Reviews for Killarney Vacation Rental - VRBO 149982 - 7 BR County Kerry Castle in Ireland, Historic Luxury Rental Manor Coolclogher House-on 68 Acres

How to feel like royalty!

Guest Siri
Date of stay 11/08/12
Review Submitted 11/27/12

I searched high and low, and all over Europe, to find the perfect place to celebrate my birthday, and I luckily found Mary and Coolclogher. And it was more than perfect, and everything like a dream. We went 7 girls and stayed for 4 nights, and we felt like royalty the hole time. The house and the surroundings are spectacular! It is in the middle of nature, quiet and beautiful, whit lots of places nearby to explore. Private, but at the same time close to the charming little town of Killarney. The rooms are huge, but cosy and with a homelike feel to it. Nicely decorated, great fireplaces, and whit stunning views. And the owner, Mary, was so helpful both in the planning stage, and during our stay. I can´t thank her enough. We rented the hole house, and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to get away from everyday life and experience something extraordinary. Bring your girlfriends, the whole family, or friends with family, and get a memory for life! I can´t imagine no better place to get married. So if you are searching the web for the perfect place; this is it. Write to Mary, and you will soon hear her friendly voice on the phone.

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An Absolute Marvel.

Guest Jason
Date of stay 08/31/12
Review Submitted 10/15/12

I could sit and write a novel about our week long stay at Coolclogher House. The pages would number in the many hundreds and be filled with words like "exquisite", "breathtaking" and "surreal". My wife and I were so fortunate to have our wedding at Coolclogher House this past September. Our immediate family and some friends joined us in what was the most amazing week of our lives. Leading up to our vacation Mary, the matriarch of the property, and I had many detailed email exchanges. She informed me that I shouldn't worry about anything at all and that she'd have everything in order by the time our family had arrived. She's wasn't kidding. Every detail had been buttoned up from fireplaces being staged some peat heat to the bottle of Jameson's waiting eagerly on the kitchen table (as requested). Mary masterfully runs the home, crossing all t's and dotting all i's, as her husband Morris tends to the extensive grounds. Together with the help of Lisa and their daughter Katie, the entire property seems to take on a life of it's own. It truly is a world class experience. Then there is the property itself. Again, in lieu of drafting a novel, there are so many words that could be configured in brilliant assembly that would never do the place justice. It's just that good. The home, each bedroom, the kitchen, the reading room, the dining room, the great hall, each fireplace, the old stable houses, the backyard, the backyard's backyard, each so unique and offering a place to create memories and realize dreams. These people and this property have allowed my family, my wife and I to create irreplaceable memories that will be with us forever. We are truly grateful to Coolclogher House and we plan on visiting many times again.

Recommended for: Families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Many thanks Jason and Jamie it was a delight to have you and your family stay with us .We wish you much happiness in the future and look forward to welcoming you back soon .

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Americans in Ireland!

Guest Annette
Date of stay 08/18/12
Review Submitted 10/12/12

Our family had a bit of a reunion this year in Ireland. We are from all over and we decided to rent a house and travel around the Ring of Kerry. For some of us it was our first experience in the countryside. We certainly were not disappointed. The house is warm and welcoming as are the owners. Any wish or need you have is fulfilled. After busy days sight seeing it was so nice to come back to this home and relax in front of a fire. The accomadation is first class. Easy to get around the town and park. I honestly can't say enough about our overall experience. Thank you and your family Mary. All the best!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thank you for taking the time to write this review and look forward to seeing you in the future .

