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On Bridge
Street in Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, stands a unique
guest house called The Keepers Arms, owned and operated by Bryan and Sheila
McKiernan. A bright red façade greets those who enter and serves as a welcoming
sight to weary travellers. The handsome two-story building, originally
constructed in 1852, newly renovated now, looms large in the surrounding small
village. Window boxes with bright red, orange, and pink geraniums add a cozy
flavour; fine craftsmanship, a touch of elegance.
And then there is Sheila.
Bubbly, full of energy, generous with smiles and
stories, a wellspring of knowledge, Sheila is a people person, involved with
her two children, Amy and James; a continuous stream of guests; several
employees; and of course, her husband, Bryan who, despite long hours of working
as a farmer and hay wrapper, comes through the door with a cheerful greeting
and hearty laugh.
Sheila's sense of style and grace shines in every
room. On the ground floor guests enjoy the bar, the poolroom, the dining room,
and the reception hall, all heavy with wooden furnishings and decorated in
complimentary hues of terra cotta, coral, brown, and burnt orange. But the busy
hub of the ground floor is the modern, pristine kitchen where Sheila spends the
majority of her day preparing food for staying guests and locals who can't
resist either her or her delicious homemade brown bread, jams, marmalades, and
sauces.
A chef in her own right, Sheila studied for seven
years with Neven Maquire, renowned Blacklion master chef. She has brought to
her own kitchen a touch of fine cuisine: delicate aromas of salmon with butter
sauce, chicken with sweet chiles, Irish stew, and pork with black beans waft
through the ground floor, proving irresistible to even the least hungry of the
lot.
The second floor houses spacious, modern cottage-style
bedrooms, 14 in all, offering comfortable beds, fluffy pillows, contemporary en
suite baths, internet connection, a roomy work desk, coffeemaker, and hair
dryer. Whatever else a guest might need is only a few words away: "Sheila, can
you help me...." Problem solved. No matter what, Sheila will get it done. She is
an amazing and invaluable resource. Upon leaving, you'll swear you've known her
all your life.
So, come to Ireland. Treat yourself to a few days at
The Keepers Arms in Bawnboy, and most importantly, to the delightful company of
the perfect Irish hostess: Sheila McKiernan. "It's all good fun," she says.
"Just good fun."
The Keepers Arms
Bridge Street
Bawnboy, Co. Cavan
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Written by Joy Davis - Summer of Travel 2007
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