Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0

Doonreagan is an historic country retreat situated in Cashel: an area of outstanding natural beauty right in the heart of Connemara on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.

With spectacular views at the foot of Cashel Hill, overlooking a sheltered bay of the Atlantic Ocean, Doonreagan is a secluded property, yet within easy reach of popular resorts Roundstone and Clifden with numerous shops, bars and restaurants. Cashel itself has two four-star hotels within a mile of Doonreagan. While hill-walking and swimming can be enjoyed on the doorstep, sandy beaches, fishing, sailing, golf, and horse-riding are available locally.

The property includes three individually designed self-contained units available to rent all year round, for single occupancy, families or groups (up to 12 people can be accommodated at any one time). There is also a spacious auditorium suitable for workshops, seminars and other group activities.

Apart from offering good opportunities for recreation amidst unspoilt scenic surroundings, Doonreagan provides an ideal setting for inspired creative work. Over the years many artists have spent time in Cashel: from Lucian Freud, Paul Newman and Claire Bloom to Bono and The Edge. Former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes is on record saying that it was whilst living at Doonreagan in the 1960s that he made his “big breakthrough – in his writing and in everything to do with himself”.

Visitors to Doonreagan have access to the owners’ library with comfortable armchairs, a warm stove and several thousand books to choose from.

Booking for a group check out Doonreagan West  and Doon Cottage located on the same grounds.

A recent barn conversion with unspoilt mountain views at the foot of Cashel Hill, offering a unique hideaway.

There is a sheltered patio with garden furniture and a landscaped garden.

The interior has a stunning contemporary design featuring an open-plan kitchen and dining/sitting room with a solid-fuel stove.

On the ground floor is a large double bedroom with twin beds and a bathroom en-suite.

Upstairs is a galleried bedroom with a 5ft double bed and an en-suite shower-room.

The kitchen has an electric cooker, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and microwave.

There is digital TV and free high speed fibre broadband. Cot and high chair can be made available on request. Hair dryer, duvets, bed linen and towels are provided.

All rooms have electric heaters.

Deep freeze, washing-machine and dryer are in a shared utility room.

Shared Games/Reading room with pool table, table tennis, chess etc. 4000 books catalogued.

Shared utility room with washing machine, tumble dryer, firewood and cleaning materials.

Access to Sauna, plunge pool and exercise facilities on foreshore.  Direct access to Cashel Hill.

Cashel:
Lying at the head of the beautiful Cashel Bay the townland derives its name from the ring fort or Cashel which surrounds the present day graveyard. Cashel Hill stands majestic at the top of the bay. It is worth taking a walk up this hill. From the summit one can behold some of the most breathtaking views of the surrounding area. There is also a megalithic tomb. Hundreds of lakes lie amid the bogs, the Twelve Bens and Maamturks to the north and the sandy coves and glistening seaweed of the waters of Bertraghboy Bay.
There is golf and pitch and putt, both on magnificent links courses and stunning inland locations. Fishing on rivers lakes and the sea, could reward you with salmon, trout, cod, ling and even tuna. Our quiet minor roads are perfect for cycling.
Horse riding and pony trekking

Carna:
Carna is a small coastal area in south Connemara which is in the heart of the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area of Connemara. Carna is a small area, but it has a large enough influence on the surrounding areas in Connemara as it contains a Garda Síochána station, a Health Centre including a Rapid Response Ambulance and it also houses an Irish Coastguard lifeboat. Carna is located close to the village of Cill Chiarain and they share the peninsula locally called Iorras Aithneach.
There are 4 shops and 3 pubs located in Cana Village. A bus is also based in Carna that brings passengers between Carna and Galway City picking up passengers along the N59.
There are several beautiful white sandy beaches to be found in the Carna area. Mynish, Moyrus, Callowfeenish & Feenish Island are lovely, quite and secluded beaches where you will find some of the most breath taking sea views in Connemara
There are plenty of delightful local walks in the Connemara where you can discover the local beaches, bog lands, flora and fauna and take some excellent holiday snaps!
Carna is a 40 minute drive from the famous Connemara Golf links course in Ballyconneely. Barna golf course is approx 68 km away from Carna Village (about an hour drive). Oughterard Golf Course is approx 52 Km away (50 minute drive). There is also a picturesque Pitch and Putt course approx a 15 minute drive away.
Avid Fisher? There is numerous spots along the Carna Coastline where you can go shore angling

