Molly rapidly responded helpfully to any and all questions we had before our stay. The house was as described, and the photos actually don't do it justice - it is beautifully restored and decorated. Molly showed us how to use heating, showers etc before she and Ward left, and they were both very welcoming, even telling us some of the history of the house. There was a fire ready to be lit, and some extra firewood. Most of the bedrooms are en-suite, and there was plenty of hot water everyday.
The house is perfect for a group of friends or family, it is cosy, but there is also lots of space for people to chill out. The bedrooms are very large (even the twin is small but high ceilinged!), comfortable, and plushly decorated. The beds were all comfortable. The kitchen is big enough for 14 to sit around the table, and there is plenty of counter space and crockery/utensils if you are self catering. The oven takes a bit of getting used to, but is large enough to cook for 14 also.
The main sitting room/pool room are just perfect for a large group to spend time together or spread out a bit. We tended to congregate around the fire or the bar. The bar! The bar is absolutely a key feature of Easky House, and really gives the house something you don't get anywhere else. We enjoyed it! The decor of the house is just brilliant, thoughtful restoration, traditional furniture mixed with some modern pieces, and loads of mirrors and art, really give it a distinctive style, and make it a really unique place to stay.
There is extensive gardens, although we did not use them much. The house is about a kilometre from Easky village, and 25 min drive to Ballina, and you do really feel you are away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
We visited at Haloween, and enjoyed the Scarecrow Festival in Easky, which was fantastic, but even without that, the beach at Easky while not sandy, offers stunning views, and a chance to climb an old castle tower overlooking the sea. For those interested in surfing, there was plenty of experienced and learner surfers down in the sea everyday (end October) and there is a sea pool "blue hole" (Poll Gorm) for anyone interested in swimming in the Atlantic.
We visited Enniscrone (15 min drive) for the Seaweed Baths and views of the sandy crescent beach there. Just Beautiful! While the baths are not for everyone, it is well worth giving it a try. And you can get a regular massage too! Some of our party hiked, cliff walked, and visited the Famine museum. There is also the Pudding row cafe in Easky.
Overall, Easky House is an beautiful, comfortable place to stay, Molly could not do enough for us before we came to stay, and it is a great base to explore the surrounding areas. Would love to come again