We stayed 3 nights at Martina's house which was a perfect base for touring Mayo including climbing Croagh Patrick. The location is rural and quiet with very few cars passing. At the same time it's handy for shopping and other amenities in Claremorris (about 10 minutes) or Castlebar (about 15 minutes). The nearby town of Balla has an interesting round tower and holy well, and there was a classic car and tractor show in the town park while we were there. A car is necessary as there are no amenities within walking distance.
The house is clean, spacious and comfortable with 3 large bedrooms, one bathroom and a well-equipped kitchen. There is a lovely big lawn where pets or children can run around in perfect safety. There is a small outdoor table and chairs where we had lunch or coffee when the sun shone. The bathroom has an electric pumped shower as well as a bath. Guests have full control over heating and hot water, which can be left on a timer or turned on as needed. The hot water tank is relatively small. There is a washing machine and dryer but no dishwasher. No washing powder was provided. No shampoo was provided. Some kitchen supplies were provided (tea, coffee, milk).
Martina met us on arrival and explained everything we needed to know about the house. Our two dogs were welcome and we were just requested to keep them out of the bedrooms.
Electricity is on a coin-operated meter so guests need to ensure they have 1-euro or 2-euro coins to keep the lights on. There are two TVs with British and Irish stations. The internet (wi-fi) is slow and not suitable for streaming video. There is a solid fuel stove in the living room and fuel is provided to allow guests to light a fire. There are comfortable reclining armchairs in both living rooms.
We would recommend Martina's house as a comfortable place to stay at any time of year.