Westworld Alberta

Longueville House, an elegant 20-guest-room mansion in Mallow, around 35 km north of Cork. The staff pamper us upon arrival with tea and biscuits in a sitting room, where we melt into the outsized chairs. At dinner, the venison is delicately cooked and served in the library, which sometimes doubles as a dining room. Gracious proprietors Aisling and William O'Callaghan (he's the Frenchtrained chef running the kitchen) encourage guests to stroll the gardens or wander down to where apples are crushed and fermented for cider (which is for sale in the foyer.) The L ongueville ' s with the slabs of back bacon, thick sausages, toast and piping-hot coffee or tea of the traditional Irish breakfast. Ireland's cuisine steps into the modern era an hour away at Farmgate Café in the far-south city of Cork. Perched on the mezzanine level of the beloved English Market, the restaurant has built a strong following with such staples as lamb stew, shepherd's pie and rock oysters fetched from a fishmonger just downstairs. Among them is K. O'Connell Fish Merchants, whose Pat O'Connell charmed Queen Elizabeth II on her 2011 visit to the city. Shimmering trout in hand, he's equally animated when chatting with us, proudly declaring: "Cork is the real Ireland." You could have fooled us. We were hardpressed to find an inauthentic note in our travels. That is especially true at sprawling majestic driveway becomes a pastoral memory as we navigate the lively streets of Galway to The Park House Hotel. A moderately sized property, it's a five-minute walk from Shop Street's pedestrian-friendly stretch of homegrown retailers. Our senses now spoiled by a night in the country, we slowly get back into city mode. It helps that the stately Hotel Meyrick serves afternoon tea. The clotted cream and trays of finger sandwiches are served just off the lobby, while a pianist rounds out the civilized vignette with classical selections on a baby grand. W es t wo r ld Tourism Canmore.indd 1 p22-27_Ireland.indd 25 >> m a y 2 0 1 3 25 13-03-20 12:37 PM 13-04-12 1:06 PM

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