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Help with painting and gardening in Castledermot, Ireland

Ireland
Favourited 136 times
Last activity: 17 Apr 2024

Profile information

Host rating
80 %
Last replied
20 Aug 2023
Feedback
6
Email verified

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Availability

2024

Min stay requested: No minimum

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What's this?

Details

Description
Our home is in the middle of an medieval village one hour south of Dublin, I once was retired but now back working and am running a bed and breakfast. The house is in need of love and tender care, so painting and gardening is always in demand. Help around the house is always welcome.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
General Maintenance
Help around the house
Help
A pleasant out look is important, so they can get on with others that might be in house, and be willing to work alone.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
I intrested in spanish
Accommodation
one large bedroom with bathroom and a small sitting room.
What else ...
The village is one hour south of Dublin,with Train and bus service near by, Kilkenny City is 40 mins away AND Waterford is about one hour. I have bees. We like every one to know that we have computer connection but NO wifi.......as a student of Spanish I could enjoy a little Spanish lesson after work.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 726678457686

Feedback (6)

7 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer (Emiliano) for host

Jhon is an incredible person, in his own way and old fashioned but an excellent host in every way, all the time he is interested in making you feel good and comfortable in his home! The work was not complicated at all, and I am particularly grateful to Jhon for allowing me to go to his home and learn and practice my English!

(Excellent )

18 Jul 2017

Left by Workawayer (Nicole_S) for host

John and the old school house in Castlerdemot are a very special place!
The first day I had some complications contacting John, who was supposed to pick me up at the bus station...so I was a bit lost and angry when he finally contacted me and picked me up with his small, old car. When we arrived at the school house, it was absolutely not what I… read more

(Good )

6 Nov 2016

Left by Workawayer (Cassidy) for host

I had a wonderful time here with John! He is a very unique man! I stayed for two weeks. The work consisted of picking apples, painting (a lot), and making firewood.

John was a great host! He made sure I took the time to enjoy my days off. He was very helpful on teaching me the history behind the village and Ireland. He's a very simply man, but… read more

(Excellent )

View all 6 feedbacks

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7 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer (Emiliano) for host

(Excellent )

18 Jul 2017

Left by Workawayer (Nicole_S) for host

(Good )

6 Nov 2016

Left by Workawayer (Cassidy) for host

(Excellent )

30 Sep 2016

Left by Workawayer (Alberto) for host

First of all, I haven't marked this host better than good because it is quite different from others that can be seen in this work away plattform and to warn volunteers before they apply for this place so they don't feel a shock between expectations and reality.
I will try to explain myself with some order.
The place, Castledermot, is a tiny,… read more tiny village, so don't expect to be roaming from pub to pub and from theatre to cinema, but if you are autonomous enough and have interest in all that is around you, a boring place will surely become a very interesting one; just google 'Castledermot' before you go and try to find, once you are there, hidden remains of Ireland's history two steps far from the School house: ruined or restored churches, amazing totem-like crosses... If you like to find targets for your camera, it is a great place.
Close to the house there is a community center where you can receive more information from the people there, which are all keen to show the treasures of their town to anyone who wants to hear them. They will give you also their wifi connection's key immediately. From here, thanks to all of them, by the way.
In the village, you will find also a post office, a supermarket, a little but animated pub and the cuttiest library I've ever seen. Both of them also have wifi connection.
Anyway, at ten kilometers from Castledermot there is Carlow, from where you can get to places like Kildare, Kilkenny, Waterford by train or bus. The frequency of the buses is in Carlow much higher than in Castledermot. I got to and leave from Castledermot dircetly from the village, though.
The accommodation in the School house is in a detached house, where you have a bathroom, a kitchen and a dinning room with a wood stove (if you've never used one before, ask John for advice, as there's carpet on the floor). The kitchen also has a microwave and a kettle, for those who want to have a tea after the B&B's kitchen is closed.
Working for the School house will mean gardening (i.e. trimming branches, pruning bushes, lawn mowing, weeding and collecting apples. Apple trees are so productive there that you will taste this fruit raw, in jelly, ovened, cooked....) and maintaining the house (painting, mostly).
I must say that no one will push you there to do any dangerous, exhausting or disgusting work, this will be something you will agree with John on a daily basis.
...and there is John, the owner of the School house.
He's lived alone for many years and can be quite eccentric. Don't expect to change his ways to do things, but on the contrary, try to understand him if you want to discover his "other side". There will be things that would shock you, he doesn't hide them at all, but it is his house, not yours. After a few days trying to adapt to this "environment", I spent my days just walking through the rooms, where there are lots (litterally) of objects and antiques spread here and there, as a result of John's "auctionithis". The key here is to talk frankly to John, stating clearly what you expect and need. He is not a theme park manager and can be a bit outdated from several thing of this modern, fast and noisy outer world.
Having said that, John is a nice and funny person, and his friends are also one of a kind. Again, kisses, hugs and regards to 'fairy' Noreen, 'activist' Patrick and 'Treasure' Tom from here.
César, another workawayer, reported that this is not a place to practice English. I agree with him; when there are not guests in the house, you get a bit lonely and have to get whatever is needed to practice English, like listening to the radio while you work or talk to the locals you'd find in your free time. And if you are lucky enough to work with Damien (a.k.a. the boss), you will learn from him, an incredibly skilled, hardworking, patient, kind, friendly and quiet man, some features of genuine ireland english accent.
And that's all, I hope tho have been fair and useful.
Sorry, I have to say this: Ci vediamo, Federico, tanta fortuna in la tua vita e anche per la famiglia e la metà mela.

(Good )

18 Sep 2016

Left by Workawayer (Federico) for host

I lived in the School house a month. Simply the best experience away of my Life...John is a wonderful host and a very intresting person as well as all the people I met in cadtledermot, i'm very grateful to him. He's a very creative Cook too. The work is various and intresting and you Can live the Daily Life in countee kildare.
Thank you.
(Pigeons… read more

(Excellent )

13 Jul 2016

Left by Workawayer (Cesar) for host

John is a good person but he isn´t a good host. He is not involved with their workawayers.
Is not a good place to practice English and there are real problems with meals.

(Neutral )

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Help with painting and gardening in Castledermot, Ireland

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Feedback

Email verified

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

How many Workawayers can stay?

Hours expected

Feedback (6)

Photos

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