When we began reserving our Airbnb lodgings for our family trip to Ireland, we selected Carmel’s Westport location first, and it became the anchor from which we scheduled the rest of the events of our trip. On the night we first saw it listed on the website, we were filled with an awed anticipation. The photos depicted a beautiful farm location, wild, sprawling fields containing sparse but picturesque residences, with mountains off in the distance. We loved picturing the clean lines of the residence, with its bright rooms and family-sized amenities. The working farm nature of the listing probably appealed to our romantic view of Ireland, but nonetheless, I began to view Westport as offering the “respite” location of our busy fourteen-day tourist plan, and we maintained huge enthusiasm about that leg of our trip.
Once we were actually in Ireland, months later, though we got lost and a bit turned around in our final approach to the Westport house, wandering down a few roads and narrow lanes before we reached our destination, we were greeted by Carmel’s smiling face just as we pulled into the driveway, and she directed us to the perfect spot for unloading our gear. Providing a smooth summary of information about the place, she gestured to the fresh milk, duck eggs, and brown bread on the counter (the latter still warm). She explained that since she and her family lived next door, she would be available if we needed anything and told us about her dogs Toby and Kipper, who hung out between the houses.
When she left, we devoured the bread. By the time we’d finished dinner that night, our adult children had fallen in love with the two dogs, especially Toby, the more mobile of the two, and we settled into our three-day home. The next morning as I sat upstairs in the bright living room enjoying my coffee and staring at the amazing tongue-and grooved pine ceiling, I wished my deceased father could have beamed in to appreciate the workmanship.
While we did not climb Croagh Patrick, we took many opportunities in the following days to explore Westport, enjoying the restaurants and shops. Carmel checked in to see if we had any needs. Thanks to the house’s entertainment center, we enjoyed the living space with television and even a movie – a sad film about an Irish prison hunger strike -- and a few days later we spent the afternoon touring around the lovely County Mayo countryside in the Maam Valley and regions from which my husband’s ancestors emigrated during the potato famine. Our afternoon visit to a border collie trainer in the area to see an authentic sheep herding demonstration gave us even more appreciation of the area’s offerings.
I am a writer who is often looking for a quiet place to write, and on the day before we left Westport, I said to my daughter, “I would love to come back here and rent this place for a month. Think of how much work I’d get done in this environment!”
Many thanks to you, Carmel, and your family for the thoughtful and welcoming hospitality. We loved your home!