The Olde Post Inn

The story

The Olde Post Inn Ballyconnell – Michelin Recommended Contemporary Irish Dining, Cavan

The Olde Post Inn, Ballyconnell

In the quiet Lakelands of County Cavan, a 200-year-old former post office has been transformed into one of Ireland's most respected dining destinations. The Olde Post Inn, run by chef Gearóid Lynch and his wife Tara since 2002, offers contemporary Irish cooking that earned it a Michelin Recommended distinction for 2026.

The building dates from the 1800s and operated as a post office and grocery from 1884. After a period of dereliction, it was renovated into a restaurant with accommodation in the early 1990s. Gearóid and Tara, both from Cavan, bought the property in November 2002 and have since added two Hampton Conservatories, creating a space that feels both intimate and airy. Open fires and cosy surroundings define the atmosphere.

Gearóid’s cooking is rooted in his upbringing on the family farm, where vegetables were picked from the garden for the evening meal. After training at Killybegs Tourism College, he worked at Thornton’s and Le Coq Hardi in Dublin, with stints at Michelin-starred Pied à Terre in London and Lea Linster in Luxembourg. In 2000 he won the Euro Toques Baileys Young Chef of the Year award. He now leads a team that includes head chef Garrett Galligan and pastry chef Brid Teevan.

The menu changes seasonally. The ethos is straightforward: use the best Irish ingredients, cook them simply, and let the flavours speak. The kitchen connects directly with local producers where possible, which supports both quality and sustainability. A sample early dinner menu might begin with warm crusted Brie with walnut and baby beetroot, or Clonakilty Black & White Pudding terrine with apple and calvados sauce. Main courses include pan-roast chicken breast with croquette potato and Irish whiskey sauce, or roast rump of lamb with garlic pomme purée and mint and pea jus. Desserts such as chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream or fig and almond tart with banana and rum ice cream round out the meal.

The Olde Post Inn also offers six ensuite guest rooms in the original postmaster’s residence, and private dining spaces for groups of eight or more. It is a place where the warmth of the welcome matches the precision of the cooking.