Secluded hamlet over lake and mountain, flocks of lambs and dams, stunning views

The ancient Irish name of this farmhouse hamlet is “Barralach”, meaning “over the lake”. Caragh lake is one of Ireland’s most beautiful, lying in a special area of conservation. Barralach enjoys spectacular views over the lake and up to the dramatic peaks of the Macgillycuddy Reeks or mountains. This secluded hamlet is nevertheless close to the hikers’ Kerry Way and only ten minutes from the shops and pubs of Glenbeigh village. Three of the cottages provide separate accommodation for the different elements of your party, with privacy and independence. The 14-seater dining table, however, and the great wood stoves in the very spacious Main Cottage bring the entire group joyfully together. Our guidebooks and maps ensure you make the most of your outings from Barralach. And if the weather turns inclement, the large assortment of wellington boots, raincoats and extensive collections of books, videos and games will keep you going. Immersed in nature, you will delight in Barralach’s mountain sheep, hares, rabbits, weasels, birds & magically ever-changing views, not to forget the cuckoo every April/May. You’ll love our crystalline deep-spring water. Our housekeeper may be available to provide excellent meals of the finest local fare "a la Barralach”.

Barralach and US Presidents.

Hard to believe, but the little Barralach hamlet was a home for two of the greatest Irish American political names.

The population census for our townland Treanmanagh in 1911 records the residence of 16 Regans and 4 Kennedys in that year, Irish speakers all, and no other names. And we are fortunate in having the memoirs of Sheila Kennedy who, with her brother John Kennedy, were the last occupants of the Barralach hamlet up to about 1960. She records the life of Kennedys in one Barralach cottage and Regans/Reagans in another. Here the two families lived in harmony. She recalls lively parties, fuelled by home-distilled poiteen, and much revelry. There was inter marriage between the families, for they were spirited folk, as they went on to show when migration took them to greatness in America.

I, Peter, got to know both Sheila and John and can report they were fine handsome folk, well qualified to form part of great American Presidential families. We ourselves have not attempted to trace any actual family link. We invite their American cousins to do so!

We now offer to our visitors the cottages, field walls, potato ridges and turf banks that they had formed with their own hands on the side of Sefin mountain, the Barralach Hamlet. Visitors will have a free run of our own land, about 9 acres and also the 500 acres of rough grazing land we hold in common with our fine neighbours, mainly O’Sheas, O’Connors and Pigotts.


BEDROOM LAYOUT OF BARRALACH COTTAGES.

Barralach is a small mountain hamlet, consisting of 4 cottages close together in the traditional Irish way. Three of these cottages, internally modernised, are available for occupation by visitors and provide accommodation for a maximum of 12 persons (11 adults and one infant), as follows:

The MAIN COTTAGE has one bedroom (upstairs) with a King size bed, 200 by 160 cm, described as “extremely comfortable”.
Beside the bedroom there is a full bathroom with bath, separate shower and toilet.  This cottage also has a separate toilet downstairs, easily accessible to occupants of the other two cottages.  Also in this main cottage are kitchen, lounge and dining room, boot room, utility room, and a large wood stove, for which there is unlimited free firewood, grown on our property, therefore carbon neutral.

The MIDDLE COTTAGE has two bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with two single beds.  It has a full bathroom with bath, separate shower and toilet.

The double bed in this cottage is also King Size, but its dimensions are 200 by 153 cm.  There is also a baby’s cot.

The LAKE COTTAGE has two bedrooms, one with two single beds of extra-large dimensions (200 by 90 cm). [If bound together, these two single beds may become a third double bed]. The other bedroom has a bunk bed set, also 200 by 90 cm, as well as a single bed. [As you will note this cottage can accommodate up to 5 persons]. This cottage also has a bathroom with shower and toilet, but no bath. 

BEDDING SUMMARY. In normal configuration, the Barralach cottage complex offers two double beds, seven single beds and one baby’s cot. Thus there are beds for 11 adults and one infant.

WiFi is available in all of the cottages.

This layout permits you to allocate cottages to discrete groups of people or families.  At the same time, the entire group will want to come joyfully together in the Main cottage to enjoy the large social areas.