Rathclaren House
County Cork
This classic regency rectory has been sensitively modernised and is situated in its own extensive grounds with pastoral views south to the Courtmacsherry estuary and the ocean beyond. Generous rooms, large windows and classic period detailing, plus the versatility of split accommodation augment the magic of this home.
Half way twixt the West Cork Meccas of Kinsale and Clonakilty and just 40 minutes from Cork International Airport, this is perfect spot for a multi-generational gathering.
The Main House
Refined Regency Living
Through the entrance gate a sweeping drive leads up via 6 acres of mature private gardens planted with flourishing examples of rhododendron, and azalea to the main entrance at the side of the house.
A decidedly quaint hall door welcomes you to the reception hall, both splendid and spacious, with access to multiple rooms and a graceful staircase leading to the bedrooms.
AT A GLANCE
- Sleeps
Up to 11 guests
including the annex
From € 6,500 per week - MAIN HOUSE
Bedrooms
Two double bedrooms – 1 ensuite
One single bedroom
Family bathroom - Other Rooms
Two reception rooms, Study
Family Kitchen / breakfast room
Entrance Hall, Utility room - ANNEX
Bedrooms
Three double bedrooms – 1 ensuite
Bathroom - Other Rooms
Living room, Kitchenette - Features
Open Fire places, wood burning stoves
Large private gardens - Availability
High season Weekly only: Saturday to Saturday
Weekends: Friday to Monday
Midweek: Monday to Friday - Restrictions
Children over 10 are welcome
Sorry, pets are not permitted
The two very large drawing reception rooms lead off one side of the hall. Divided by lofty double doors, the rooms span the southern façade of the house and share wonderful views of the garden through beautifully proportioned Georgian windows.
Marble fireplaces, sumptuous sofas, vintage furniture and Persian carpeted wide floorboards, evoke the understated elegance of Georgian living.
Also off the hallway, through classic double doors, is a snug oak-panelled study; book lined and with a large open fire-place.
This bright room is a recent addition, and features a dazzling glazed roof light, controllable by way of push button automated blinds.
There is also access from here to the lawns for the summer months.
Facilities & Ameneties
Kitchen Appliances
• Aga oil range with 4 ovens and 4 gas rings
• Electric Oven>br>
• Fridge-freezer
• Dishwasher
• Twin sinks
• Toaster
• Microwave
Utility Appliances
• Washing machine
• Spin dryer
• Iron
Bedrooms
• Sizes – Two double beds, Three King-size and one Single
• 2 Hairdryers
Tech & Entertainment
• Wi-Fi Internet
• Flat-screen TV
Other
• Good selection of books
• Barbecue
• Croquet set
Off the northern side of the hallway, there is a generous, modern, well-appointed kitchen and breakfast room.
The budding gourmet will delight in the substantial oil-fired range (AGA) with four ovens supported by a four-ring gas hob. The preparation island has a second handy sink.
As an informal dining room, the breakfast area caters comfortably for six around a circular table. Two French doors give out onto the courtyard with access to the converted stable that is the Annex.
Leading off the kitchen is a large utility room containing washer and drier.
Bedrooms
The two main double bedrooms lead off the landing and overlook the lawns. Softly lit by grand south facing windows, they are both spacious and sumptuous.
The master bedroom incorporates a luminous en-suite bathroom, with an elegant double ended slipper bath, shower cubicle and marble lined double basins.
Across the landing is a neat family bathroom with double ended bath.
A small but delightful bedroom, perfect for kids, is at the end of the landing with windows that look out to the stable block annex.
The Annex
This is a stand-alone apartment, albeit with a bantam kitchen – and it is wheelchair friendly.
On the ground floor is a sizeable sitting room with a wood burning stove and a large flat screen TV.
Just off that is the small pantry kitchenette.
Adjacent to the sitting room is a charming double bedroom with en suite bathroom.
The bathroom has a walk-in shower and twin pedestal basins. It is also equipped with support for elderly guests.
Two bedrooms and a large bathroom are accessed from an upstairs corridor that runs the length of the stable building.
The pretty panelled bathroom is shared, and has a double ended bath, shower cubicle and twin sinks.
Provisional Booking Form
2023 Holiday Breaks
| Easter weekend | Friday 7th April to Wednesday 12th April | € 8,500 |
|---|---|---|
| Halloween | Friday 27th October to Wednesday 1st November | € 8,500 |
| Christmas break | Saturday 23rd to Thursday 28th December | € 8,500 |
| New Year break | Friday 29th to Wednesday 3rd January | € 8,500 |
NB. 5 night minimum stay.
Mid-week bookings run from Monday PM till Friday AM – 4 nights
Weekend breaks run from Friday PM till Monday AM – 3 nights
Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday
A refundable breakages deposit payable with the rental amount will be refunded within seven days of departure.
Rates Table
| Per week | Weekend | Mid-week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| October to May | € 6,500 | € 4,500 | € 4,500 |
| June to September | € 8,500 | Not Available | Not Available |
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AVAILABLE BOOKED
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- Please note all booking requests are subject to 24 hour approval.
- Once your provisional booking has been placed, the UIH team will verify it, answer any specific queries you may have, and request a deposit to lock in your dates.
