You will have your own cozy bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, and we provide all your food too.
We are looking for a Workaway with at least intermediate English who can stay for a minimum of 2 months. A driving license is needed.
In return for a comfy home, your help would be walking our lovely dog Figo and on occasion taking him to the beach, by car. A helping hand with meals and food preparation would be appreciated. We would also need you to house sit and pet sit on the occasional weekend. The rest of the time is all yours!
We are a family of 5. Our two older sons are living away at University. Our youngest son Rían is 16 and attends Secondary School. He has always enjoyed the company of the Workaways who have lived with us.
Our house is in a great location — just a 20 minute walk to Cork City and Douglas Village, right on a bus route, and with excellent Wi-Fi.
This isn’t just a helping position - it’s a cultural exchange! We have enjoyed welcoming many workaways from different countries into our home to share stories, food, traditions, and daily life.
In return for your help, you’ll get to experience real life with an Irish family, practice your English, and learn about Irish culture while teaching us about yours. It’s all about learning from each other and making genuine connections!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Animal Care
House & pet sitting
Interests
Animals
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We would welcome you as part of our family. We have had many workawayers living with us over the years and they have always had a very positive experience. They all enjoyed their stay in Cork and made many friends.
You could immerse yourself in the local culture as we live only 2km from Cork City centre.
Nearby Cork City boasts the iconic English Market, St. Patrick’s Street (with major high-street fashion outlets), and the popular shopping street Opera Lane.
Enjoy matches or concerts at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, see plays at Cork Opera House or The Everyman Theatre, explore local breweries like the Franciscan Well or indulge in exciting culinary experiences in Cork City. Enjoy walks on the marina along the river or visit the many beautiful beaches of Cork
Help
Walk our friendly golden Labrador Figo! Drive him to the beach so a drivers license is needed please!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
A Private double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom on the top floor. Desk and excellent WiFi.
Access to large modern kitchen where you can join us for family meals or cook your own meals, at your leisure.
What else ...
You will have plenty to do during your time off as we are living in Cork City. It is a 2km walk or a 20 minute walk into the city centre. We are on a bus route and you also have access to a bicycle if you wish. We are also close to the bus station and train station which serves West Cork and all of Ireland.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Office desk and excellent broadband in your own bedroom.
I spent 3,5 months with the family and enjoyed every minute of it. Karen and Ray are very kind and chill, and there are no strict working times as long as you keep each other updated. The tasks were very doable: keeping the kitchen clean, on occasion hanging up laundry, walking their dog and staying home with the youngest son sometimes. It was… read more very easy to settle in and I had enough privacy and space to myself. Not only did I feel at home really quickly, I also loved chatting to Karen and Ray as they were very engaging and caring about my wellbeing.
The three boys were very engaged in their school and sport activities and hardly needed any help. During weekdays the family was very busy and on the weekends they were often home and hung out as a family, if they didn't have any sport games going on. I spent most of my time with their loving dog Figo, as I was taking him for walks most days. He is a very easy going dog that loves people and just wants to cuddle all the time, and I had no prior experience with dogs really.
The house is situated in a very quiet neighbourhood with a small park in walking distance, where you will spent a lot of time with Figo. Right around the corner you can take 4 different buses to Cork city centre, which takes about 5-10 minutes, or University College Cork, which takes around 20 minutes. It is also fine to walk for about 25 minutes into city centre, which you might have to do sometimes as the buses can be unreliable.
Be prepared that this is a family environment, so it will be busy during the day and quiet during the night. However, you can come and go any time. The only thing I would like to point out is, that I attended College 5 days a week, so sometimes I would have a lot on my mind, while also helping out the family. So keep that in mind when you have other responsibilities during your stay. Nevertheless, the work load was always fine and if I wanted to attend an event or take a trip with friends Karen and Ray always supported that.
