Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
10 Jun 2025
Reply rate
86.4 %
Usually responds within 35 days
Feedback
3
Email verified
Host offers payment
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hello,
I'm Michael, my husband and I and our two children (12 and 13) live in an old house in County Wicklow out in the woods on the southern edge of the Wicklow Mountains, but only an hour from Dublin city centre. We're a family of four humans, two dogs, four cats, eight chickens, and some four alpacas.
We try our best to live by organic principles and don't use any poisons or pesticides. We're surrounded by woods with lots of great hiking trails all around us, Glendalough is 5 km away, the Wicklow Way is very close by, Brittas Bay is nearby too. Although the nearest village is 5km way there's a wonderful hike through the woods to the village, and if you want to explore locally we do have bicycles. Lots to see and do here but we are out in the country so its a quiet lifestyle.
We're interested in hosting people who want to spend some time here improving their English language skills and hopefully helping our children improve their Spanish but there's lots of other ways to lend a hand while you're here either inside, or outside on the property.
Update, February 2025. My apologies to anyone who contacted us in the recent past and didn't receive a reply. We're back now and available!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We hope visitors to our property will learn about organic gardening techniques and principles including composting, making organic fertiliser from nettles, growing seed and using homemade non-toxic sprays to control weeds.
We're keen to help any visitors improve their english language skills and perhaps even teach them some gaeilge (irish language), and show them some traditional Irish food and drink.
The ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough is only 5km from our house. Visitors can explore the site and learn about a part of Ireland's rich history.
Wicklow town is about 15km away and has a great exhibit in the old jail that showcases more recent Irish history and features some famous locals too.
Wicklow is full of ancient monuments and standing stones and is right in the heart of Ireland's Ancient East. It's right here on our doorstep just waiting to be explored.
Additionally we are surrounded by walking trails and hikes so visitors can explore the natural beauty of the country and see unspoiled Irish woods and rivers.
We're hoping our family will learn from the visitors about their country, their traditions and maybe some of their native dishes.
Au Pair Help
This host has let us know they’ll be complying with Irish regulations for au pair stays.here
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Depending on the time of year we need help with different things. There's always a fence to be painted or repaired, a vegetable bed to be weeded, an area getting overgrown that's in need of love. Generally, we're looking for some help with gardening: weeding, digging, , turning compost, watering etc; But we always need help with general maintenance too: fencing, painting cleaning and organising sheds and garage; occasionally a bit of babysitting and some light house chores. It really all depends on the season.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Spanish, German, and French
Accommodation
The travellers will have a bedroom with its own bathroom in the house, it's a large room with three beds (two double one single) and depending on how many people are staying the room maybe shared or may not. We eat together, family style. We provide all the food but encourage visitors to choose a night and cook a favourite dish or a dish traditional to their country or region that everyone can share.
What else ...
There's a bus service to the local towns and villages of Wicklow town, Laragh, and Gleneally. From there you can get to Dublin etc. The Wicklow mountains offer terrific hikes, scenery, biking trails.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
No.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (2)
We all enjoyed having you here. The kids were delighted to have a grown up friend who could do cartwheels and handstands, and I was glad to have you help in the different work we did around the place. You were a great visitor.
Good Luck on your travels!
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
We all enjoyed having you here. The kids were delighted to have a grown up friend who could do cartwheels and handstands, and I was glad to have you help in the different work we did around the place. You were a great visitor.
Good Luck on your travels!