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30 in Killarney

Guest Patrick
Date of stay 08/11/12
Review Submitted 10/11/12

I recently organized a trip to celebrate my 30th birthday on the Emerald Isle. I found Mary and Maurice's home online, and it looked like the perfect place to stay for a family of fourteen. I saw the pictures posted and they looked absolutely incredible (as you can see). In most cases, I find pictures tend to enhance objects over the Internet, however, in this case - the pictures could not possibly bring justice to a home such as Coolclogher (as hard as that is to believe). We pulled up to the house and felt as if we arrived in the setting of a movie! It was remarkably breath taking, complete with a horse, outdoor dog and cat, and the sound of sheep echoing from a distance. We were greeted by Mary, while Maurice was manning the landscape out front. They were extremely welcoming, and helpful throughout the entire visit. With a group our size, you can imagine the difficulties trying to appease everyone, and yet Mary manage to assist in setting up the perfect daily itineraries. The proximity to downtown was very convenient. It was a three minute drive in to town, and cheap taxi fare - if you are looking to take advantage of the many "blarney" filled pubs in Killarney! I am a Golfer and was fortunate enough to play several rounds on my trip. The host of the 2011 Irish Open (Killeen Course - Killarney Golf & Fishing Club) is a ten minute drive from Coolclogher, and is a wonderful course. We also played the famous Old Course at Ballybunion, which is an hour drive north. The property edges up to the Ring of Kerry, and within 15 minutes from the house you will begin your journey around the Ring. There is not a single thing I would change about my experience at Coolclogher. Memories were created that will last a lifetime!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Magnificent luxurious very comfortable manor home.

Guest college friends
Date of stay 05/26/12
Review Submitted 10/10/12

Our large group of 13 adults found this home to be very comfortable as well as elegant. Each of the 7 bedrooms had its own full bathroom. The beds were all king size and very comfortable. A fire was set daily for us in each of the two parlors. The kitchen had a pot belly stove that kept it warm and cozy for eating and reading. Our bedrooms and baths were cleaned daily. The owners, Mary and Maurice, gave us a warm Irish welcome and assisted us in choosing restaurants, pubs and sites to see. The home is centrally located to take day trips to Dingle, the Ring of Kerry, Kenmare, Muckross House, golf courses such as Tralee and Waterville, the Magillicuddy Reefs (please excuse my spelling). Of course, the town of Killarney, within a 5 minute drive, had a great deal to offer as well. Just a note - all bedrooms were on the second floor. We look forward to returning to Coolclogher in the future.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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A Wonderful Home Away From Home

Guest Traveler
Date of stay 04/20/12
Review Submitted 10/16/12

When I starting looking for a place to stay on our first visit to Ireland, I found the listing for the Coolclogher Manor. Shortly after sending a request to VBRO, I received a warm, wonderful, informative phone call from Mary [the first of many – thanks Mary]. At the end of our first phone conversation, I knew it would be the location for us. Our new “home away from home.” Our reaction driving up to the manor –WOW! Exiting our vehicles, we met our hostess Mary who warmly welcomed us to Ireland and answered our many questions. She was also very helpful in arranging our Gap of Dunloe tour. H-O-S-P-I-T-A-B-L-E. Our reaction stepping into the manor was another – WOW. The large windows offered wonderful views of the surrounding landscape. The home is superbly decorated with antiques, art, timber floors, and luxurious rugs. Wandering through the fully equipped kitchen, a separate formal dining room, and two large living rooms with the open fireplaces, and the many bedrooms, we knew this was the ideal base for our stay in Ireland. L-U-X-U-R-I-O-U-S P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N. The pictures posted on VBRO for this house are wonderful. Be sure to look at them! If you’re planning to visit southwestern Ireland, seriously consider staying here. The location is superb for making day trips in every direction very doable. All ten of us related travelers would highly recommend this manor and we look forward to a return visit.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Heaven in Ireland

Guest saeed k.
Date of stay 09/17/11
Review Submitted 01/27/12

what a great home in such a wonderful setting. when you add incredible accommodations and absolutely first class service you have an experience that our group had when we visited Mary's home in Killarney. for any group that is visiting Ireland and the Killarney area, and are looking for a base from which to sight see, fish and/or play golf you could not ask for a better location and a more serene setting than Coolclogher House. flexibility is the norm. the first 5 days we traveled and ate out the last two we asked Mary to bring in a chef for a sit down dinner(absolutely amazing service and food to die for), another night the chef prepared Irish Stew and left it for us to enjoy in a casual setting. every evening we had a choice of two sitting rooms with a wonderful peat fireplace and comfortable seating for the 12 of us. general consensus of the group was that the next time we are in Ireland we will definitely go back to Coolclogher House. A gem of a house and a great host. Thanks Mary.

