To stay on the Castle Freke Estate is to enter a magical world of peace and harmony, far from the humdrum of life and traffic noise. Here you will wake to quietness… disturbed only by the mooing of cattle, the occasional neighing of horses, the honking of geese and the crowing of the cock, the pigeons and crows calling to each other, and the background sounds of the surf on Long Strand Beach.

This is a world of animals, a working farm and active stables, of dogs and stable cats, so if that is not attractive to you this is not the place for you.

Our horses range from the very large to the very small, and on a weekday you may see some of the larger ones training in the big dressage ring…or the blacksmith there to reshoe them. Our cattle are mostly purebred Dexter, a native Irish breed of smaller size than most, known for their hardiness and strikingly flavorful meat. We also have a pair of Highland cows, but these shaggy giants are more in the way of family pets…there for the calving , not the eating. Then there are the donkeys, supposedly their job is to pull the donkey cart but in reality their task is to be decorative.

During the daytime, the poultry run free around the place, the self-important geese marching solemnly in procession but quick to sound the alarm with loud honking and flapping of wings. Then there are the ducks, quietly quacking away as they search for juicy delicacies in the grass and flower beds, and of course also the runner ducks; Barbara calls them the two-legged ducks, because they walk upright… The chickens are everywhere, hunting and pecking around the farmyard, the barn and the vegetable garden, leading a tranquil life and laying wonderful eggs. At dusk they all are returned to their sanctuary in the henhouse to protect them from the foxes and other nocturnal predators…and it falls to the dogs to keep watch for danger through the night hours.

All these animals are wonderful creatures, but they can also cause injury if you frighten them or intrude upon their space. Of course this is especially true of the cattle, horses and dogs. This is why we do not believe our home is a suitable rental location for children under 12, and parents with teenage children must take responsibility for supervising them at all times while on the grounds.

By making a reservation with us, you are agreeing to respect the space of all our animals, and to hold us harmless from liability if injury results from getting too close to them; this also applies to injury from the farming equipment, which must be left well alone.

The Cow Shed

The Cowshed is a beautifully restored one-bedroom apartment on the ground floor on the other side of the stable courtyard from the cottage; it is so-named due to the many cow images among its furnishings. It does not have a separate kitchen, but has a fully equipped kitchen area within the inviting living room. Nestling within its thick stone walls one feels very protected, but step out the front door and you are looking out over the majestic coastal scene toward the lighthouse on Galley Head.