Eunice Power ­

International Woman of Mystery

The local gossip around Dungarvan about Eunice Power is that there has to be ­ there just has to be ­ two Eunice Powers, for the mystery is how could a single Eunice achieve everything that Eunice does achieve in Powersfield House, her lovely guesthouse and restaurant just north of Dungarvan.

Like, just get this: children aged 1 and 2; a spiffing guesthouse which she planned and designed when she was on maternity leave; a weekend restaurant where, having minded the babies and looked after the house and done everything else, she cooks for her guests some smashing comfort food: fillet steak (from McGrath's splendid butcher's shop in Lismore) served with a potato and leek cake and onion confit; tandoori chicken with coriander chutney and saffron rice; field mushrooms stuffed with goat's cheese and bacon; ginger crème brulee with plum compote.

The rooms are quite lovely (one of them is even named McKenna!) and the design of the house is excellent, and shows not just a discriminating eye, but the smart eye of a woman revelling in the challenge of working to a budget. We are all going to be hearing a lot more about Eunice, so spoil yourself now and get down to Powersfield and solve the riddle of this International Woman of Mystery.

Powersfield House, Ballinamuck West, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Email: powersfieldhouse@cablesurf.com