The owners of Tankardstown, in Slane, Co Meath, are making the house pay for itself
SOMETIME IN the future, when they look back, historians will surely cluck in wonder at some of the garish hotels built in the most unlikely places in recent years. That's why Tankardstown House, just outside Slane, Co Meath, feels so refreshing. There is no achingly contrived decoration, and the exterior, although recently extended, is sympathetic to the original building.
"Tankardstown is not a hotel," says Patricia Conroy, the current mistress of the 19th-century house, who bought it five years ago with her husband, Bryan, and moved in with their four young daughters. "Neither is it a posh B&B. The idea is that we will help you entertain a private group for a weekend or more. We're completely flexible. There's no set rate card," she explains. "It's more like, tell us what you want and we will make it work."
Tankardstown is better suited to small groups than it is to individuals. Apart from the main house, there is a cluster of seven pretty stone cottages, converted from what was once the stable yard. Further bedrooms can be made available in the main house.
"There are so many lovely small hotels in Ireland, but we're offering something more intimate. Everyone can congregate here but have a little independence, because they're staying in individual cottages. The main house can be used in the evenings. There are wonderful walks through the forest, and we supply the boots and walking gear. We'll also stock the houses with groceries or serve meals in the main house."
The dining room in the main house has a magnificent antique table that can seat about 24 people. After dinner, guests can use the drawing room or the bar. "Because we live here we don't want the place overused. We feel it's better to have guests stay for shortish periods, so we can give all our energy to making it a special time."
The house is approached from a winding drive through grounds that include a walled garden, which is to be restored presently. Bryan Conroy is a conservationist, so everything is done after careful research.
Patricia's background is in fashion. She ran a boutique in Monkstown, Co Dublin, and worked in management for Marks & Spencer. Bryan had carved out a niche in heritage restoration in the UK; then he was asked to do some conservation work at Slane Castle.
"We decided to move back to Ireland and found this house," he says. "It started off as a lovely home, but the cost of restoring it meant we had to look at ways to make it pay for itself."
What they're doing now came about when the couple was approached by a group of Americans who wanted accommodation for the Ryder Cup. This focused their minds, and they set about restoring the cottages.
"One of the Texans had a 50th birthday, and wanted dinner and a party, so we laid that on, too. But we realised if we were going to do this, without employing a full-time staff, then we could not operate as an ordinary hotel."
They bring in regular staff, but Patricia isn't above getting stuck in. "I never mind which side of the bar I'm on. The children are involved, too, so it's a real family affair. We have great fun."
Tankardstown, Slane, Co Meath, 041-9824621, www.tankardstown.ie