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Enjoy your experience on beautiful Inishturk Island off the coast of County Mayo, Ireland

Ireland
Favourited 1330 times
Last activity: 18 Apr 2024

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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
12 Apr 2024
Reply rate
88.9 %
Usually responds within 10 days
Feedback
26
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Email verified

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Availability

2024

Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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What's this?

Details

Description
We live on a wonderful little island of the coast of Co. Mayo. We have two beautiful dogs Daisy and Luna and they enjoy attention and going for lovely coastal walks around our beautiful island.

Volunteers enjoy the polytunnel sowing and taking care of the fruit & vegetables for home use. We also have a wonderful flower garden that requires care and attention, keeping hedges trimmed and weeding from time to time.

We enjoy the company of our Workawayers and have great fun together. We bake Irish brown bread, as well as scones. We like going for walks with the dogs and sometimes looking after the sheep. Of course in summer we love going sea swimming as we live on the beach front and enjoy walking on the warm sand and soaking up the sun. Our door is always open to guests and you will meet many locals who come to our kitchen for tea and coffee. Our helpers like to get involved in our homely island community, there is a lovely Community Club, a shop less than 4 minutes away from our house. There you might enjoy traditional music and dance, have a drink & meal, meet new local friends and have chats and laughs. Our polytunnel and garden is for our own private use and is not for profit. When we have surplus vegetables we give them to our friends and families on our little island as everyone helps each other. This is the nature of a small island community. The volunteers loves this aspect of our lifestyle.

We all live in one with nature and you will be made very welcome by the island community.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Improve their English, learn to plant vegetables and flowers, take care of animals and generally learn how an island community live and work together. Enjoy the culture of the music and dance. Learn from a fishing community and of course enjoy eating fresh fish and learn the variety of fish, or maybe experience a boat trip to neighbouring islands.
Help
We would love for you to mind the dogs (daily walks and feeding). Luna is a small, adorable dog who loves attention and cuddles. She loves to go on big walks around the island and down to the beach. Daisy is our sheep dog, she is more shy and needs time to open up to people, but once she gets to know you she will love you. She goes to herd the sheep with Bernard, but enjoys cuddles when she is home and likes to explore the island as well. They are both great for daily hikes and love their breakfast in the morning.

The polytunnel, where we sow our own vegetables and fruit, always needs attention too! If you like gardening, you will love it here. The flower garden invites you for general maintenance, some weeding for example, as well. Other days there might be more house work (dishes, hoovering, cleaning, and helping prepare meals).

There might be painting jobs, renovation, and routine maintenance and upkeep: chopping fire wood and kindling, helping with projects in the shed. The ability and willingness to muck in is very helpful!

Some volunteers will ramble the fields and mountains to help feed the sheep & lambs and with related jobs, accompanying Bernard and his sheep dog Daisy, this is a great adventure and experience.

You are also very welcome to cook dinner on some nights or show us your own country's traditional meals (we will try to organize whatever ingredients you require).

We provide nice, comfortable accommodation and WiFi for a solo WorkAway - no couples or friends, please. There is a daily return ferry service to the island on the Pirate Queen, the trip takes 55 minutes from Roonagh Pier near Louisburgh. Co Mayo. We will help guide you with travel plans to the island re ferry times and transport from Westport.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
You have your own private single bedroom (often en suite) and (from late spring to early fall) a sitting room to relax.
What else ...
Inishturk Island is a little paradise of peace and tranquility. You arrive here as a WorkAway and you leave as our friends. There is spectacular scenery with incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean. From cliffs to hiking hills and beautiful sandy beaches there is plenty to enjoy and explore. There is Irish traditional music and dance some weekends in the Community Club (less than four minutes away).
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 226628134779

Feedback (17)