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Manor-style living in Killarney

Guest George G.
Date of stay 08/19/11
Review Submitted 01/30/12

On our August 2011 trip to Ireland, we visited the delightful town of Killarney in County Kerry. Located on the Ring of Kerry, this popular destination offers everything your heart desires, from golf to castles, horse-drawn jaunting car rides through Killarney National Park, walking trails and wonderful restaurants. The town is tourist friendly with lots of places to stay, but none finer than Coolclogher House. We had the good fortune to spend two delightful weeks at the magnificent Coolclogher House. This luxurious mansion dates back to 1746 and has been beautifully restored to its original glory (with modern plumbing). The manor house sits on more than 60 acres of walled and secluded land that provided us with both privacy and a gorgeous outdoor setting - complete with horses, sheep and rolling green meadows. A walk across the meadow to the edge of the estate property rewards you with beautiful views of the mountains, the Killarney Lakes and the spire of St. Mary's Cathedral. Inside, we got a taste of luxury living in an 18th century manor. Together with our dozen or so friends and fellow travelers, we utilized every room that the house had to offer. From the seven bedrooms to the spacious and beautifully decorated parlors and sitting rooms, we were comfortably spoiled day and night. We prepared some fabulous meals in the fully-equipped kitchen and enjoyed them either sitting at the large wooden table in the country style kitchen or in the formal dining room. Throughout the day, you could find a group of us sitting in front of a cozy fireplace reading or sharing our experiences with friends and family on our iPads and laptops. Our hosts, Mary and Maurice, who own Coolclogher House and are responsible for how beautiful it looks both inside and out, were there when we needed them and mostly invisible the rest of the time. They are a delightful couple and getting to know them enhanced our experience. I even received a singing lesson from their lovely daughter, Katie! Killarney is a must see for any visitor to Ireland. But, it's not often that you get to say that the accommodations were one of the highlights of your visit. Coolclogher House was that and more and we look forward to returning there someday.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Christmas 2010

Guest Gary
Date of stay 12/27/10
Review Submitted 09/24/11

OUr family spent our Christmas Holiday in Ireland and a week of that time was spent at Cooclogher. It was without a dobut the hightlight of our vacation, very relaxing, and close to everything in town. House is everything as described plus more. Just this past week our family began looking back on that vacation and all agreed it was just wonderful. Highly recommend.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Owner response: Many thanks Gary for kind comments we hope to see you and your family soon .

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Truly Memorable

Guest Stephanie
Date of stay 07/31/10
Review Submitted 09/22/10

I searched for the "perfect place" to spend two weeks with my family in Ireland and I found it! Coolclogherhouse is special in so many ways. The house itself is a true Manor House, elegantly appointed yet very comfortable. We felt like Royalty! Each guest staying at Coolclogherhouse gets a great room with private bath. It is meticulously maintained and cared for by Mary and Maurice Hartnett who live on the property and act as "concierge." Mary helped us with everything from dinner reservations to fishing expeditions; she knows everyone in town and is just a wealth of information. The property offers stunning views and plenty room for our children to run and play. The house is located just a few miles from town - a nice walk or bike ride. Killarney is a busy town with great pubs, restaurants and shopping. Our teenagers loved the "night life". But the most appealing aspect of Killarney for us was Killarney National Park - 27,000 acres of breathtaking scenery, paths and trails which we hiked, biked and rode on horses. From Coolclogerhouse, the entrance to the park is just a short walk. For longer day trips, Killarney is the perfect spot to explore the southwest of Ireland - we visited Kinsale, Waterville, Dingle, Kenmare, and the Ring of Kerry. For golfers, there are many courses just a short drive and some of the more famous courses are an easy day-trip. Our trip to Ireland and in particular to Coolclogerherhouse provided us with memories to last a lifetime.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

Like an Irish Dream Come True !

Guest Catherine
Date of stay 06/01/10
Review Submitted 03/31/11

Had a wonderful stay at this very beautiful manor. The entire time our group felt like royalty ! The rooms and funishings were top notch and the owners of the property, Mary, Maurice and daughter Katie were delightful and so helpful planning our day trips.The views from the en suite rooms were like postcard pictures of the Irish countryside.So peaceful and quiet we slept so soundly.We were just a short trip to Killarney to visit the churches,pubs and shops (could easily be walked in daylight hours) The manor in short is just magnifient and we plan to bring our entire family back this spring. Coolclogher would be a wonderful venue for a family reunion or wedding ! 5 stars all the way !!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Coolclogher House is the finest gem on the Emerald Isle, a fabulous vacation rental.

