2003 Irish Welcome Award Winner. On arriving at Ard Na Greine you will find the sense of hospitality is alive and well. It was such praise from a delighted guest that led to Norma winning the Failte Ireland Welcome Awards 2003 in the Bed Breakfast category. A warm welcome awaits you from Norma who prides herself in giving her guests every comfort, her personal attention together with a plentiful supply of wholesome fresh food makes for a very pleasant and homely stay. The core of the contented house is a bustling kitchen and Norma sees that each guest starts the day with a varied breakfast menu comprising of traditional Irish breakfast, fresh fruits, yoghurts, cheeses, fish and egg dishes, porridge, cereals, freshly baked scones and breads and homemade preserves. Today guests at Ard Na Greine have the option of A La Carte evening menu; everything is cooked fresh using the best of local ingredients. Whether its a fresh salad made with locally caught salmon, or beef and lamb which is sourced from the local butcher or Corks finest farmhouse cheeses or Clonakiltys famous black and white puddings, Norma ensures that her visitors get an authentic taste of the regions great food traditions. In the words of Bed and Breakfast Ireland :- A stay here is truly memorable - from the simple farmhouse comforts to the copious amounts of delicious food, the views of rolling green pastures as far as one can see, or just watching the cows being milked. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and informal; and the guests immediately feel at home. Many return year after year.. Norma understands the little things that make holiday memories precious and when people set out to discover her part of the world, she makes sure that Ard Na Greine counts among the discovered treasures a warm family home with its door open to the world. Extract from the San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle :- We recently had our first experience staying on working dairy farms while touring Ireland with friends. We discovered an absolute gem near Clonakilty in County Cork. Not only was it highly recommended by locals, but is featured in the Best BB Guide, Guide du Routard, and Binn Baum's Ireland. Ard Na Greine is located near Cork on the southern tip of Ireland. It is convenient to Blarney Castle and the Ring of Kerry. The proprietress, Norma Walsh, is a very gracious lady who goes out of her way to see to your every need. Her home cooking has won many awards. A menu is included for full Irish breakfasts and also for five-course dinners, offering many choices in each. Afternoon teas were also served. The rooms were light, cheerful, and squeaky clean. Most include double beds, bathroom, shower, and TVs. Tours of the dairy are available for the asking. Dee and Bud Huzelka, Grass Valley. Ard Na Greine Farmhouse Accommodation :: Ballinascarthy :: Clonakilty :: West Cork :: Ireland Telephone: +353 23 39104 :: Fax: +353 23 39397 :: Email: info@ardnagreine.com

A Welcome win for Norma's guesthouse. The welcome extended to visitors at her Ard na Greine farmhouse in Ballinascarthy, Clonakilty, has won Norma Walsh this year's bed breakfast category in the 2003 Failte Ireland Irish Welcome Awards. The awards were presented by John O'Donoghue, TD and Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, at a reception at the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin. This is the second year of the Failte Ireland Irish Welcome Awards, which have been designed to recognise the achievements of people working in tourism, and those who have made the traditional Irish welcome, 'cead mile failte', internationally famous. In excess of 2,300 nominations were received by Failte Ireland, from tourists in 34 countries, with entries from as far a field as India and Uruguay, Swaziland and Israel, as well as from Europe and the USA. The key findings of the most recent Failte Ireland Visitor Attitudes Survey for 2002 are that Ireland continues to rate highly for the beauty of its scenery, and for the friendliness and hospitality of the Irish people, said Minister O'Donoghue. Chairman of Failte Ireland, Ms Gillian Bowler, said what makes the Irish Welcome Awards so meaningful is that the nominations have been received from tourists themselves - visitors who have experienced first-hand the genuine warmth form which the Irish are renowned.. Nominated by John Browne, form Letchworth, in Hertfordshire, England, Norma Walsh epitomises what is best about the Irish: warm and welcoming; hospitable and homely; caring and generous. Norma ensures the guests are introduced to one another, usually over tea, cakes and scones, Mr. Brown said. Nothing is too much trouble for Norma: if you need a lift to Clonakilty, she will drive you there; if you have limited English, she will travel to the airport to collect you; if you are feeling unwell, she will nurse you; if it's craic, music and dancing you want, Norma will accompany you to the village pub. As well as being presented with the National Failte Ireland Irish Welcome Award, which was specially handcrafted by the silversmith, Seamus Gill, Norma was presented with holiday vouchers valued at 500.

Ard Na Greine stands on a wonderful rural location on the outskirts of the vibrant town of Clonakilty, West Cork, Ireland. It is a large comfortable house with unspoilt views of the countryside. Blessed with great scenery and close to many fine beaches stretching from Kinsale to the Beara Peninsula. It draws people who want to see an Ireland of small communities, majestic nature and that special magic that is fed by her soft rains, ancient traditions and generous geography. Although set in the quite and tranquil countryside of West Cork, we are accessible from all major airports and ports, and provide an excellent base from which to tour the region. Places to visit include: Cobh Heritage Centre. The above is but a small sample of the magnificent scenery and sites in West Cork. Some of these views can be seen in our soon to be launched West Cork Section.

By Post, Fax, or Telephone. Ard Na Greine Farmhouse, Ballinascarthy, Clonakilty, West Cork, Ireland. Telephone: +353-23-39104. By Email All email enquiries can be sent to. Online To contact us online please complete all required fields of the following form and click the Send button. Fields marked with. (asterisk) are required.

Credit cards accepted: Bed Breakfast p.p.s. Single Bed Breakfast. Opening Dates: Open March 1st to November 1st and December 27th to January 7th - or during closed dates by prior arrangement. Provisional Booking To make a provisional booking, please complete all required fields of the following form. Fields marked with. (asterisk) are required. Please note that no booking is final until you receive confirmation.

 Credit cards accepted
 Dinner may be served in the room
 Pets are accepted
 Private park, garden, courtyard
 Quiet surroundings
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 TV sets in rooms