Historiallinen irlantilainen Georgian talo

If you are looking for a place to see as home while experiencing the natural beauty and history of Ireland, Aghaboe house will not disappoint. No, it is not fancy, it is not elaborate, nor is it flawless, however, it is warm, welcoming, and true to the farmhouse/manor history of the locale. Our children loved the large shared room upstairs, as did we. Our parents loved the downstairs suite for ease of access for them. The kitchen was just what we needed and we ate and prepared meals there using the AGA stove and other amenities that were more modern. The owner is in residence, but we only saw him when we called upon him and were never made to feel that we were in any way encumbered by his presence. The home was lovely, the grounds are beautiful, and we hope to be able to stay here again in the future. It made a perfect home base for our extensive travels around the country and we could not have been happier!

This house is massive and full of character. Our family of three generations used it as a home base while visiting family and different sites. There is so much room that we could even have visitors over and comfortably host. Our first visit was in May 2012 and second in November 2018, both times it was a bit chilly so it is a good idea to bring a couple extra layers or buy yourself a nice Aran sweater. Can't wait to go back!

On arrival, the owner told us that he was living in the house. My husband mentioned we were surprised about this, since the listing didn’t mention it (saying; “a concierge/handyman living in a nearby building on the estate to assist you”). The owner said “It’s a big house” & that he’d respect our privacy but be available if needed. We asked for wash cloths & directions, but otherwise didn’t see/hear him.

Here’s our observations to help others know what to expect:

Owner is in room off main stairs. You must pass it which is uncomfortable late at night as things creak, & there is a feeling of waking the owner.

It’s OLD & a work in progress. Paint on the windows waiting to be scraped off, unhung pictures about & a ladder was placed just outside two bathroom windows.

Afraid of bugs or spiders? This home is not for you. Spiders we saw were ‘Daddy Long Legs’ (Opiliones - not harmful). Webs abound. There’s moths & house flies too.

It’s not for ‘clean freaks’. Upon arrival I had to clean the tub, sink & countertop as all had definitely not been cleaned. Soap scum ring in tub & hair on sinks. Wanted to vacuum spider webs but didn’t want to offend/wake owner.

Bed linens included pillow cases, fitted sheet & comforter, no top sheet. So (since they could not fit in the washer/dryer) you’re ‘sharing’ comforters with previous guests. We considered asking for top sheets, but when we requested washcloths we were given dish towels, so we decided to avoid asking for more. Hair from the previous guests was in beds.

Washer/dryer takes around 7 hours to complete a cycle. A warning on the front says the dry function only works on ‘half load’.

Shower works, but the tub water heater produced only about 4 inches of hot water before cooling down.

The bedroom doors were solid, but lacked any method of locking them. We didn’t ask for keys to avoid offending owner. The bathroom doorways upstairs have no doors, only short curtains in the doorways.

As the owner warned us - The main driving entrance to the property should NOT be used as an exit because attempting to drive out of it could be deadly due to it being on a ‘blind’ curve.

It’s 1.5 hours from Dublin airport.

In spite of it all, the rate was reasonable & we were thankful for the unforgettable experience.

The three hundred old house is a gem and a work in progress. Loved the quiet beautiful scene. If you are looking for a rubber stamped commercial rental, then this would not be for you. Mike has kept the history of the home and is a perfect host.

I had wondered if this listing was for the "big house" or for a little house tucked to the side. This is for the ~BIG~ house, and you get to experience real rural Ireland! (we had a drought at the time and had to limit our use of the well water). There are spiders in every corner, dust in every floorboard, but you don't get a sense of being "dirty", just that the house is "old".

The rooms are palatial, and the beds are very comfortable, but having the host live right next to the "kid's bedrooms" and having the parents two floors down and tucked in a corner just wouldn't fly for our family. It made me feel very uncomfortable with teenage children. Nothing against our host, Mike, who was very gracious and unobtrusive. It's just impossible to completely relax like I would have liked to. You know that feeling when you are living with your mother-in-law and you KNOW you can come and go whenever you want, but you always feel like you still have to ask permission to use anything, or that you need to let her know when you're going to be home late. It was awkward.

All the amenities were in working order, the AGA stove was on the whole time, and worked like a charm. All the bathrooms were new and nice, the washer/dryer unit was fabulous, internet was good.

If you are looking for a place to relax and let go, I would suggest a more private home.