Coxtown Manor

Photos of Coxtown Manor

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Rooms at Coxtown

The rooms in the Main House (150 years old) are full of real country house-character with high ceilings, open fire places and newly introduced top-quality bathrooms. The rooms in the elegant Coach House (350 years old) combine Georgian charm with contemporary and luxury bed-and bathroom fittings and italian tiles. The two ground floor bedrooms are suitable for wheelchair use.

All rooms have super king size beds with quality mattresses, television, radio, hair drying and ironing facilities. There are telephones and internet access in all rooms as well.  All accommodation has been upgraded to a high standard, without losing the atmosphere that is so typical of a country house hotel in Ireland.

In 2008 alone, Coxtown Manor House was awarded the following accolades from the most respected namesin the industry:

• Bridgestone Guides 100 Best Places to Stay in Ireland 2008
• Georgina Campbell 'Hideaway of the Year 2008' award
• Alastair Sawday's great places to stay in Ireland 2008
• Michelin Guide Recommendation 2008.

Dining at Coxtown

Coxtown Manor are the proud owners of a large flock of hens who are free to roam outside in the houses stone walled garden. There's little surprise then that the breakfast menu offers some magnificent ways to eat a REAL egg for breakfast! Do try the Belgian fry: it is an absolute must...

Also on offer is an extensive buffet of cooked and cured meats, cheeses, smoked salmon, yoghurts, fresh fruit salads, fresh baked breads, home made jams, etc.

Because of the Belgian influence at Coxtowm Manor and the local produce in Ireland being so good, traditional Belgian menu is served & made with as many Irish ingredients as possible. With Donegal Bay so close, delicious fresh fish and crustaceans are a speciality. The lobster tank holds Bay lobsters, oysters, clams and the odd crayfish in season. The selection of wines on offer at Coxtown Manor are good, affordable and sometimes unusual that guarantee great value for money. A selection of half bottles is stocked also.

The restaurant is open to residents and the general public from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.

About County Donegal

Donegal is the fourth-largest county on the island and one of the most sparsely populated. It’s also one of the most beautiful, with a coastline 400 miles (644 km) long, and many lakes and rivers, mountains and moors. Because of its lack of people, it looks much as it must have centuries ago. It also means that it is a very relaxing place to spend time. Everywhere you go there are wonderful views, empty beaches, and charming little villages. Among its many interesting features are the highest sea cliffs in Europe, Slieve League, and Glenveagh National Park. The Donegal Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) is the largest in the country. There is so much to see and do in Donegal that you could very easily spend weeks instead of days. The county also is famous worldwide for its tweed and for its distinctive Parian china. Enya, one of Ireland’s most successful contemporary singers, and her siblings, the band Clannad, are natives of the Donegal town of Gweedore, which is famous countrywide for its traditional Irish music.

The following locations are in close proximity to Coxtown Manor

Sligo (1 hour)

Sligo, which has a close association with the poet W.B. Yeats offers a fine museum and gallery, much of which is devoted to the great man. Close to Sligo you will find 5,000 year-old megalithic tombs left by the ancient Celtic people. Also worth a look are the ruins of the 19th century Sligo Abbey. One interesting possible diversion will take you to the town of Knock where in 1879 Mary, Joseph, and St. John miraculously appeared. The number of witnesses on that evening and the many subsequent healings that have taken place here leave little doubt in many people's mind that something incredible did in fact happen here. A 12,000 seat Basilica was built to accommodate the vast number of visitors each year.

Letterkenny (50 mins)

Letterkenny, County Donegal’s largest town is located on the mouth of Lough Swilly, and makes an ideal base for touring both the Inishowen Peninsula and Londonderry. Arriving from the direction of Donegal Town, Lifford or Derry, first impressions are good. You pass a replica of the Dry Arch, which used to carry trains, with a sculpture of railway workers by Maurice Harron. The town lives up to your expectations. It’s welcoming and attractive, and you will sense an appreciation of the arts and heritage. People here seem relaxed and contented, quick to smile and exchange greetings, their accent soft and reminiscent of Derry not far away. The streets are full of character, with lots of interesting shops and pubs – some of them little changed for decades or more.

Inishowen Peninsula (2 hours drive & possible 2 hours to tour)

Inishowen is a peninsula of 884.33 square kilometres (218,523 acres), situated in the northernmost part of Ireland. Predating the formation of Donegal by centuries, the area was named Inis Eoghain (the Island of Eoghan) after Eoghan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Naoigeallach, a High King of Ireland), whose name was also used for Tyrone (Irish: Tír Eoghain). Inis Eoghain is also the ancient homeland of the Mac Lochlainn clan (descended from the tribe of Eoghan), a clan that grew so formidable that they eventually came under siege by a Limerick King, who came north to Aileach, and ordered the destruction of Aileach fort, and that each soldier was to carry away a stone from the fort in order to prevent its rebuilding. Later, after the decline of the Mac Lochlainn clan, the chieftainship of Inis Eoghain was usurped by the Ó Dochartaigh clan, as they lost their own homeland in the Laggan valley area of Tír Conaill.

Inishowen has many historical monuments, dating back to early settlements, and including the ruins of several castles, and the fort at Grianán Aileach. The ancient Grianán Ailigh fort at Burt was the one time seat of the High Kings of Ireland, including both High Kings of the Mac Lochlainn Clan, who held power in Inis Eoghain for many centuries. It was restored in the nineteenth century, although some damage in recent years has resulted in the partial collapse of the south side wall. Among the main castle ruins of Inishowen are Carrickabraghey on the Isle of Doagh, the Norman Castle at Greencastle, Inch Castle, Buncrana Castle and Elagh Castle.

In 1196, John de Courcy, a Norman knight who had invaded Ulster in 1177, defeated the King of the Cenél Conaill and most of Donegal was at his mercy. Two years later he returned to devastate Inishowen.

Bushmills (2 hours 20 mins)

Bushmills is a small village located on the spectacular Antrim Coast. Bushmills is the gateway to the Giant's Causeway, a unique rock formation formed 55 million years ago by cooling lava flows, although according to local legend the symmetrical columns were part of a bridge to Scotland built and then destroyed by the famous Irish giant, Finn McCool. Similar rock formations can be found on the Scottish coast. The Causeway visible today is all that remains of the bridge. If visiting the Causeway be sure to take the cliff walk route so that you descend to the water's edge and approach  the Causeway itself from the east. The views across to Scotland and west along the coast to the mountains of Donegal are magnificient. Bushmills is also famous as the home of the world's oldest whiskey distillery. The license to produce the famous malt whiskey was granted by King James I in 1608. Visitors can take a one hour guided tour which includes a tasting. Just west of Bushmills, the ruins of Dunluce Castle dramatically straddle sheer cliffs that plunge hundreds of feet into the sea. And of course you cannot leave County Antrim without testing your nerves on the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge which can be found just 6 miles east of Bushmills near the village of Ballintoy. It may look easy.