John and Sally McKenna’s Guides

Mar 19 2021

We are proud and delighted to have been awarded the The McKennas’ Guide Best in Ireland 2021 plaque. The McKenna’s plaque is one of the most respected badge of merit in Irish contemporary food and hospitality. John and Sally have championed the best of Irish food and hospitality to their wide audience for over thirty years and have published numerous books and click here to shop online. The McKennas’ books bring you straight to the heart and soul of Ireland, with the latest book ‘MILK’ celebrating Ireland’s culinary treasure, out now. We have a copy and it is fantastic. Milk is close to our hearts as we operated a diary farm here at Ballyvolane House in the 1980’s and we are now distilling Bertha’s Revenge Gin from milk whey in one of the old cow sheds in the farm yard. Ballyvolane also translates from Gaelic as “the place of springing heifers”.

Review by John McKenna

“What’s your impression of being a guest at the typical Irish country house? A bit stuffy? Older, probably retired fellow guests, people with a bit of money and Fine Gael points of view? Owners who are mostly concerned about paying to fix the roof? Tired food, probably overpriced for what you get? Now, take a look at this portfolio of photographs. This is Ballyvolane House, near Castlelyons in north County Cork. That’s an Irish country house? Sure is. In her great book, Home ,Trish Deseine calls Ballyvolane House “a little piece of Irish paradise.” Indeed it is. But it’s actually more than that. Ballyvolane is a disruptor, a genre-breaker, a new archetype for the Irish country house, and the Irish country house experience. Ballyvolane, in short, is funky as all get out. There is nowhere else like it. And their gin (produced with Antony Jackson), Bertha’s Revenge, made with whey, is going to be the next Baileys. You read that here first.”