The Menu: Ireland's Blue Book celebrates the country house on its 50th anniversary

Plus: the end of Dry January; Ballymaloe's Dairy Quinn; a RNLI fundraising hoedown; and the return of Rossmore Oysters

A little bit lost in the pre-Christmas frenzy was the launch of the 50th edition of Ireland’s Blue Book, a remarkable achievement for the bible of a very special arm of Irish hospitality. 

The unique collection that is the Irish country house experience includes the likes of the luxurious Ballyfin Demesne to the more homely charms of the wonderful Mustard Seed, in Co Limerick; the impressively made-over Liss Ard Estate, outside Skibbereen, and two of The Menu’s favourite Irish hotels, Gregan’s Castle Hotel, in the Burren, and No 1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa, in Limerick City.