I can only recommend this family and hope to stay in contact! Thank you so much for everything you made possible for me and making my Erasmus extra special ♥️
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent
)
8 Aug 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Emilia)
Emilia is an extremely kind and helpful person. She showed great initiative at all times and slotted perfectly into our busy family life. Emilia was very present with our family, yet very independent which is what we prefer. Her warmth and love created a very positive environment for our children, fostering an especially unique bond with our… read more youngest. We are so grateful for the positive impact Emilia has had on our family. She managed to get great conversations going with the two eldest boys which isn’t so easy in teen boys! Emilia was willing to drive the boys to their various activities. She delicious meals and was the best carer and dog walker for our Labrador Figo! He still looks out the window waiting on her return which we all hope will happen some day in the future ❤️
(Excellent
)
4 Aug 2024
Left by Workawayer (Emilia) for host
What a fabulous experience! Easy-going and friendly couple, Ray and Karen are simply the best hosts you could wish for. They don't hesitate to do anything to make you feel comfortable at home, they made me feel like part of the family. Their three well behaved teenagers are adorable, but be prepared the youngest will absolutely steal your heart… read more with his cuteness.
Karen is a whirlwind of energy and ideas. She's always full of enthusiasm and kindness, making sure everything is just right. Ray is a laid-back, fun chap, always ready with a laugh and, importantly, incredibly patient: He taught me how to drive on “the other side” of the road in his SUV!
They have fantastic suggestions for places to visit, giving you the flexibility required for sightseeing in the country.
Their strong young Labrador, Figo, is a joy to be around, always obedient when you stand your ground and quite the local celebrity—expect lots of compliments when you take him to the park.
Their home is spacious, beautiful, and situated in a lovely, safe area. There is easy access to the city on foot or via a conveniently located bus stop. Your en-suite bedroom is bright and spacious. The work is light and flexible, fitting easily into your schedule.
I couldn’t stay longer due to my tourism visa but I can’t wait to return, as a workawayer and as a friend. Highly recommended!
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent
)
19 Jun 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Nuria)
Nuria is a very special person 🌟 Extremely kind, warm hearted and friendly. Our family loved her and we were so sad when she had to leave. Nuria is a great communicator, is very helpful, shows great initiative and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Nuria was excellent with our three sons and also with our Labrador Figo. Nuria is a very… read more versatile person and brings great joy wherever she goes and she is always welcome back here to her Irish family ☘️
(Excellent
)
30 May 2024
Left by Workawayer (Nuria) for host
My experience at Karen&Ray's house has been wonderful!
The whole family is very polite and always willing to help you with anything you need. Three very independent teenage children and a beautiful dog called Figo who is a sweetheart! and I miss him a lot! who I used to take for walks in a beautiful park very close to the house.
It is the closest… read more thing to having a beautiful family, they are kind, they make you feel like you are part of the family and when you are far away from your country you have to be grateful to find people like that. We shared recipes, cooked and ate together sometimes.
The house is very spacious and beautiful! I had a nice room with private bathroom.
The house is very well located 15 minutes walk from Cork or 5 minutes by bus.
The chores I had to do were simple and easy.
I was very grateful to be there and I hope I can come back one day with my Irish family! I love them and hold them in my heart forever! ❤️🙏🏼✨
I would highly recommend it!
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
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:
(5.0)
19 Feb 2025
Left by Workawayer (Maria) for host
I spent 3,5 months with the family and enjoyed every minute of it. Karen and Ray are very kind and chill, and there are no strict working times as long as you keep each other updated. The tasks were very doable: keeping the kitchen clean, on occasion hanging up laundry, walking their dog and staying home with the youngest son sometimes. It was… read more very easy to settle in and I had enough privacy and space to myself. Not only did I feel at home really quickly, I also loved chatting to Karen and Ray as they were very engaging and caring about my wellbeing.
The three boys were very engaged in their school and sport activities and hardly needed any help. During weekdays the family was very busy and on the weekends they were often home and hung out as a family, if they didn't have any sport games going on. I spent most of my time with their loving dog Figo, as I was taking him for walks most days. He is a very easy going dog that loves people and just wants to cuddle all the time, and I had no prior experience with dogs really.
The house is situated in a very quiet neighbourhood with a small park in walking distance, where you will spent a lot of time with Figo. Right around the corner you can take 4 different buses to Cork city centre, which takes about 5-10 minutes, or University College Cork, which takes around 20 minutes. It is also fine to walk for about 25 minutes into city centre, which you might have to do sometimes as the buses can be unreliable.
Be prepared that this is a family environment, so it will be busy during the day and quiet during the night. However, you can come and go any time. The only thing I would like to point out is, that I attended College 5 days a week, so sometimes I would have a lot on my mind, while also helping out the family. So keep that in mind when you have other responsibilities during your stay. Nevertheless, the work load was always fine and if I wanted to attend an event or take a trip with friends Karen and Ray always supported that.