7 Dec 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Ella & Nicolas)

Hi Ellie and Nic hope all's going well with you guys. Sorry for the late response to your lovely feedback thank you so much.
Nic and Ellie arrived on Inishturk Island full of confidence and eager to get their hands dirty. They are a wonderful couple so kindhearted and caring to each other and to others. We really enjoyed the fun and conversations… read more with them. We just couldn't stop Nic from working he chopped timber for us to use in the winter. So we think of Nic every day as we are really enjoying nice cosy fires during those extremely cold days. Once he started a project he continued until completion. Ellie is a very responsible and reliable girl and like Nic no task was too big. She's an excellent cook and quickly prepared beautiful dinners and nice German desserts for all our family. She was a consistent and diligent worker and enjoyed house work making sure she cleaned and dusted every place. They help us so much in every way possible. They both adored the dogs and cat and cared for them so well, everyday they would bring them for walks exploring the island and playing on the beach. Both Ellie and Nic are amazing people very open, honest and easy to talk and joke with. The inhabitant on Inishturk loved and enjoyed their company. They immersed themselves in Island life and enjoyed the people and the culture and the way of life and enjoyed a daily sea swim. They were totally chilled. They loved music and enjoyed many good night in our Community Club Nic being a drummer enjoyed playing with the local bands. They enjoyed working on the farm helping with the sheep, shearing and taking care of them. They spent many hours weeding and taking care of the vegetables Nic became an expert at tomato plants a shame he wasn't here to enjoy the crops that was produced. Ellie being a vegetarian enjoyed the fresh vegetables. They sowed winter cabbage seeds prior to they leaving and they are growing very well and we look forward to having some of them for our Christmas dinner. Nic and Ellie are self motivated and enjoyed their work and was a pleasure to be around them. We would highly recommend Ellie and Nic to any future host as they are a responsible, trustworthy and sincere couple. We thank them sincerely for their excellent work here on Inishturk Island. We take this opportunity to wish them well in the future and a Happy Christmas and hopefully they will make a return visit to Inishturk Island someday and they will be made very welcome as they are Special in every way.

(Excellent )

18 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Ella & Nicolas) for host

Get away from your day to day stresses and worries and come to Inishturk! It's the most beautiful island with white sandy beaches and wild cliffs. But its best feature? The people! You won't find a more welcoming, caring, hard working and fun-loving community anywhere else - including Phylomena and Bernard!
We had a very special month sharing… read more

(Excellent )

7 Dec 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Marta )

Hi Martha hope your keeping well and enjoying life. First of all we owe you a massive apology for this super late feedback.
Martha arrived to Inishturk for a week and stayed a month. We were so upset and lonely when she had to leave. Martha is an amazing person, very respectful, responsible, trustworthy and of course very kindhearted and… read more pleasant. She immersed herself into island life and enjoyed meeting the local island inhabitants and visitors and enjoyed the chats and Irish music in the Community Club.
Martha was a great help us iand no task was too much. She was diligent and consistent in the house always cleaning, ironing preparing lovely meals and making favourite recipes from her home country which we enjoyed very much. Martha is an easy person to be around very open and easy to talk to. Her quiet nature and beautiful voice I just really enjoyed and admired. There was occasions that I had to travel to the mainland for a few days but I felt comfortable in leaving Martha in charge of the house and farm as she is a most wonderful, competent person.
We have two dogs Daisy who is a working sheep dog and Luna who is a small house dog that demands a lot of attention. Daisy is rather afraid and nervous around people but Martha brought out the best in her and trained her to be more confident and friendly. Everyday Martha brought the dogs for long walks exploring the island. Also loved playing with them on the beach. Daisy become more friendly each day. Martha is certainly a dog whisperer. We also have a cat called Bailey who thinks she's a dog and she became part of the walking group every day. So Martha the dogs and cat explored the island on a daily basis. She is truly an animal lover and enjoyed helping with the baby lambs and sheep
Martha spend many hours with us in the Poly Tunnel weeding and caring for the vegetables also enjoyed working in the flower garden. She helped us enormously and we can never forget her. She was competent both inside and outside the house.
Martha is an artistic person and did beautiful illustrations and drawings of Daisy which we treasure.
We would like to recommend Martha in the highest regard to any further host. You will have an outright brilliant person on your hands with knowledge, experience and interest in helping you as she can turn her hand to any job. Martha we thank you so much for coming to our little island and helping us. We wish you well in the future and look forward to your returning to us as you are so welcome anytime.
Bernard and Phylomena and John Anthony

(Excellent )

2 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Marta ) for host

Be with Phylomena and Bernard was amazing, I felt as at home. I arrived to Inishturk to stay only for a week but finally I stayed there for more than a month. I felt really lucky, because for me the island and it inhabitants are very special. All people was very kind with me. There is an special atmosphere full of peace and joy.
About the work… read more

(Excellent )

