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Help with gardening and some home tasks in Co. Cork, Ireland

Ireland
Last activity : 15 Sep 2025

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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
12 Sep 2025
Feedback
10
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Availability

2025

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

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Description
My name is Carmel and I live with my two dogs in West Cork, in a beautiful rural Location between Clonakilty and Rosscarbery. We are lucky to have a range of amazing beaches, 7 in total, all within 10 minutes of our home. Our local towns are vibrant and dynamic with active cultural scene. I have a medium size garden but due to mobility issues and recent surgery, I would hope to host somebody who would undertake mostly gardening and some general outside maintenance. A love of dogs is essential!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I am happy to provide any traveller with an authentic experience of living in an Irish home. As a language teacher with many years experience, I can also provide opportunities to learn and improve English language skills in a total-immersion setting. I have many cultural interests, music, history, drama, art etc and would be very happy to facilitate any visitors participation in such activities.
Help
The majority of the work I would like help with will be in the garden, weeding, clearing, hedge-cutting and planting at particular times of the year. Dog walking may also be required from time to time. There may also be some outside painting required on the fence as well as general maintenance and tidying
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Irish: Fluent
French: Intermediate
This host offers a language exchange
I teach at 3rd level and my area is immersion language learning. I would bé very happy to share my skills with any guests
Accommodation
Workawayers will have a private bedroom and full bathroom within the family home. I will provide all food in return for work done. My diet is mostly vegetarian but not exclusively so. Strong and reliable wifi will also be available.
What else ...
During free time, I am willing to introduce workawayers to the local area, historical sites, beaches etc. I am also willing to take and collect workawayers to social activities
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
High speed reliable broadband is available to any Workawayer
Space for parking camper vans
There is ample parking space at my home
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets

Host ref number: 767384964859

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Feedback (8)

3 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Leonardo) for host

I spent two and a half months with Carmel, and it was an amazing experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better host. From day one, she was incredibly kind and made me feel comfortable right away. Carmel is one of the most generous and caring people I have ever met. She treated me like family, and I felt at home from the start.
These two months… read more with Carmel were extremely important to me. I’ve grown so much during my time here, and Carmel has been a huge inspiration. She is an incredibly hard worker, fully dedicated to her passion, and it shows in everything she does. I truly believe I’ve learned a lot from her, and this period has been a significant and enriching time in my life.
Despite her busy schedule, Carmel always made sure I had everything I needed. She frequently asked if I needed anything—whether it was food, a ride, or anything else. She also took me on several tours around Ireland, showing me the history of the places we visited and explaining everything in detail. It was a fantastic way to learn about Irish culture and history.
One of my main goals during my stay was to improve my English, and Carmel helped me tremendously. We had countless conversations on a wide range of topics, and she often taught me new words, phrases, and expressions. This has been incredibly helpful in improving my language skills.
I also had the pleasure of looking after Carmel’s wonderful dogs, Reilly and Toby. They are both incredibly sweet and gentle dogs, each with their own unique personality. Spending time with them was truly enjoyable—they are calm, loyal, and great company. I really appreciated the quiet moments we shared, whether we were simply relaxing together or enjoying walks around the property. Reilly and Toby became such a comforting part of my daily routine, and I’ll always remember the warmth and companionship they provided during my stay.
As for the house, it was just perfect. My room was incredibly comfortable, and I’ve never slept in a bed so cozy. The house, nestled in the heart of the countryside, is absolutely beautiful. As soon as you step into the garden, you feel completely immersed in nature, with a 360-degree view of the lush green Irish fields. I was also very lucky to have such great weather during my stay, with many sunny days that made the garden even more enjoyable to spend time in.
It's only been three days since I left that beautiful home, and I already miss it terribly. Carmel was always so thoughtful, even offering me rides to Clonakilty and Cork. Clonakilty is a charming town, full of colors and wonderful people. I had the chance to chat with locals at my favorite café, Revel, where Carmel would often drop me off so I could enjoy a delicious cappuccino in the company of friendly faces. The town is also full of quaint little shops where you can find a wide range of lovely things.
If you’re looking for a truly memorable experience and a host who makes you feel at home, I highly recommend Carmel. I couldn’t have asked for a better Workaway experience.

(Excellent )

15 Nov 2024

Left by Workawayer (Nuria) for host

Carmel es una persona con una mente muy abierta, simpática y de trato muy fácil lo cual facilita mucho la relación con ella. De espírituu posItivo y eficaz a la hora de manejar todos los inconvenientes que puedan surgir en el día a día. Tiene un gran conocimiento e interés por la cultura y así lo transmite, con lo cual me ayudó tanto con el inglés… read more

(Excellent )

18 Oct 2024

Left by Workawayer (Marta ) for host

Carmel has not only been an amazing host, I now feel like my Irish mother.
She is funny, intelligent and makes your days in Ireland easy. I arrived in Ireland speaking very little English and she was very patient with me. I am very grateful to her for my progress.
During my stay in her amazing home I was walking her two dogs, helping with… read more

(Excellent )

