The Long Barn

Loved the property and the welcome, the dogs and chickens, the swivel chairs with a woodland path view cosied up to the log burner fire. Also loved the closeness to the beach, 2 mins walk.

The location, the vibe of the place, the curious dogs and chickens, the nearby beach, the friendly owners, a chest full of boardgames (we were outside mostly but we can imagine cosy rainy days)

This is not due to the Long Barn, where there is access to a very nice beach, but in general there is very limited access to the seashores in the south of Ireland, all owned by landowners who prohibit access.

C’est un privilège de séjourner à l’écart de la foule, tout en restant proche de tout, plages, restaurants et Pub, et de tous les charmants points d’attraction de West Cork ( Connely’s à Leap, Union Hall, Glandore, Skibbereen, Baltimore, Scull, Clonakilty… tout ces villages sont accessibles entre 5 et 20 minutes en voitures. Mizen Head est à 1 heure et vaut vraiment le détour. Le logement est confortable pour 2 à 4 personnes. Bien équipé, Lave linge, sèche linge et un poêle à bois. Il y a un mini super marché à Union Hall à 5 minutes en voiture, c’est très pratique.

Tout était parfait. Les routes sont parfois très étroites, les autres conducteurs sont toujours bienveillants.

Fantastic location. Lovely to meet the chickens and dogs in the morning. (If you’re not a dog lover, perhaps not for you!) Comfortable beds. Responsive and helpful owner.

There is rustic charm and then there is the point where a property tips over into disrepair and needing a thorough deep clean. Whilst I fully understand that we were in rural Ireland, one would expect a certain level of cleanliness, care and attention as a paying guest. This property had the air of neglect, not just after a long summer season, but more than that. Mould, millipedes, cobwebs, dust, grease, grime, sticking doors, peeling paint, half working toaster, dog chewed washing up bowl, overarching smell of damp… I didn’t expect perfection, just a little care and attention and cleanliness - not all spiders removed, that’s not realistic in a rural property, but built up webs taken care of, webs clinging to the grease in the cooker extractor hood, removed for our arrival… maybe a millipede eviction notice… possibly the pictures having been dusted once in the last year, the light fittings a little less mouldy or slightly less festooned…. The fixtures and fittings were deliberately shabby chic in keeping with the look. I’m all for second hand and ecclectic, but unfortunately the wardrobes were unusable due to the smell, my bedside drawers would not open and the curtains resembled 2 pieces of tattered sack!! 🤣 The owner did come and rectify some of our main kitchen concerns and I appreciate that. Unfortunately however, the property is beyond the couple of hours he could give it. The place is unique, in a great location and deserves more. It doesn’t need thoroughly modernising, it just needs a freshen up, to be clean and to have a back door you can access without battling to open it a crack…