Tir na nÓg

Tir na nÓg is a typical Irish cottage, white-washed both inside and out and with neatly coiffeur thatching – but its appearance belies its turn of the century construction. Inside, the cottage simply oozes charisma and charm – an idiosyncratic mixture of style and the personal.

The main reception area looks out across the bay through a triptych of windows to the South. An oversized weathered timber beam serves as a mantle above the traditional open hearth. This is a comfortable room with generous pillowed sofas, antique furnishings and piano with a view to sing for!

A similar large adjacent room with a second mirror image open hearth, is home to the kitchen and dining area. Floors in here are flagged with liscannor stone, and antiqued pine dresser and presses complete the rustic theme.

The space is informally divided by a breakfast bar with classic high stools. Banquette seating maximises numbers around a robust dining table.

Smokey antique beams and lintels punctuate the rough plastered whitewashed walls. Occasional Persian rugs are spread on polished ivory-white floorboards in reception areas. Rustic black hinges and latches on solid plank doors feature throughout the home, often painted in a subtle shade of khaki.

Through the entrance hallway at the other side of the living room, a passageway leads past the bathroom to two double bedrooms and a twin room, each furnished eclectically and with matching bathrooms.

White painted jalousie louvered shutters supplant curtains in all these rooms. White painted stairs lead from the entrance hall directly up to the loft study with lime-washed pine ceiling.

The study houses a serious library of books, games and movies. A stand-alone sauna occupies one end of the room while doors at opposite ends lead off to another sumptuous double bedroom and a twin bedroom respectively – both ensuite.The double bedroom includes a single, to sleep three.

The cottage sits on around three acres of raised sandy pasture-land that runs down to the cove and magical barefoot beach. A wooden boardwalk skirts the building and forms a sunny Barbeque terrace to the seaward side.

This terrain is almost tree-less, but the views across to Omey Island and panoramic sunsets are unforgettable.

The house is equipped with everything you would expect in a luxury home – from WiFi to barbeque; clothes dryer to Sauna.

There is a library of books, games and movies.
If you have a particular requirement, be sure to tell us.

• Try your hand at Fly fishing
• Buy a T-shirt from Conn
• A fish supper at Mitchells
• Play a round at the Golf Links
• Catch something serious in the Ocean
• Cycle the easy way around a loop
• Day trip to Inishbofin

• Go pony trekking on the strand
• Learn to shoot with Shane
• Dive on a wreck
• Watch Graham smoke salmon
• Get warm in some wool

Connemara is the most westerly part of Europe and exposed to the wild vagaries of weather. In places stunted trees grow, fighting against the winds; plants struggle to survive in this wilderness.

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Claddaghduff is a 15 minute walk away, and is the nearest village for essential items, petrol and a pint. On the way you will not miss Omey Island. It can be reached by crossing the broad strand between tides.
The island once had a population of over 400 souls. There are great walks here – mind the rabbit holes – and time it right, or you may become a castaway until the next ebb.

An annual horse race is held on Omey Strand in late July. The event is carefully planned around the tides, and typically attracts vast crowds for the day out.

Clifden known as the capital of Connemara is just 10km away. Packed with great shops and restaurants, and catering for all shopping and craft needs, it is the central crossroads for daytrips. Watch out for the Arts festival and Clifden Pony Show.

To the East the skyline is dominated by the majestic Twelve Bens (or Pins), a series of craggy mountains in Connemara National Park that are a magnet to the serious hill walker.
But it is the fast flowing rivers that have made Connemara the Mecca of Trout and Salmon fly-fishing.

The Aughrus Penninsula is renowned for some of the most unspoiled beaches to be found anywhere in the Europe, with waters that are crystal clear.
A drive or cycle around the deeply indented coastline reveals many beaches of staggering beauty, and some of golden coral. You will also discover quirky little fishing harbors; sanctuary from the huge Atlantic swells.

Inishbofin (White Cow) Island lies 11km off the coast, and can be reached two or three times a day by ferry from Cleggan, less than 5km away from the house. As well as birdwatchers and scuba divers, Bofin is an important centre for traditional Irish music and song.

Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht region is here in Connemara where the Irish language (Gaeilge) is the everyday spoken language. It is estimated that Inishbofin was inhabited as far back as 8000 – 4000 B.C. Passing the signal light into the harbour you will notice Cromwell’s 16th Century Barracks. It was used as a prison for catholic priests from all over the country after the English Statute of 1585 declared them guilty of high treason.