I had a wonderful stay in Carmel's beautiful country house. It was a last minute decision to find somewhere to rest up for a couple of days and my host was very quick to respond positively. The house is fantastic, warm and welcoming. In fact I immediately felt at home as Carmel had a lovely fire going when I arrived. The house is very tastefully decorated, there is lots of wood pannelling which made for a very cozy atmosphere. I took Carmel up on her offer to cook a meal which was delicious and she chatted with me as I ate! Great company! Carmel is very knowledgeable about Kildare and not only knows the history of the area but we had a very interesting talk about Irish history in general. There are lots of books in her home which she was kind enough to allow me to peruse. There are two sitting rooms, one belongs to the host and the other was for my own use which was really great as I was able to site by the fire and have a read and I also brought some wine so I had a very relaxing first night. I slept very soundly and my room which was was ensuite! Nice fresh towels left for my use and the shower was great too. I live in the city and this was the quietest night I ever spent in my life. The next day Carmel offered to bring me for a walk along the canal which I really enjoyed. We talked all about the area (she really knows lots) and we had a good country walk! Carmel is one of those people who could get along with anyone I'd imagine. I should mention her garden is enormous and very well kept. There is a lovely pond too. I saw a huge frog in it! There are cows in the adjacent field and I saw scores of rabbits running around the fields. I really recommend a stay here. You could not have a more welcoming and comfortable stay. I know I will be back sometime and thank you Carmel for a fantastic weekend!