1 Aug 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Julie)

Julie please forgive me for not responding to your beautiful review you gave us. Time is just passing by. Julie is a wonderful lady in every sense of the word. She came to our home when there was much work to be done and a lot happening. She got stuck in and was not afraid to get her hands dirty. From working in the Poly Tunnel, gardening and… read more

(Excellent )

31 May 2023

Left by Workawayer (Julie) for host

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend two weeks with Bernard and Phylomena, on fabulous Inisturk Island. Bernard and Phylomena are generous and welcoming hosts. I appreciated Phylomena's efforts to make jobs interesting and varied, and to introduce me to the many people dropping by the house. Bernard is easy going, has a good… read more

(Excellent )

View all 17 feedbacks

Photos

Feeding time for Bernard's sheep

Our wonder cat basking in the sun

Our lovely sheep dog

The poly-tunnel awaits you!

View from the B & B sitting room

Show all photos

B & B breakfast room

First lamb of the season

Arrival on Bernard's New Boat

Our beautiful dogs Daisy and Luna

Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(4.8)

7 Dec 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Ella & Nicolas)

(Excellent )

18 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Ella & Nicolas) for host

(Excellent )

7 Dec 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Marta )

(Excellent )

2 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Marta ) for host

(Excellent )

1 Aug 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Julie)

(Excellent )

31 May 2023

Left by Workawayer (Julie) for host

(Excellent )

31 Mar 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Tobias)

Tobias is one in a million. We really miss him. He is a kind respectful and beautiful young man. As described in his own Profile he is responsible and all round worker. He can turn his hand to everything. He prepared the Poly Tunnel for planting and set the earth vegetables. Tobi helped with the feeding and care of the sheep. He loved the animals… read more

(Excellent )

21 Mar 2023

Left by Workawayer (Tobias) for host

I stayed 4 weeks with Phlomenia and Bernard.

They are great and from the first day you are a part of the family. They are absolute helpful and gave me a perfekt description to get on the island. If you have any problems you can contact and they help you.

I was working many different things and enjoyd it. I could always take my time and make a… read more

(Excellent )

26 Sep 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Deborah)

It was amazing to host Debbie - she is a very reliable, considerate, funny and hardworking girl. She initially came to help for a month but ended up staying two months, because we got on so well, she really became my best friend while she was here.
She got on great with our dogs, we named her the "dog whisperer". She loved exploring the island… read more

(Excellent )

3 Aug 2022

Left by Workawayer (Tracey Louise) for host

I have just got home after a remarkable experience on Inishturk Island. I had the best time with Phylomena and Bernard, who are the most welcoming and caring people you will ever meet.
I helped out around the home, enjoyed stunning island walks with their two loveable dogs and regained good health and fitness after a long inactive spell.
We swam… read more

(Excellent )

14 May 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Florent)

Florent stay with for one month. We really miss already. He is such a happy up beat guy with a smile on his face always will to start the next job. On Inishturk Island Florent became a painter. a fisherman a sheep farmer and a expert in planting and planning the Poly Tunnel. To Sun it all up FLORENT was one of the best...he could turn his hand to… read more

(Excellent )

6 May 2018

Left by Workawayer (Florent) for host

Very welcoming people who always make sure that you're fine. I spent one month here, the work was not too hard and varied (painting, gardening, help on the boat, sanding a table or just walking with the dog). They are fair and honest with you and the help they ask from you. Food and accomodation were very good and the island is really beautiful.

(Excellent )

3 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Barbara) for host

Dear Phylomena and Bernard,
it was a pleasure to stay at your place.
I had a really nice time on your beautiful little island Inishturk. I really enjoyed the nature, the beach, the cliffs and my walks there.
For me the work was easy to deal with, not heavy work. I had to do the ironing, cleaning, cooking, garden-work or to go for a walk with the… read more

(Excellent )

7 Jun 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Daniel)

Thank you Danial for your kind review, we appreciate it. We, called you DC and we really miss you. You, are such a positive person, and great and willing working. DC did many jobs around our home, and thank you for the painting jobs that you did so nearly,
and all the work you did with Bernard on his boat. You, are so upbeat, pleasant person and… read more

(Excellent )

31 May 2017

Left by Workawayer (Daniel) for host

I had a great time in Inishturk! It is such a beautiful island with some of the most beautiful people I've met. I love it how everyone knows everyone and everyone wants to help everyone. Bernard and Phylomena were great hosts and always made sure that I ate well and I was very well looked after. I did a vlog on my stay here, so if you want to see… read more

