see farnhamestate.ie
