If you've ever had a fantasy about living the high-end Irish country life, complete with historic home and property, and being made to feel part of the country,then Glenview House is for you. My husband, son and I traveled throughout Ireland in August 2005, and while we loved many of the places we visited and stayed, none remained stronger in our hearts and minds than Glenview House in Midleton. This is due largely to the hosts, Ken and Beth Sherrard, and their warm, witty and exuberant personalities. They treat everyone as if they are part of an extended family. It is also due in no small part to the beauty of the setting, the historic house that is casually elegant but not overwhelmingly "done", the gorgeous property,complete with horses in the paddock and chickens who provide fresh breakfast eggs. We felt as if we had been invited for a long weekend at a friend's country home, not that we were paying guests. We loved eating breakfast in the magnificent dining room and enjoyed evenings of classical music, card playing and conversation with other guests and the hosts in the beautiful living room. Breakfasts are delicious and generous, and the Sherrards offer the option of eating dinner, with advance notice. We didn't do this, but one group of Cork/Long Island relatives vacationing together there did, and we came home one night to see through the dining room window a lively dinner party in process, lit only by dozens of candles. It was like being transported back in time!Glenview House is ideally located for easy day trips to cities like Cork and Kinsale, and Midleton is a charming market town in and of itself, with the Jameston distillery a key attraction.

My son (19 years old) still talks about our few days there and for me, it was my favorite place in all of Ireland...and the competition is stiff, believe me.