- Please note if your provisional booking is not confirmed and the deposit paid within 3 days it will expire.
- If your preferred dates are not available, click here to review alternate options.
- For additional information please contact us on +353 85 860 0027
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Out & About
West Cork is inundated with fantastic food, dramatic vistas, coastal adventures and historical treasures.
We just can’t list them all, so here are a few of our favourites…
The English Market – Cork City. Failte Ireland
Guitar Festival Clonakilty, mid-September
The famous West Cork Music Festival at Bantry (held in June) is just 45 minutes away.
- Enjoy a gourmet meal at Monk’s Lane
- Try a new water sport adventure
- Watch a humpback with Mark & Patricia
- Enjoy the freshest of fish just off the boats
- A links like no other at the Old Head
- Lusitania museum on the Old Head
- Top notch dining experience at Bastion
- Pop in to Jane’s pottery
- Learn how to surf at Incheydoney
- Dine at The Whale’s Tale
- Pamper yourself at The Spa
- Take a Gin distillery Tour
- Fish and chips at the Pink Elephant
- Live music at de Barra’s
- Take home some Clonakilty Black Pudding
- A restaurant that’s fussy about fish
- Go Angling out in the deep
- Visit the Jelly Surf shop
The Locality
Immediately behind the house is the seventeenth century church which until recently was served by Rathclaren’s rector.
Kilbrittain is the nearest village. Its castle, is thought to date from 1035 and remains a family home to this day – reputed to be one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland.
Annually in August, Kilbrittain Village hosts a Family Festival which draws large crowds.
In the winter of 2009, an 18-metre (59 ft) fin whale became stranded on a beach in Courtmacsherry Bay. The Lifeboat laboured without success to get the whale back into the sea, and it subsequently died. The skeleton is now on display in a small park to the east of Kilbrittain village.
Timoleague, (10 mins) at the head of the bay, has a ruined abbey dating back to the 13th century. The town is notable for its Brown Pudding sausage – but also has a long tradition of Bee-keeping and obviously honey. Here is also the nearest petrol station with a small Centra supermarket.
On the far side of the bay is the picturesque fishing village of Courtmacsherry – a short 15 minute trip along the water’s edge. Busy during the summer months the village is a centre for sea anglers, whale and dolphin watching tours, plus an array of water sports and skills courses.
It is also home to one of the first and one of the busiest lifeboat stations in the country.
The multi award winning historical town of Clonakilty, 25 minutes away, has quirky shops, cafes and pubs featuring live music sessions, as well as some fine restaurants.
The town is known for its black pudding which is made to a secret spice recipe since the 1880s, but also produces other fine treats such as craft beers, chocolate and gin.
Clonakilty Distillery
image Failte Ireland
Off course these waters are a familiar haunt for Whales and Dolphins, and there are a number of experienced local boatmen offering guided trips to get up close and personal with them – an unforgettable experience.
About 10 minutes east of the house is Ballinspittle. In the summer of 1985, the town received international attention when inhabitants claimed to have witnessed a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary moving spontaneously. As news of the phenomenon spread, thousands of pilgrims and spectators flocked to the site – many claiming the same experience.
The bustling market town of Bandon, 15 minutes to the north, is the largest town in the region, and stages a Saturday morning farmers market.
Graham Norton, BBC chat show host, lived in Bandon and attended Bandon Grammar School.
The town is host to a 3 day Music Festival Jun Bank Holiday.
Kinsale town, extolled by Conde Nast as one of Ireland’s most beautiful towns, is the Southern limit of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s 2,500km route that follows the coast to Inishowen, in the North.
Click here to find out more…
Just 20km away, the genuinely picturesque town has a long and chequered history as a strategic port, but it’s current status as ‘The Gourmet Capital of Ireland’ derives from the quality of its acclaimed restaurants, of which there are many.
The are also the remains of two impressive forts built by the English to protect the narrow entrance from the sea. The 17th-century pentagonal bastion of James Fort, and its successor, Charles Fort on the opposite side of the estuary, which is one of the finest surviving examples of a star-shaped fort from the period. Charles Fort continued to be used by the British Army until February 1922.
In 1915 on a trip from New York to Liverpool, the luxury passenger steamship Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat 18 km off the Old Head of Kinsale. Taking 18 minutes to sink, there were only 764 survivors.
Old Head of Kinsale
image Failte Ireland
The loss of 128 Americans in the tragedy is thought to have contributed to their active involvement in WW2, however a number of controversies and conspiracy theories relating to the disaster persist to this day. A museum and memorial garden at the Signal Tower on the Old Head, commemorate the event.
Garretstown Beach
image Failte Ireland
There are myriad of sandy swimming beaches dotted along the coastline – at least 7 nearby – so we’ll leave it to you to explore here.
How to get there – Car advised..
By Air: Flights to Cork, Kerry, Dublin or Shannon airports.
Cork Airport – about 40 mins from the house.
Kerry Airport – about one hour 50mins from the house.
Dublin Airport – about 3 and a half hours from the house
Shannon Airport – approx 2 and a half hours from house.
By Sea: Ferry crossings
Dublin City Port/Holyhead has a fast crossing and is about 3 and a half hours from the house.
Rosslare Harbour for Ferries to South Wales is just over 3 hours from house.
Map
Gallery
