Magnolia, you sweet thing... Blarney Castle Gardens this weekend.

Magnolia, you sweet thing...

Blarney Castle Gardens 

Pics: 20.03.2026

American (Yellow) Skunk-cabbage

Tearoom or temple?

Blarney House

Above, the Fern Trees Garden

On the boardwalk

Daffodils galore

Prunus Shirotae, just inside the entrance.

 

Order your Easter Sunday Supper at The Farmgate.

press release

Order your Easter Sunday Supper at The Farmgate.

Easter Sunday 3 course Set Menu available for pre orders online collection only from Farmgate stall €55 for two people sharing. Pre order final date 3rd April 10am Collections available from Friday 3rd April 12pm-4pm & Saturday 4th April 9:30am -3:30pm.

Order your Easter Sunday Supper

Turkish Delight In Baltimore Last Saturday. Chef Ahmet conducts a symphony for the senses in Baba’De

Turkish Delight In Baltimore Last Saturday

Chef Ahmet conducts a symphony for the senses in Baba’De

Squid Eriste

At Baltimore's Baba’De last Saturday, presentation was mesmerising, particularly with our opening dishes, the spring rolls and the Squid Eriste and the following plates didn't disappoint either. Of course, while the presentation can dazzle and puzzle, it is what behind it that counts and here every single note was precise, all coming together in a virtuoso performance by the chef and his team.  

Spring Rolls

For us a serendipitous discovery. But this symphony of looks, textures and flavours owes nothing to accident, rather it's the results of years of learning by Chef Ahmet, his insistence from day one on finding the best local produce along with his judicious use of sauces and spices (used more to enhance the flavours than add heat) from his native Turkey. I suppose the serendipity comes in the fact that he did end up here in Baltimore.

West Cork beef köfte 

So what is Baba’De? It is the second restaurant in Baltimore with Chef Dede at the helm, with Maria Archer leading out-front. Dede at The Custom House is just a few steps up the street and already displays two Michelin stars. Baba is still in its infancy but the prodigy has already been recognised with a Michelin bib.

Baba'de-style fried chicken 

And indeed the menu follows Michelin lines, even the shortened one at lunchtime that we enjoyed. There are no starters as such, though you may enjoy Soup (Turkish red lentil - - garlic buffalo yogurt, sourdough, almond & garlic - on our visit) and/or Ali’s Hummus (fresh chickpeas & tomato casserole, paprika & cumin, sourdough).

Baba'de-style fried chicken 

Here you  are invited to pick what you like to begin and then order again and again. There’s quite a wine list here, local drinks too including craft beers, and cocktails of course. As we were driving back to the city immediately afterwards we picked a couple of non alcoholic favourites, the Stonewell Cider and the Fierce Mild beer; neither disappointed.

We started with a couple of dishes from the Sea section including those spectacular Langoustine spring rolls, with basil, sesame seeds, and chilli. A delight for the eye and the taste buds. Next up was the Squid Eriste (pasta served with oregano & red pepper velouté almond), another eye-catching and very satisfying dish. Eriste, by the way, is a type of Turkish pasta. Both dishes were shared, and that was the plan, until dessert!

Another look at the menu for round two and we ordered a couple of dishes from the Pasture section. First up was the Baba'de-style fried chicken (fried buttermilk chicken thigh, spice mix & brown butter dip). Might sound a bit prosaic but once again it was poetry on a plate from the kitchen. And that same standard continued with the amazing West Cork beef köfte with aromatic rice, barbecue beef, pickles, tomato and yoghurt sauce.

Time for dessert

And then to dessert where the sharing arrangement broke down, We were in agreement though that, of the two on offer, it just had to be Annemin sütlaçi (dede's mother's warm rice pudding, brown butter ice cream, hazelnut). We each had one and it turned out to be a great decision. I enjoyed every little grain though I had to promise that I would try and compare it with CL’s version featuring Blackcurrant jam (plenty of it) and a shake of nutmeg - looking forward to that!

We had had our stroll out to the Beacon earlier and, having been well fed and thoughtfully served by the excellent staff at Baba’de, we walked down to the pier and carpark, said au revoir to Baltimore, and were soon on our way home, reminiscing every now and then on that gorgeous meal.

Ferries for Sherkin and Cape Clear

The Beacon, about 30 minutes walk from village.
Five by car.

What we ate: 

Langoustine spring rolls €18

Squid Eriste €15

West Cork beef köfte €16

Baba'de-style fried chicken €13

Annemin sütlaçi €13

More on Baba'De here

Luxurious Low-Impact B&B, Barnahown, In Mitchelstown Expands With The Opening Of A New Wing Of Accessible Accommodation, Dog-friendly Rooms & More!

press release

Luxurious Low-Impact B&B, Barnahown, In Mitchelstown Expands With The Opening Of A New Wing Of Accessible Accommodation, Dog-friendly Rooms & More!

