Time and Place travels: Discovering a historic bed and breakfast in County Clare, Ireland
Give me a chance to stay at a historic B&B, and I’m intrigued. Make it a romantic ivy-covered estate in Ireland, lovingly decorated with antiques, and I’m there.
I discovered Newpark House, a bed & breakfast on the outskirts of the lively town of Ennis in County Clare, almost by chance, in a Google Maps search for lodging close to the Shannon Airport. What a surprise to stumble across such a gem, offering not only an elegant setting but beautiful grounds for outdoor exploration.
Built in 1750, Newpark House is steeped in history of ownership by three families. The Hickmans acquired the land in the 18th Century, and planted some of the Irish oak and beech trees that survive on the property to this day. In the 19th Century, the estate was bought by the Mahons, a family intricately involved in Ireland’s Catholic emancipation, who added on wings and remodeled the house in the Gothic revival style then popular in Ireland. The current family, the Barrons, acquired the estate in 1904, and their descendants began to furnish the house with antiques, and opened the property as a bed & breakfast in 1966. Today, the B&B is run by Declan and Bernie Barron, who give warm Irish hospitality to their guests. Declan, a local historian, invites guests to submit genealogy inquiries for research.
Newpark House offers six pretty guest rooms with canopied beds, some with walkout balconies, access to a formal sitting room with a fireplace, and grounds for gentle walking. In true Irish B&B fashion, the stay includes a hardy Irish breakfast served in the home’s blue dining room.
Explore the house with us.
The ivy-clad facade is romance defined.
Roses bushes frame picture-perfect windows.
Guests are greeted by a stunning display of antiques in the foyer, as well as by the family dogs.
The blue dining room, where guests enjoy a hardy Irish breakfast, including eggs from the estate’s chickens, served on blue transferware porcelain.
The formal sitting room is a relaxing spot to unwind before venturing into town for the evening, or for a nightcap by the open fire.
Guest rooms have ornate canopied beds, and some feature private walkout balconies.
The patio overlooks the back lawn.
House chickens provide fresh eggs for the B&B’s kitchen.
Seeking a touch of European romance in your home?
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