I can only recommend this family and hope to stay in contact! Thank you so much for everything you made possible for me and making my Erasmus extra special ♥️
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
8 Aug 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Emilia)
Emilia is an extremely kind and helpful person. She showed great initiative at all times and slotted perfectly into our busy family life. Emilia was very present with our family, yet very independent which is what we prefer. Her warmth and love created a very positive environment for our children, fostering an especially unique bond with our… read more youngest. We are so grateful for the positive impact Emilia has had on our family. She managed to get great conversations going with the two eldest boys which isn’t so easy in teen boys! Emilia was willing to drive the boys to their various activities. She delicious meals and was the best carer and dog walker for our Labrador Figo! He still looks out the window waiting on her return which we all hope will happen some day in the future ❤️
(Excellent)
4 Aug 2024
Left by Workawayer (Emilia) for host
What a fabulous experience! Easy-going and friendly couple, Ray and Karen are simply the best hosts you could wish for. They don't hesitate to do anything to make you feel comfortable at home, they made me feel like part of the family. Their three well behaved teenagers are adorable, but be prepared the youngest will absolutely steal your heart… read more with his cuteness.
Karen is a whirlwind of energy and ideas. She's always full of enthusiasm and kindness, making sure everything is just right. Ray is a laid-back, fun chap, always ready with a laugh and, importantly, incredibly patient: He taught me how to drive on “the other side” of the road in his SUV!
They have fantastic suggestions for places to visit, giving you the flexibility required for sightseeing in the country.
Their strong young Labrador, Figo, is a joy to be around, always obedient when you stand your ground and quite the local celebrity—expect lots of compliments when you take him to the park.
Their home is spacious, beautiful, and situated in a lovely, safe area. There is easy access to the city on foot or via a conveniently located bus stop. Your en-suite bedroom is bright and spacious. The work is light and flexible, fitting easily into your schedule.
I couldn’t stay longer due to my tourism visa but I can’t wait to return, as a workawayer and as a friend. Highly recommended!
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
19 Jun 2024
Left by host for Workawayer (Nuria)
Nuria is a very special person 🌟 Extremely kind, warm hearted and friendly. Our family loved her and we were so sad when she had to leave. Nuria is a great communicator, is very helpful, shows great initiative and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Nuria was excellent with our three sons and also with our Labrador Figo. Nuria is a very… read more versatile person and brings great joy wherever she goes and she is always welcome back here to her Irish family ☘️
(Excellent)
30 May 2024
Left by Workawayer (Nuria) for host
My experience at Karen&Ray's house has been wonderful!
The whole family is very polite and always willing to help you with anything you need. Three very independent teenage children and a beautiful dog called Figo who is a sweetheart! and I miss him a lot! who I used to take for walks in a beautiful park very close to the house.
It is the closest… read more thing to having a beautiful family, they are kind, they make you feel like you are part of the family and when you are far away from your country you have to be grateful to find people like that. We shared recipes, cooked and ate together sometimes.
The house is very spacious and beautiful! I had a nice room with private bathroom.
The house is very well located 15 minutes walk from Cork or 5 minutes by bus.
The chores I had to do were simple and easy.
I was very grateful to be there and I hope I can come back one day with my Irish family! I love them and hold them in my heart forever! ❤️🙏🏼✨
I would highly recommend it!
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
12 Mar 2024
Left by Workawayer (Ericka) for host
I have no words to describe the wonderful experience I have had at Karen's house, at all times I was part of the family, I always had facilities to study English and to visit Ireland; they are beautiful people and I miss them very much, of course I also miss Figo, my first Irish love, I would have loved to stay longer but I had to leave for work.… read more A piece of me stayed in Cork 🥰
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
7 Sep 2023
Left by Workawayer (Alice) for host
Une première expérience qui sera inoubliable !
J'ai été très bien accueilli, mes deux semaines sont passées tellement vite...