Guest Sello
Date of stay 05/31/10
Review Submitted 06/11/10

The most beautiful "home" I have ever had the pleasure to experience. I put home in quotes because this is very much a luxury Manor House, but the lovely family that owns/runs the facility truly make you feel at home. While their web site is very informative, the actual experience far exceeded my expectations. This georgous estate, surrounded by acres of lush countryside, is the most welcoming and comfortable setting you can imagine. Each suite is more beautiful than the next, featuring individual bathrooms, blackout shutters, and beds that will afford the absolutely best night's sleep you have ever had. The house is elegantly appointed and, yet, very comfortable. My favorite is the very large and accommodating country kitchen, where we took most of our meals and enjoyed many a wonderful and lively conversation. Located minutes from downtown Killarney, Coolclogher was the perfect home base for a travels in Southern Ireland. Relatively short drives to many charming cities (Adare, Dingle, Kenmare, etc) added to the overall ambiance. Downtown Killarney was full of really terrific pubs and shops. All in all, this may have been my most memorable and relaxing vacation. My heartfelt thanks to the family (Mary, Maurice, and Katie) that catered to all our needs and more. Truly a 5 star experience!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: We would like to thank all our guests who take the time to write about their stay at Coolclogher House. We are most greatful for your kind comments and support over the years thanks again you all all great .

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Guest E. Wells
Date of stay 01/20/10
Review Submitted 01/20/10

My family spent a month at Coolclogher House in April 2007. What a glorious place. The grounds are spectaculor...the views a fabulous..and what makes it the best is Mary and Maurice. They are so accommodating. Each room is beautifully furnished with fireplaces....and a fire each night!The bedrooms are large with comfortable beds with fine linens. Each bedroom has it's own bathroom. The kitchen is large and modern with a fireplace and a large table that provided my family many happy hours talking about our travel for the day. Great outside grill...which we used to grill lamb chops for dinner.The stores are close by for food.Being so centrally located we were able to see "The West" with easy day trips. Everything about the manor house was great. We have returned several times..always with great excitement. I would recommend this property to everyone that wants a true Irish experience..It doesn't get any better!!!

Owner response: Guests that stay with us here at Coolclogher House are just wonderful .

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Guest flo2
Date of stay 01/20/10
Review Submitted 01/20/10

Coolclogher House is a stunning house in a beautiful location. The home is furnished with lovely antiques/art work. The kitchen is huge and is a great place to sit, relax, cook and have wonderful conversations in. It is fully equipped with an Aga and there is also a log burner which really gives this spacious room a nice homey touch. The bedrooms are beautiful with large king-size beds on which I had the best nights sleep in years and the fact that every bedroom was en-suite was great! The owners also provide a barbeque and the spacious gardens and fields were a delight to walk through with the family dog Jesi. While we stayed at the manor we had many dinners but our most memorable were when we hired caterers which Mary recommended to cook for us in the beautiful dining room. Mary’s daughter Katie sang Irish songs from the area which was a real treat. I cannot recommend this home enough. The location is perfect only five minutes away from Killarney town and the amazing National Park. Mary organised all our trips and was available to answer even the silliest of questions which was a great help. I will definitely be staying here again in the near future.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

Christmas in Killarney

Guest joanne & Bill
Date of stay 12/26/09
Review Submitted 04/12/10

We left Indiana Christmas morning with all 13 members of our family. (Our children, their spouses & grandchildren) When we arrived at the Coolcloger House we were amazed that it was more beautiful than it's pictures. Daytimes was spent sightseeing & evenings comfortably sitting around one of the beautiful fireplaces, playing games in the cozy kitchen or visiting a local pub!! We hired a recommended Chef for New Year's Evening for a delicious meal & was entertained by the beautiful voice & music of Mary's daughter & her friend. Memories were made that will last a lifetime........