Spiddal:
The small seaside village of Spiddal, on the Irish Coast, overlooks Galway Bay and the Aran Islands, and is a very popular destination for visitors. There are numerous restaurants and pubs, two beaches and a lovely coastal golf course it has something to suit all tastes. Located close to Shannagarraun Wood, a Special Area of Conservation, Spiddal provides lovely places to walk and explore. Try sea fishing off the pier, take a walk down Tra na mBan Blue Flag sandy beach or indulge in a round of golf at Rosshill Golf Course. Only 12 miles to the east lies Galway City, where you can discover some of Ireland’s long and varied history; visit Lynch’s Castle, or trace the origin of the famous Claddagh Ring, which originated in a village near the shore of Galway Bay.
Spiddal has the best of both worlds as it close to both Connemara and Galway City (19km) so it is the ideal location if you want to tour the rugged landscape of Connemara but want to be close to Galway City for shopping and its nightlife. Taxis cost €25 one way from Spiddal to Galway with Galway Taxis (091-561111). Bus Eireann has 2 bus routes that run throughout the day between Galway City & Spiddal
Things to do in Spiddal:
Standun Spiddal: Standún is a unique family run store with a huge variety of Aran Sweaters, Irish products, Menswear, Ladies fashion, children’s clothing, Irish and International gifts and home ware and a cafe with home baking.
Spiddal Craft & Design studios: is a small complex of craft workshops with stunning views of Co Clare; where traditional craft demonstrations take place. Crafts include Hand weaving, Jewellery and Stained Glass making, Screen printing, and various forms of art, Traditional Basket Weaving and a Photographic Studio. It also has an onsite cafe, An Builin Blasta.
Beaches: Spiddal has 2 beaches. One is a blue flag beach called Tra na mBan and the other is situated behind the pier and is suitable for fishing
Galway Bay Fishing: Boat Hire and Deep Sea Fishing excursions of the coast of Spiddal. Fish for shark, cod, ling, pollock or ray, as well as other species, on the Maighdean Mara. Call Kevin McGabhann on 086-8547890
O’Neachtain Tours: Based in Spiddal, O’Neachtain Tours are a touring company which will show you some of the most scenic views in the West of Ireland. For more information please call 091-553188
Island Hopping: Why not take a day trip to the Aran Islands? Rossaveel is only a 20 minute drive (19kms) from Spiddal. There are various trips between Rossaveel harbour and the islands throughout the day. Click on the following link for more details on ferry times an prices: http://www.aranislandferries.com/index.php
Barna Golf Club: For any of you avid golfers; Barna Golf Club is only 14kms from Spiddal. Caddy hire available. Dress code is neat & casual. Full canteen facilities available with full bar menu and restaurant. Call 353 (0)91 592677 for more information

Letter More:
Lettermore (Leitir Moir) is a lovely Gaeltacht area in South Connemara and is joined to the Connemara main land by a bridge. The Lettermore-Lettermullen Peninsula is actually a series of small islands which are linked together by the R374 roadway.
The area name derives from the Irish Leitir Móir meaning great rough hillside. The main spoken language in Lettermore is Irish. Lettermore Village has a welcoming pub and local convenience store
Lettermore boasts a contrasting landscape of rugged coastline, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. This is an area where the traditions and culture of the Gaeltacht are very much alive
The Connemara Isles Golf Club is located in Lettermore. This 9 hole golf course is a golfers dream! After a game why not relax in Ireland only thatched golf club house?
There are plenty of lovely walking trails in and around Lettermore with stunning scenery so don’t forget to take your camera!
Lettermore is 48 Km from Galway city. There is a daily Bus Eireann service from Galway to Lettermullen. Lettermore is approx a 1 hour drive from Clifden town centre.
Other nearby areas to visit is Kilkieran, Roundstone, Carraroe and Rossaveal, where you can take a ferry to the Aran Islands. All these routes take you along stunning coastal roads.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IN AND AROUND THE CONNEMARA AREA, PLEASE BROWSE THE “THINGS TO DO” SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE

The Doonreagan Library:

For holiday reading, choose among more than four thousand books available to visitors in the Doonreagan Reading Room, which also doubles as a games room with a pool table, table tennis, chess, backgammon and other board games. What follows is a selection of books available to read by visitors to Doonreagan. Books have been categorised in ways to make them easy to access and survey. Please return any books removed from the Reading Room before your departure.

Categories:

• ART / ARCHITECTURE: Click here
• BIOGRAPHY: Click here
• CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Click here
• CRIME FICTION: Click Here
• DRAMA: Click Here
• FICTION: Click Here
• GENERAL: Click Here
• HISTORY / MILITARY HISTORY / HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY: Click Here
• IRELAND / IRISH HISTORY: Click Here
• LITERATURE / ESSAYS / LETTERS / LITERARY BIOGRAPHY: Click Here
• POETRY: Click Here
• SPORT / TRAVEL / SAILING / THE SEA: Click Here
• THE ANCIENT WORLD: Click Here

Also, on request, the following can be seen:

–          an extensive antiquarian collection

–          an extensive collection of contemporary fiction in Swedish

–          a limited collection of books in French

While every effort has been made for accurate categorisation and representation, we can not guarantee against any unintentional misplacements, omissions or misspellings.

We spent a very relaxing 14 days in the East wing of the converted barn. Despite 7 days of wet and windy weather we managed to enjoy the accommodation, the local area and the Connemara National Park. Access to the wing is very private and easy. We had a great view of the small mountain behind the property and even managed to climb it on a cold windy day for a fantastic view of the surrounding area. The unit is warm, the hosts (Lord & Lady Roden) friendly and the surrounding area is extensive but within easy reach. We even had a day out on Inis Mor by ferry. The local restaurants and pubs offer great food at reasonable prices. The internet was fast and stable and I loved the fact that we paid a price and it was all inclusive (no hidden energy costs). If you want to “do Connemara” then this is the place to stay. Highly recommended. If I had to raise any issue then it would be nice to have cable TV but maybe we did more because it wasn’t available .

This is the third time we have stayed in the cottage and it is an excellent base for sight-seeing within Connemara. The cottage is 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms and everything that you require is provided for you even down to washing line and pegs at the rear of the cottage. This is most useful especially since this time we had our 15 week old grandson with us. The owners are on site but are not intrusive but are there if you need them. I would thoroughly recommend this cottage and I can assure anyone who stays there they will have a wonderful time as well as enjoying the friendliness of the locals.

Free WiFi

A solid fuel starter pack is provided.

Electricity is included from April-October, and at reduced rate November – March.

Check-in time is from 4pm onwards

Check-out time is at 10am

Pets are welcome (€25 per pet per week). Maximum 2 Dogs.

In-house caterer Rather than cook or go out to a restaurant, you can have a reasonably priced meal served at your door by Maria Zemskova, our in-house certified caterer. Please visit www.food-by-Maria.com to see her extensive menu.

Tenants are welcome to use owner’s sauna, plunge pool and swimming facilities as guests.