The Place
This 200-acre wooded estate is a taste of ancient Ireland. The elegant 19thC house overlooks the river Boyne and the world heritage site of Newgrange, which can claim to be one of the oldest manmade buildings in the world. The north side of Rossnaree looks towards the Hill of Slane, where St. Patrick lit his paschal fire in defiance of the pagan King of Tara; the neighbouring glen is where the Battle of the Boyne took place. The house was purchased by the Law family in the early days of the Irish Free State (1925). It is now managed by Aisling Law, great granddaughter of Irish revolutionary Maud Gonne.
Aisling (pronounced ‘Ash-ling’) is a talented artist. Each of the four bedrooms has a unique and carefully considered theme: the ‘bird’ room with its subtle Oriental influences and murals with hand-painted birds and blossom trees; the ‘tiger’ room with its four poster bed, draped with Congolese wall hangings; the period style ‘William Morris’ room, with original William Morris wallpaper and family heirlooms; and the ‘river’ room, with magnificent views across the River Boyne and the Megalithic sites of Bru na Boinne.
Breakfast happens in the dining room beside a crackling open fire, on a pretty mahogany dining table laid with antique china and silverware. In summer, you can take a picnic basket to the River Boyne. Choose from a full Irish breakfast with fresh eggs and home grown vegetables from the estate; a Portobello mushroom topped with bacon and a slice of roasted tomato with French toast quarters; or home made muesli, yoghurt, fruit and honey. They have a small farm with geese, guinea fowl, hens and roosters.
If you’d rather just visit than spend the night, tours of Rossnaree are available for visitors who book in advance. They involve an historical guided tour of the house, estate and surrounding valley, followed by a splendid afternoon tea. Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy Rossnaree’s fishing rights over river Boyne to catch some salmon or wild trout and lessons are offered for the less experienced.