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/8

Guest Boston Gang
Date of stay 11/24/09
Review Submitted 11/24/09

My family of seven stayed at the Coolclogher House for a week in July of 2009. My children, ranging from 25 to 7, were blown away by the majestic scope and breath of the manor house and grounds. My oldest daughther described it as "living in a Jane Austin novel". The whole week was magical and as hard as it was to leave the house, we would stroll into gorgeous Killarney every day to ride bikes, play golf, have tea and just meander around the prettiest town in all of Ireland. Mary, Maurice, and daughter Katie are perfect hosts with Irish charm and humor. They play their hospitality roles so well, it's hard to believe they were successful in London's business world. My kids have been all over the world and according to them this was hands down the best vacation they've ever had. If anything the photos on this site understate the majesty of the estate.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

Guest H.A. Herbert
Date of stay 11/18/09
Review Submitted 11/18/09

We had the pleasure of staying at Coolclogher House during the first week of August, 2009. We were accompanied by our five children, ages 17 to 26, and another family of five, with children of similar ages. The house comfortably accommodated 12 adults. Without exception, the photographs of the house and spacious grounds on the VRBO website accurately depict the property, which is in impeccable condition, very attractive and equally comfortable. The owners, who occupy adjoining but separate accommodations, are from the area and helpful sources of information. After returning from successful careers in London, they purchased what was then a manor house in need of repair and completely renovated it from roof tile to floors. The kitchen and baths are all modern and fully functional. It sits about 3 kilometers from the center of Killarney and has the dual benefit of being a refuge for adults or a launching pad for kids who want to experience the late night pub and club experience. The spacious kitchen and large dining room permit cooking and informal or grand in-house meals. There are abundant grocery stores in the area and the surrounding area is filled with many dining options. Whether a large or small group, Coolclogher House is a great venue from which to explore The Gap, The Ring of Kerry, Muckross House and the national park, Ross Castle and the many surrounding towns and points of interest. Highly recommended.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 11/10/09
Review Submitted 11/10/09

We stayed at the Coolclogher House for a week in August 2009. It was everything and more than we expected. There were 12 of us on property, 2 families with children 17-24. We took day trips to see the sights around Killarney but always returned to our house! Our hosts could not have been more helpful, answering questions and helping to arrange transportation when needed. It was a fantastic place to stay and if we returned to the area would definitely go back. A great value for the money! Don't miss out on this treasure!!!

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

Guest pat040
Date of stay 04/17/09
Review Submitted 04/17/09

We loved everything about this Mansion, in Killarney where we stayed March this year for three weeks with my immediate family. The bedrooms and bathrooms are large, light, and meticulously kept and feature amazing views of the surrounding Kerry Mountains and the world famous "Lakes of Killarney". The grounds are stunning, an expanse of open space and trees that somehow offer solitude and tranquillity. The town of Killarney is a short stroll from the house, which was fabulous for the teenagers and the more energetic of our group. We had some great chats with Mary and Maurice who really made us feel so welcome!!! They gave us lots of advice and history the Killarney area. They have some beautiful racehorses which Maurice breeds as a hobby. While we were there they had a gorgeous little foal who was an amusement all by himself. Coolclogher House has become one of those invaluable places to stay in the world to which I always know that I will return, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Vacation Rentals by Owner

Historic Luxury Rental Manor Coolclogher House-on 68 Acres [#149982] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (19)

How to feel like royalty!

How to feel like royalty!

An Absolute Marvel.

An Absolute Marvel.

Americans in Ireland!

Americans in Ireland!

30 in Killarney

30 in Killarney

Magnificent luxurious very comfortable manor home.

Magnificent luxurious very comfortable manor home.

A Wonderful Home Away From Home

A Wonderful Home Away From Home

Heaven in Ireland

Heaven in Ireland

Manor-style living in Killarney

Manor-style living in Killarney

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010

Truly Memorable

Truly Memorable

Like an Irish Dream Come True !

Like an Irish Dream Come True !

Coolclogher House is the finest gem on the Emerald Isle, a fabulous vacation rental.

Coolclogher House is the finest gem on the Emerald Isle, a fabulous vacation rental.

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Christmas in Killarney

Christmas in Killarney