I first stayed in this beautiful cottage when I was around nine years old, long before Airbnb was even a thing. My parents brought us every year for the next 10 years, which means it’s been two decades since my last stay. Unsurprisingly, much has changed. The cosy but basic house I remembered now has a modern kitchen, a jacuzzi bath and even a smart TV. It’s still cosy, but with all the mod cons.
But it’s not the things that have changed that keep people coming back here, it’s the things that have stayed the same. The feeling of total peace. The smell of burning peat coming from the chimneys when it gets chilly. The complete blackness and unspoilt view of the stars at night. The sedative quality of the air when you’ve breathed it all day. Most of all, the people, who greet you like family whether it’s the first or fiftieth time they’ve met you.
The kids I played with all those years ago now have kids of their own, and within an hour of arriving my daughter had made friends with them and was off exploring in complete safety.
That’s just one of the reasons kids never get bored here – there are acres of land to run around in. What’s more, you’ll never get lost as there are plenty of people who will point you in the right direction and have a cup of tea ready when you get back. Head further afield and wander around stately homes or ancient caves, visit the museums, walk on the beaches – kiss the Blarney Stone if it’s on your bucket list. Do it all knowing that at the end of each day you will come back to a house that feels like home and friends who feel like family.