Knockranny House Hotel Restaurant Voted one of the Top 100 in Ireland

On a sun drenched spring afternoon, rising over the hill from Castlebar on approach to Westport, I am greeted by the arresting silhouette of Croagh Patrick, possibly the most impressive backdrop of any town in the west of Ireland.  On the ascent toward Wesport town a left turn takes you up a winding driveway to the imposing Knockranny House Hotel and Spa. Perched on a hill just minutes from the town centre the grand residence commands stunning views of Croagh Patrick and further west out over Clew Bay and Clare Island.

On a clear day the views are stunning, even on a rainy day the landscape here is picturesque. Built in 1997, the family run Knockranny House is reminiscent of the vintage days of luxury hotels. Shunning modern hotel style, the Noonan’s have truly captured the finer elements of traditional hotels, offering an old world experience with the benefits of modern construction. As I push open the heavy doors of the hotel, I am greeted by a warm and welcoming hall and reception. The level of attention received from staff in the short time it takes to check in makes me feel like I am the only person staying in the hotel. Any stresses were well and truly left outside. 

Throughout my stay, I felt the overall service provided by staff was above and beyond. Their rapport with guests was friendly, caring and concerned. Staff noted the interests and passions of guests and offered advice, were warm and seemed to enjoy interacting with visitors. Extended in 2006 to accommodate a larger function room, spa, and luxury bedrooms, Knockranny House now boasts 97 rooms. Rooms on the new side of the hotel are luxurious, spacious, bright and comfortable, with great attention to detail. I spoke with guests that described the rooms as a peaceful haven they were happy to relax and enjoy time in rather than constantly hustling around the hotel to find a place to unwind.

Dining

Designed for food lovers and showcasing local suppliers, the dining experience at Knockranny is not what you expect from a hotel.  A thoughtful, and carefully constructed menu offers everything from simple locally sourced dishes, to slightly more adventurous creations. The passion for food not only comes from the kitchen, but owner Adrian Noonan who is also a horticulturist is in the process of designing an organic vegetable and herb garden specifically for the kitchens use.  The teams love for food has resulted in an impressive number of awards decorating the walls of the restaurant in recent years, awards you would be pushed to find at popular high street restaurants. The awards include two AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, Food and Wines Best restaurant in Connaught, and a national title for Best Fine Dining.

Head Chef Seamus Commons has been decorated as the Best chef in Connaught, along with a number of Euro-toques young chef of the year awards for members of his team. Scanning the dinner menu it is easy to see why the restaurant has been so highly commended. With a choice of two menus there is an obvious leaning toward local and seasonal produce. I chose the house smoked organic sea trout to start with, a delicate well-smoked piece of fish, well executed and a credit to the chef that smoked it.

For mains I had a neck fillet of Hogget, and a more tender piece of lamb you will not find. Served with perfectly cooked gnochi morels, tomato jam, sugar snap and mint emulsion the dish was well balanced, and had a tasty array of complimentary flavours. A wonderful celeriac and red wine puree finished this dish off to near perfection. Each meal is preceded by an appropriate appetiser or palate cleanser, while knowledgeable and conscientious staff make diners feel rather special.

On the advise of my waiter I chose the rhubarb tasting plate to finish. This was quite possibly the finest dessert I have ever tasted.
The seasonal rhubarb was cooked to perfection in a mini tart, mouse, jelly, and parfait, all served with orange ripple ice-cream. Even the non dessert eaters will be tempted by the attractive desserts. The elegant setting at La Fougere restaurant is a wonderful compliment to the food, with the now familiar views over Westport and the surrounding countryside. The room is well appointed to achieve the best views in the house. Be sure to reserve a window seat for dinner to get the most out of your experience. For the wine lovers be sure to pop in to the hotels unique wine cellar, where you will be guided through the fine wines the hotel has on offer. Private dinners and wine tastings are available upon request.

Spa

Knockranny House is all about relaxation and a facility that must be indulged in is the Spa Salveo. In my room, I flicked through a copy of Conde Nast magazine where I found Knockranny’s victorian spa listed among the top luxury spas in the world. A visit to the spa itself revealed a decadent den of luxury and opulence. The sort of place you could get lost in. With a range of treatments and facilities including a thermal suite, swimming pool and therapy rooms the Spa is yet another area of the hotel where its staff and facilities are always on hand to help you unwind.

Lounge

For pre and post dinner drinks and afternoon tea the lounge is a lovely space for residents to enjoy socializing or spend time relaxing and reading, an activity that is omnipresent at Knockranny House. Even the lounge provides opportunities to take in the incredible views while enjoying a pint of Guinness or a drink from the bar’s cocktail menu. Knockranny House is the perfect escape and provides enough excuses to never leave the grounds. However it is also the perfect launch pad for excursions and adventures into the West of Ireland. In close proximity to Sligo and Galway city, you can enjoy the serenity of the countryside, while under an hours drive Sligo, or just over an hours drive to Galway. Both city’s are bustling towns, and excellent opportunities for sightseeing can be had along the way.

Westport

Situated in the foothills of Mayo, Westport is an idyllic town. Its centre was designed by James Wyatt in 1780, in Georgian architectural style following medieval principles of urban design introduced by the Normans. As a booming town of art, culture and rich heritage, the charming town has something for every visitor. Effortlessly easy to wander around, Westport has many traditional shops and traditional craft shops, along with restaurants and bars scattered throughout. There is a host of attractions in the surrounding area; you never need to travel far to enjoy yourself.

Attractions

Westport House Just outside the town Westport House is a wonderful facility for everyone and for families in particular. Westport House was the stately home of Lord Altamont the Marquess of Sligo, and originally home to the pirate chief, Gráinne Ní Mháille, in the mid-to-late 16th century.  It’s rich heritage and vast lands offer walks and entertainment in a leafy tranquil setting. There are many walks, and activities for children in and around Westport House throughout the year not matter what the weather is like.

Greenway

The newest attraction to Westport is the opening of the Greenway, a 42km traffic free walking and cycling path. The route follows the original Great Western Greenway, a railway that ran from Westport to Achill island and is truly breathtaking. Bicycles can be hired from Knockranny.

Croagh Patrick

A short car journey from Knockranny is Croagh Patrick, the most famed pilgrimage in Ireland where it is believed that Saint Patrick fasted on the summit for forty days in the fifth century and subsequently built a church there.  The renowned pilgrimage of Croagh Patrick draws many travellers and pilgrims to the town. In the 80’s a valuable discovery was made on the mountain. The holy mountain contains valuable gold deposits. Although the council ruled against mining, there is quite a lot of interest in gold panning in the area.

Action and adventure

If you are in search of action and adventure Westport has now become synonymous as the place to go to in Ireland. Walking, climbing, canoeing, horse riding, surfing, and sailing are among the activities on offer in the surrounding area. Westport has in recent years become the focal point for adventure racing in Ireland with events running throughout the year. A number of outdoor adventure centres run half day, and day long courses in orienteering, hill walking, and climbing. The hills and fields of Mayo are lush, green, and in abundance. From young to old there is something for everyone in Westport, a day will never pass on your visit when you cannot fit enough in, and a day relaxing is never a day wasted. “Eat well, drink in moderation and sleep sound, in these three good health abound”