Je recommande totalement.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
4 Sep 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Phuong)
Phuong stayed with us for one month and our only regret was that she could not stay longer! Phuong is an extremely kind and considerate person. She is hard-working and conscientious. She is an amazing cook and goes out of her way to help people. She helped with household chores of her own initiative and she even helped me paint a bedroom. Her… read more English is excellent and her communication skills are impeccable. We loved having Phuong and wish her lots of luck in her future. Any family fortunate enough to have Phuong stay with them will be very happy indeed 😃
(Excellent)
27 Aug 2023
Left by Workawayer (Phuong) for host
Staying at Karen & Ray's place has been a truly wonderful experience. They are great parents who are raising their respectful and lovely boys. I felt really comfortable as soon as I got there. They're super kind people who are always willing to help whenever I need it. The tasks are pretty easy – mostly just being with the youngest boy, in case he… read more needs anything while nobody's home, and doing some simple chores around the house.
The room I stayed in was perfect, with a comfy double bed and a private bathroom. The house is in a convenient location, about a 30-minute walk from the city center or a quick 10-minute bus ride. I had plenty of free time to explore the lively Cork city and the nearby villages.
I highly recommend staying with this family. I feel really blessed and grateful to have stayed with them. Thank you!! ❤️🙏.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
20 Jul 2023
Left by Workawayer (Sara) for host
I stayed with this family for a year and my experience was amazing! i felt very welcomed and they always made me feel home. the place is very close to cork city and other tourist places are very easily accessible from there.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
20 Jul 2023
Left by host for Workawayer (Sara)
Sara was an amazing workawayer! Kind, considerate, helpful and thoughtful. She was like family to us ❤️
(Excellent)
19 Sep 2022
Left by Workawayer (Isabell) for host
I have stayed with this family for almost seven weeks and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. It was actually my first ever workaway experience.
I arrived in Cork during the summer break and I was even able to spend some wonderful days in West Cork with my family and I am beyond grateful for that.
Karen and Ray were always… read more very caring and helpful. They did everything to make my stay as pleasant and relaxed as possible and I appreciate that a lot! The boys are friendly, funny, sociable and independent.
My main job was walking the youngest son to school in the morning and collecting him again in the afternoon. The school is only a short walk from the house. Some days I brought him swimming (even a shorter walk) or I just stayed at home with him in case he needed anything.
Their house is amazing and my room was simply perfect. I had a big and comfortable bed and my own bathroom.
The location is excellent as Cork city centre is only a 20-25 min walk from the house. There is also a bus stop just across the road.
I can highly recommend taking the bus to picturesque towns like Kinsale or Cobh. It’s easy and also cheap to get there! :)
I truly fell in love with Cork City, I made friends for life there and there are plenty of things to do there! If you love live music, this is the place for you.
I am so incredibly lucky that I was able to stay with this family. I can absolutely 💯 recommend staying with them. Thank you so much for everything! ♥️
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
13 Jul 2022
Left by Workawayer (Margherita) for host
I have spent almost 11 months with this family and it was absolutely perfect. The family was extremely welcoming from day one, really well organised and friendly. The three boys are lovely, well mannered, funny and lively. The parents helped me in every possible way and make me feel like part of the family. My main job was helping the youngest… read more child in the morning and walk with him to school. I then had to pick him up in the afternoon and had the rest of the morning, afternoon and evening free. The house is perfect, my room was a dream and the location is simply excellent. I have rarely used the bus and simply walked everywhere. Cork is a beautiful city, it has so much to offer especially to young people. I really could not recommend this family enough, they were simply perfect for me.
Thanks once again.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
3 Sep 2020
Left by Workawayer (Juliette) for host
I spent 7 months in the family and I don't have the words to describe how incredible and amazing those few months were. The boys are great, smart, funny and very kind and it takes two amazing parents to raise such lovely boys. The 2 oldest boys Rory and Donàl are very sporty, very sociable and they look after themselves. The youngest one, Rian, is… read more very smart, sweet and endearing. Collecting him from school, staying with him at the park, or just being in the house if he needs anything while no one else is home, are the main things I was asked to do. Karen and Ray are the best hosts I've ever had, I really felt at home as soon as I arrived. They're great people, always here if you need help, and they're really arranging. The location is also great as there's a bus stop just a cross the road that takes you in less than 10 minutes to the city centre or you can walk there in less than 30 minutes which is great for developing a social life and meeting new people. I had a lot of free time to explore the city and its surroundings. Cork is an amazing city, very dynamic and lively and there's plenty of things to see and experience. Definitely the best workaway experience I had!
I absolutely recommend staying in this family, I'm so thankful and I feel very very lucky for having met them. Thank you for everything ❤️
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
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Animal Care
House & pet sitting
Animals