(Excellent )

8 Mar 2017

Left by Workawayer (Nicolas & Celia) for host

I stayed 3 weeks and a half on the island of Inishturk at Bernard and Phylomena.
I had a wonderful stay, Phylo and Bernard are extremely friendly people, and always ready to help for anything.
The island of Inishturk is beautiful to discover, a very good playground for hiking and jogging.
If you want a great holiday, do not hesitate it is in… read more

(Excellent )

15 Dec 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Michelle)

Thank you Michelle for you kind words. It was just wonderful having Michelle stay with us, we felt so lucky to host such an amazing lady. She was, a fine worker, trustworthy and kind, and very willing to tackel every task we would trow at her, and was full of advice on many tasks, and many times she would come-up with very good insights and tips… read more

(Excellent )

29 Nov 2016

Left by Workawayer (Michelle) for host

How does one put into words an experience with good people that will stay with you forever? My time on Inishturk was very special and I can truly say it was because of the way I was welcomed in to Bernard and Phylomena's lives and home. It was a pleasure always to be around them. The B&B was quiet while I was there but there's always something to… read more

(Excellent )

12 Nov 2016

Left by Workawayer (Tanja) for host

This was a great place to spend my first workaway experience at. Phylomena and Bernard were wonderful hosts, very welcoming and always looking out for me. The island is just stunning and everyone whom I met on my many walks across the beautiful scenery of Inishturk was very friendly. I learned a lot about sheep farming, fishing and running a B&B… read more

(Excellent )

30 Sep 2016

Left by Workawayer (ritamactire) for host

I stayed with Phylomena and Bernard (along with my own space in a nicely done up mobile home) for two weeks. Most of the time I helped busy Phylomena around the house and I also loved taking their two adorable dogs out for walks. Phylomena was very mindful of the work not being back-breaking and kept it varied. I found it very useful and… read more

(Excellent )

2 Aug 2016

Left by Workawayer (Ambra) for host

I was supposed to stay with Phyl for 2/3 weeks and I stayed for 2 month. That's how much I loved my time with her beautiful family.
I mostly worked in the house and with the guests and time just flew by. You'll have your own space, really cozy and the dogs will be your best friends. The work is not hard but summer months are busy and you have to… read more

(Excellent )

4 Jul 2016

Left by Workawayer (Marina) for host

I stayed with Phylomena and Bernard on Inishturk for about 1 month and I wish it could have been longer. What can I say, it was an amazing time and one of the best experience I have ever made! They are so lovely and warmhearted people. I really felt like at home with them. I worked the most time with Phylomena in the B&B and around the… read more

(Excellent )

1 Jul 2016

Left by Workawayer (Anneli) for host

I didn't have the opportunity to volunteer with Philomina, but she was such a sweetheart to connect me with friend of hers in Inishturk.
So I had a wonderful chance to volunteer helping a fisherman in this lovely island.
It was amazing time and I feel blessed to meet Philomina and Bernard as well several times during my stay.
They are so friendly… read more

(Excellent )

26 Apr 2015

Left by host for Workawayer (stefanj86)

It was a real pleasure having Stefan in our home, we had great fun together, we laughed alot and we really enjoyed his company, He was a great worker and very kind to animals. He got to know all the island community and enjoyed having the "crack" and fun with everybody. We wish the very best of Irish Luck and hope he stopped smoking!!!! (he only… read more

(Excellent )

23 Apr 2015

Left by Workawayer (stefanj86) for host

My stay here was my first workaway experience. This family is warm, kind and make you feel a part of their family. And if you get to know the locals and socialize in the pub you will have an even better stay.

I worked mostly with Bernard and with him you will learn and experience lots of new stuff as he is a fisherman, keeps sheeps and is a… read more

(Excellent )

16 Sep 2014

Left by Workawayer (Idurre) for host

I enjoyed my stay with this family. They are very kind and they made me feel like at home. We joked and laughted a lot, it was reallly fun.

The island is really beautiful. I love it and I had unforgettable walks around it. The people from there is very nice and the countryside gorgeous. It is a wonderful place for losting in its hills and… read more

(Very good )

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Enjoy your experience on beautiful Inishturk Island off the coast of County Mayo, Ireland

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Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

How many Workawayers can stay?

Hours expected

Feedback (17)

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