Pet Friendly

Award-winning boutique B&B, Barnahown, near Mitchelstown in Co Cork, has increased its total guest capacity to fourteen people per night with the addition of a contemporary new ‘Kildrum’ wing of accessible accommodation, comprising wheelchair-friendly and dog-friendly rooms. 

The slick new adjoining structure to the lovingly-restored 1800’s farmhouse, which opened the doors to its first four guestrooms in July 2024, has seen the 99m² footprint previously occupied by its neighbouring barn used to create the stunning modern addition. Kildrum’s three ground floor dog-friendly rooms, ‘Ballard’, ‘Lough Gur’, and ‘Bay Lough’ (also wheelchair-friendly), each measure a spacious 25m² - almost twice the size of Barnahown’s cosiest farmhouse room.

The luxurious new guestrooms have been named by Barnahown’s owner & host, Ciara O’Brien, to celebrate some of her favourite local hot spots and honour the three counties surrounding Mitchelstown - crediting the impact that the influx of visitors from counties Cork, Limerick and Tipperary have on making her hometown such a vibrant rural market town.

The new Kildrum building has an A-level energy rating - the highest possible - and also has an additional fourteen solar panels. The aim is for the new extension to be carbon neutral.

Summer is coming to Barnahown. Are you?

Accessible To All

The roominess of the new phase two accommodation is further accentuated by the addition of private patios with outdoor seating for all three that overlook the courtyard herb garden to the rear of the property and offer up views of the dairy pastures and Galtee mountains beyond.

Guests can choose to access the communal outdoor spaces directly from their patios - ideal for wheelchair users, or guests travelling with their dogs as Barnahown has a one-acre plot for their four-legged friends to roam and explore. And, after a day of exploring the local area, its northwesterly facing patios provide the perfect setting for sundowner drinks.

The en-suites for all three rooms have the same gorgeous waterfall showers that guests staying in Barnahown’s farmhouse have become firm fans of, and Stonebridge bathrooms have added to the contemporary look with a new aqua tile. Guests can also expect to see more pre-loved furniture finds incorporated into the new room designs.

Ciara feeding the hens. All pics by Kirsty Lyons

Luxurious Wheelchair-Friendly Room

Focused on creating more accessible accommodation for a wider variety of guests, as part of Barnahown’s impressive phase two expansion, owner Ciara has created what she hopes will be one of Ireland’s most beautiful fully wheelchair accessible bedrooms, ‘Bay Lough’. To celebrate its launch, Ciara commissioned local artist , Clare Kenneally, to create a bespoke mural for the room, which also has its own private access VIP parking.

Since opening the doors to Barnahown in July 2024, Ciara has been hosting guests with a range of unique requirements that have helped her better understand exactly what it is that elevates their experience beyond a standard accessible room. While complying with legislation, Barnahown has gone well beyond the statutory requirements with consideration given to everything from clothing rails and make-up mirrors, to joining friends for drinks on the patio.

Ciara was determined to ensure that the luxury aesthetic throughout Barnahown was equally strong in the wheelchair accessible bedroom, en-suite and WC for guests - so, it’s a case of out with white hospital-style handrails, and in with beautiful brushed brass fixtures and fittings.

Catering To Your Four-Legged Friends

Barnahown’s three new ‘doggie’ suites will also offer dedicated canine hampers including towels for the dog-friendly shower and grooming area for after long leisurely walks in nearby Glengarra Woods and maps of Mitchelstown - which has recently been designated a 'dog-friendly destination' with many local cafés, restaurants, and shops actively welcoming dogs. 

And, for those needing to work, or study during their stay at Barnahown, all of the new rooms have their own dedicated work space separate from the main bedroom.

Eggs, from the hens in the yard. Couldn't be fresher.

Private Group Stays

The new Kildrum wing is also ideal for groups of up to six people to book, with private access and group patio space available on request.

One night bed & breakfast stays in the new ‘Ballard’, ‘Bay Lough’, and ‘Lough Gur’ guestrooms start from €175.00 per night for two people sharing, or €225.00 per night including a ‘Producer Plate’ dinner.

Book your Barnahown stay online via their website, www.barnahown.com.  

Mitchelstown Food Community Experience

Guests visiting Barnahown also have the option of choosing to combine a stay in the Golden Vale with a scheduled tour to the local Galtee Honey Farm, or a chocolate making class with award-winning Chocolatier, Norma Kelly (of Praline Pastry & Chocolate), as part of the Mitchelstown Food Community experience. These can be booked via the concierge service that Barnahown’s Owner, Ciara, offers.

Commenting on Barnahown’s expansion, owner Ciara O’Brien, said: “Inclusiveness is a really important design element for me, both in how the building flows and how each guest feels when they arrive to meet us. 

