Set right in the heart of Roscommon town, overlooking the square, Mary and Eamonn Gleeson’s townhouse and restaurant provides just what every visitor requires: a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and first-class food. Over the last 25 years, they have made huge changes to their nineteenth century home.
Having started out with just a coffee shop and four rooms, today there are 19 ensuite bedrooms, the original coffee shop and a restaurant. Bedrooms are comfortable, with all the usual facilities, including Internet access. There’s a junior suite and an excellent executive suite with adjoining sitting-room that would make an ideal base for touring the area.
The coffee shop opens for breakfast with home-made scones, bread and cakes, and then light lunches include delicious seafood chowder and beef and Guinness stew and lasagne.
Small conferences/banqueting (80); free broadband wi/fi; video conferencing. Rooms 19 (all en-suite & no smoking, 1 suite, 1 junior suite). B&B €60 pps, ss €15. Children welcome (under 3s free in parents' room, 50% discount for under 14s in parents' room, baby sitting arranged, cot available). Dogs welcome (stay in bedroom, no charge).
Manse Restaurant:
The Gleesons are great supporters of local produce, buying organic when possible; the weekly Farmers' Market is held next door. An excellent residents' breakfast is served in the restaurant, until 11.30 - freshly baked breads, croissants and brioche, fresh juices, cereals and porridge served with honey and cream, then hot dishes like the full Irish breakfast or toasted bagel with goat’s cheese and onion marmalade.
Quite an extensive all day menu offers a good choice, maybe starting with that famous chowder, packed with fresh fish and served with home-made breads. Follow with some of the region's great meats such as Leitrim Organic Farmers beefburger, served with Mossfield garlic herb cheese, or Roscommon rack of lamb cooked with an apricot and pine nut crust.
Finish with a very moreish tarte tatin, perhaps, or an organic cheeseboard and a good coffee. A good reasonably priced wine list includes some organic wines and a pair of half bottles.
