Restored seaside stone cottage and conservatory nestled in a flowered grove.
Location: Sneem, County Kerry, Ireland, Europe (Hot-Tub & Private Island off Ring of Kerry)
Accommodations: Secluded Seafront Cottage, 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath (Sleeps 2)
Featured on Home&Garden's Fine Living Television. Local legends tell of Mermaids living in the small bay between the island, Illaundrane, and the Mermaid Isle cottage, nestled in a grove of trees on the shore halfway between Sneem and Caherdaniel, a mile off the famous Ring of Kerry. A pod of seals still live at the end of the 26-acre island, which completes the farm. And a pair of dolphins commonly guard its countless tidepools. It's still not unusual to be greeted in the morning by a playful otter, scampering down to the sea, past the California Hot-tub perched right on the ridge. Originally the ancient fisherman's stone cottage had three bedrooms, but the present museum designer/owner removed the walls dividing them to provide a generous, single bedroom, with a sitting area and open, turf-burning fireplace. Sun rays and moon beams reflecting on the bay will clothe your bed, where you'll be lulled by songs of the wind and waves.
It's obvious that those who first built the cottage, loved the sea. The recently added conservatory/observatory allows you spend your days and nights in nature surrounded by sunlit clouds, the moon and the stars, progressive seasonal explosions of brilliantly colored wildflowers and all the players on this stage of life: patient herons, silent swans, screeching oyster-catchers, bobbing mergansers, probing curlews, hovering falcons, a variety of soaring gulls, sky-diving gannets, snorkeling cormorants, and curious pup seals. After a swim in the calm clear Gulf Stream warmed waters of Mermaid Isle, your evenings can be spent in the hot-tub contemplating dramatic shooting stars or the lights of Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus, reflecting on the glass-like private cove's surface below the most pollution-free skies on this planet.
Modern gourmet kitchen appliances have been tastefully disguised by historic leaded church doors and panels, or antique copper and great slabs of cedar. The spiraling stairway was carved by a local sculptor from the same stump. You can sit at the time-honored pitch-pine kitchen table preparing your meals before the roaring turf fire in a glass faced iron stove set into the original hearth, complemented with its centuries-old crane and cauldrons. The spacious skylit bathroom, also features leaded windows and French doors to the wildflowers. Like the kitchen all modern appliances and a hand-thrown sink by a Kerry artist have been integrated into historic country furnishings.
Apart from the owner's barn down the coast, the nearest neighbor is over a mile away, allowing unlimited explorations of endless tidepools and sea vistas, without returning to the Ring of Kerry. But that famous scenic road will take you to the local quaint, gaily painted towns of Sneem, Caherdaniel, and Kenmare, consistent national Tidy Towns competition winners, and home to world-class restaurants, pubs, golf courses, and Blue Flag beaches where you can rent horses and go galloping along the surf, rent dive or water-sports gear or board commercial fishing boats. Other boats will take you to the seventh century monastery atop Skellig Michael, eight miles off the coast. Prehistoric Celtic monuments dot the landscape and the lakes, forests, and waterfalls of Killarney are just across the mountains.
Mermaid Isle is a private retreat for artists, writers, naturalists, lovers, a place to spark the imagination, reopen your senses and rekindle your love of life. It truly is Tir Na Nog, the Land of the Forever Young, a place where time stops.
Looking for dinner....
VRBO Bear stayed here - 10/21/2009 Upon my arrival to Mermaid Isle, I was greeted by the wonderful owners who showed me around the cabin. The views from this home will take your breath away. The cabin is located right on the Ring of Kerry, an extremely beautiful and captivating area in Ireland that you won’t want to miss. The area is very secluded and makes it easy to take a breather from the every day hustle and bustle of life. I guarantee you will not want to leave when your departure date sneaks up on you. The cabin is hundreds of years old but, was wonderfully updated inside. We were cozy and comfortable with a nice fire crackling in the old fashioned stove.
During my stay, I took the rowboat out on a couple occasions to explore the “private island” not far off the shore, as well as to do a little fishing in the peninsula. While paddling, I spotted a few seals just feet from my boat. With the rubber Wellington boots the owners provided for their guests, I was able to explore the many tide pools in the area without getting my paws wet! There are also historical ruins just behind the cabin to explore, too. There’s so much to see and do on the land and waters surrounding the home, there’s really no need to leave. What a beautiful, majestic place to spend a vacation in Ireland!
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking
- Wood Fireplace
- Wood Stove
- Beds
- Double Bed
- Twin/Single Bed
- Entertainment
- TV (No Cable/Satellite)
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library
- Private Hot Tub
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio
- View/Location
- Oceanfront
- Communications
- Telephone
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Remote Location, Cliffside California Hot-Tub, 28 Acres of Private Shorefront, Private Island, Varied Wildlife, Garden Waterfront Sitting Areas, Large Conservatory with Dining Area & Sitting Room, Gourmet Kitchen, Disposal, Large Refrigerator/Freezer, 5- burner Gas Hob, Fan-Assisted Electric Oven, Cooking/Dining Utilities, Bedroom with Sitting Area & Fireplace, Second Fireplace with Cast Iron Stove, Storage Heater, Electric Shower, Custom Made & Antique Furnishings, Not Suitable for Young Children
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Not Suitable for Children
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Shelling
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Rock Climbing
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- Bird Watching, Walking, Hill Climbing, Horse Riding, World-class Golfing, Snorkling, Historic & Prehistoric Monuments, Sculpture Gardens, Horticulture Gardens, Gourmet Restaurants, Pubs, Musical Entertainment, Art Galleries, Irish Field Sports
Rate Details (In Euros)
Jan-Feb ............ € 1150/week.
Mar-Mid Apr ........ € 1550/week.
Mid Apr-Sep ........ €1850/week.
Oct-Nov ............ € 1550/week.
Dec-Mid Dec ........ € 1150/week.
Mid Dec-New Years .. €1850/week.
NOTES: * Not Suitable for Young Children.
* Pets Not Allowed, No Smoking.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Property Photos
- Restored seaside stone cottage and conservatory nestled in a flowered grove. - Kenmare/Sneem, Kerry, Ireland - Vacation Cottage on the Mermaid Isle!
- Write your novel, dine on a scrumptious meal or just relax surrounded by the sea - Kenmare/Sneem, Kerry, Ireland - Vacation Cottage on the Mermaid Isle!
- After swimming or tidepooling in a secluded cove, unwind in your private hot-tub - Kenmare/Sneem, Kerry, Ireland - Vacation Cottage on the Mermaid Isle!
- All contemporary kitchen appliances are clothed in antique furnishings.
- Your romantic bedroom and fireside den overlooking the sea
- Kayak to your own secluded beach.
- Catch dinner right in front of the cottage in your glass-like sheltered cove
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #20707
There have been 68707 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2003.
This listing was first published here in 2003.
Date last modified - October 22, 2009
