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Description
We live in a characterful 1830s cottage nestled beside the river in the small village of Tourmakeady, in the heart of the Gaeltacht. Our garden, much like the landscape around us, is full of charm and a touch of wildness. It offers a beautiful setting for connection, reflection, and shared creativity. We’d love to welcome someone who enjoys being close to nature and can help us care for and shape the space, while we exchange ideas, stories, and ways of living along the way.
Just a short walk away is Lough Mask, where we love to swim. We’re surrounded by nature, with woodland right next door and the stunning Tourmakeady Woods just across the road. There, you'll find l walking trails and a beautiful waterfall.
Tourmakeady is a small village in one of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions, where the Irish language is traditionally spoken. Neither of us is a native speaker, and most people speak English. We’re within easy walking distance of the local shop, a pub, and a coffee trailer that serves excellent coffee and delicious cakes.
We’re also on the edge of Connemara, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, just 25 minutes by car from Westport—a vibrant coastal town on the Wild Atlantic Way, known for its friendly atmosphere, lively pubs, and scenic beaches.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Videography
Sustainability
Plant care
Photography
Art & design
Gardening
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Drawing & painting
Yoga / Wellness
Mountain
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cycling
Beach
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Locally, there are weekly Irish classes you can join
There are sports clubs like Gaelic football, soccer, basketball, rugby, cycling (my personal favourite), badminton, pilates, yoga and many more. Some groups swim in the lake beside us, if you don't mind the cold water!
We’re both creatives—one an artist, the other a furniture maker and woodworker—and we enjoy exchanging ideas and inspiration. We’re also happy to share some skills we’ve picked up over the years.
Help
We’d love to welcome someone interested in cultural exchange and slow, meaningful living to spend time with us and offer some light help in the garden. Although we both work full-time, we're around in the evenings and happy to plan time to work on projects together at a relaxed pace.
This summer, we’re hoping to explore a few garden projects together, including:
Clearing and developing a small pond and stream area
Managing and reducing some of the invasive plants to encourage biodiversity and wildlife in the garden.
Creating simple, natural borders for flower beds using branches or small logs
We’re open to hearing what you're most drawn to and can adapt our plans to suit your interests and strengths. As hosts, we see this as a two-way exchange and are always curious to learn from others—whether it’s new gardening techniques, creative approaches, stories from your background, or simply a different way of seeing the world.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I'm afraid we both only speak English
Accommodation
You’ll have your own room and bathroom upstairs in our cosy cottage. We sleep downstairs, so you’ll have plenty of privacy.
The house is down a quiet lane, so it’s peaceful and private. There are two sitting rooms, so you’ll have space to relax, and we’ll share a good-sized kitchen.
We provide food, and in the summer we often have fresh vegetables from the garden and eggs from our hens. If you like anything specific, just let us know, and we can include it in the grocery shop.
We are both food lovers and look forward to the exchange of cooking ideas and recipes.
What else ...
Having your own car will definitely make the experience more enjoyable for you. Public transport is not very good around us. There is so much to see even within 1 hour of where we live. From hikes to beaches and lots of other points of interest.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Unfortunately, we have no phone signal, but we have very good Wi-Fi, through which we receive phone calls.
Space for parking camper vans
We have plenty of space to park a camper and you can use the house facilities
Can possibly accept pets
Probably just a dog, as we have one springer spaniel.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
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