So, I am particularly excited to launch our new ground floor Kildrum wing, which will open up the Barnahown experience to a whole new group of guests. I've worked really hard with the construction and design team to ensure that every accessible finish matches the thoughtful aesthetic that we've become known for at Barnahown. I'm also very grateful to a number of local people who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, and who have been kind enough to come on-site and give us their honest feedback.

Along with the new bedroom openings, we also have a number new surprises for guests which have been added over the past year; our Barnahown mural by local artist Clare Kenneally, our courtyard herb garden designed by my friend Kloë Wood Lyndorff from Two Green Shoots, and our Siopa Beag where guests can now buy the jam, porridge and cashew chilli crush they loved so much at breakfast time. 

All these features have been added to create a more immersive experience and to open up conversations about sustainability and biodiversity with our guests in an innovative and enjoyable way. And of course, the solar powered hot tub remains a firm favourite!”

Every Detail Has Been Carefully Considered

As has become synonymous with stays at Barnahown, guests booking into the new Kildrum accommodation can expect creature comforts aplenty. When guests return to their base in Mitchelstown after a busy day immersing themselves in nature or taking in the town’s rich culture and renowned Georgian architecture, Barnahown will provide them with a luxurious home away from home. 

Every detail has been carefully considered. The twenty years that owner, Ciara, spent working at home and abroad for large multinationals, most recently with Google, means that she experienced her fair share of hotels, guesthouses, and Airbnb’s during her corporate career.

This invaluable knowledge of a guest's particular requirements and the little quirks and luxuries that make their stay as memorable as possible has helped inform every creature comfort she offers at Barnahown.

Those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the local food culture can make their stay even more memorable by enjoying a ‘Producers Plate’ dinner that includes either a glass of Irish bubbly in the form of Killahora Orchards’ Fine Perry - a favourite of Ciara’s - or a craft beer from Mitchelstown’s own Eight Degrees Brewing.

Barnahown’s fast charging EV stations will give you peace of mind and take the stress out of having to keep your electric car battery topped up during your stay, while high-speed broadband will keep you connected and enable you to easily share all of your highlights.

Convenient outdoor showers allow you to immediately freshen up after a day full of adventures, with a separate area to hose down any dirty boots or bikes, and there’s no better place to relax than the solar-powered hot tub overlooking the hills and wildflower meadows. An idyllic spot in which to sit back, relax, and savour sunset and the surrounding birdsong.

And if all of that wasn't enough, an honesty bar stocked with tipples from Ireland's top artisan drinks producers including Valentia Island Vermouth, Five Farms’ Irish Cream Liqueur, and Wicklow Way Wines will provide the perfect toast to your day.

When you rise the following morning, a breakfast showcasing free-range eggs from Barnahown’s speciality hens served alongside foods from across the region that are all grown and produced within a 20 kilometre radius will provide all the nourishment you need to fuel an action-packed day ahead.

Local Golden Vale artisan producers, O’Callaghan’s Café & Delicatessen, Horgan’s Delicatessen, Praline Pastry & Chocolate Shop, The Town Coffee Company (all based in Mitchelstown), Little Deer, Rivesci, The Apple Farm, West Cork Coffee, Cotter's Farm, and Galtee Honey are all proudly showcased at breakfast. 

Sustainable On-site Housekeeping

In addition to Kildrum’s new guest capacity, Barnahown has also added a solar-powered in-house laundry, including a commercial washer and dryer. One of owner Ciara O’Brien’s main learnings since opening her boutique B&B in July 20204 has been the importance of high quality linen to delivering a premium guest experience. 

Combined with Barnahown's commitment to sustainable operations from the get-go, creating a dedicated in-house laundry will ensure that guest stays have a minimum impact on the environment. The addition of this new housekeeping capacity means that Ciara has been able to create employment in the local community, hiring her first team member. 

Over time, Barnahown hopes to also provide a laundry service to businesses and neighbours in the local area who are seeking a sustainable laundry service in terms of energy supply and chemical free detergents.

Barnahown Backed By Ciara’s Community

Since welcoming her first guests in summer 2024, owner and Mitchelstown native, Ciara, has been overwhelmed with the level of support she has received both from her local community and people living further afield. Many people around the country saw Barnahown featured on RTÉ’s At Your Service receiving invaluable guidance from the Brennan brothers.

Spurred on by her community’s backing encouraged Ciara to run a crowdfunding campaign that raised over €20,000 which she invested in the phase two expansion, and in particular the costly removal of asbestos on-site which was required before the initial construction works could commence.

The crowdfunding experience helped Ciara to think outside the box and opened the door to a variety of on-site courses such as 'Immersive Interiors' and 'Run Your Own B&B' experiences. She is incredibly grateful to all those who bought vouchers to support her expansion efforts and attend workshops during summer 2025 as the project they supported came to life.