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$The image depicts a dog reclining on a couch, with a wooden floor and furniture in the background, featuring a watermark reading \"workaway.info\".$

$The image depicts a serene lake scene at sunset, featuring two swans swimming in the foreground, with a vibrant orange and yellow sky reflected on the water\'s surface.$

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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:
(5.0)

3 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer (Leonardo) for host

(Excellent)

15 Nov 2024

Left by Workawayer (Nuria) for host

(Excellent)

18 Oct 2024

Left by Workawayer (Marta ) for host

(Excellent)

17 Jul 2024

Left by Workawayer (Shari) for host

I stayed with Carmel in the month of June and I can say that Carmel is such a cool, strong, generous, kind, caring and available person! The generosity she showed me in many different occasions really moved me and left me with no words at all!
I was there in a particular period for her as she had to undergo a serious surgery; despite this, she did… read more everything she could to make me feel comfortable and she was extremely thoughtful and available with me, always ready to help me in any situation and to accomodate my wishes! She was always more than happy to show me the amazing area where she lives in, despite the amount of work she always had to do! She deeply trusted me from the very beginning, both with her wonderful dogs and in the house itself, and this was really incredible and moving for me!
My work for her was mainly minding Riley and Toby (her two lovely, adorable and sweet dogs) and taking care of the house with different renovation and reorganization projects (which I loved). I always had a lot of freedom and flexibility in planning and executing my daily chores and I was able to choose what and when to eat. Carmel was always careful that I enjoyed everything I did and really attentive to give me free choice in any occasion.
She helped me a lot with my english as well (increasing my confidence every single time - thank you!) and she taught me so much about Irish culture and traditions (something that I’ve really really appreciated).
Her place is in a stunning location near the vibrant village of Clonakilty and many wonderful beaches; I had the occasion to spend some time there, relaxing and sunbathing, and it was absolutely gorgeous, a real paradise on earth!
I’ve learnt so much about myself during my time here, everything was a constant discover and surprise. I’ve been able to meet and talk to many different people which have always been extremely kind and friendly to me. I had therefore the chance to get out of my comfort zone and to challenge myself in various situations; this was really useful to strengthen my self-confidence and my personality even more! I will always be grateful to Carmel for this!
I also want to express my deepest gratitude to Josie and John (Carmel’s neighbours) for their incredible and constant kindness, availability, help and smiling presence!
I can claim that my time here was a powerful life lesson in so many different ways and I’ll cherish it forever! I’ll be forever grateful to have met a person like Carmel and such wonderful and loving people. Thanks a million for everything you did for me Carmel, I’ll never forget it!

Shari

(Excellent)

16 Jun 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Moritz & Luisa)

Moritz and Luisa have just left our home and it felt like waving off 2 valued family members. They volunteered to come here in May and offered to return again in June when they realised I would have surgery early that month. The longer I know them both, the more I have come to appreciate them and value them, not only as visiting Workawayers, but… read more as dear friends.
Both Mo and Luisa are kind, capable, willing, hard-working and always do their very best to ensure that each and every task is completed to the highest standard. Their level of skill in all areas, inside and outside the home is excellent. They completed very demanding tasks in the garden, laying and securing ground cover, installing a paved edge, clearing the glasshouse and establishing a vegetable garden, to name just a few. Luisa, with her active interest in agriculture and her expertise in this subject, was a huge asset and a God-send to this home at this point in time!
Inside the home, they made bread almost daily which was top quality and taught me all there is to know about starters, proving bread and baking it properly. Neither Mo nor Luisa were fussy or demanding about food; they were happy with the vegetables and fruit provided and were also willing to share in the meat or fish whenever we had it for dinner. They were totally reliable and honest in all their dealings with me!
Once completion of the agreed first Workaway visit, Mo and Luisa very kindly offered to return on my return from hospital and remain for one week to assist in my recovery. That was not only, more than generous of the, but it was also a tremendous help in my situation as I was relatively immobile. Mo generously used his skills as a Physiotherapist to help with pain relief and to increase my mobility - I cannot overstate how much that has helped and continues to help.
Of course, the 2 men in the house, Toby and Reilly loved Mo and Luisa - the video of the welcome they got from both dogs when they returned last week was a joy to watch.
In summary, Mo and Luisa are the perfect Workawayers, kind, friendly, respectful, knowledgeable and caring people. I cannot recommend them highly enough and I look forward to a time, hopefully very soon, that they will return, if not as Workawayers but as the firm friends they have become over the last few months
Gute Rise, Moritz and Luisa - we love you very much!

Carmel, Reilly & Toby

(Excellent)

19 May 2024

Left by Workawayer (Moritz & Luisa) for host

The time with Carmel was absolutely amazing!!! She is such a cool, appreciative, warm, generous, open minded and lovely person with a great humour. We could go on with these descriptions because she is everything you could wish from a host!! We had lovely and funny talks, a lot of laughs and excellent cooking sessions.
Carmel is a perfect cook… read more

(Excellent)

11 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer (Selina) for host

Carmel is kind, loving, and caring. I had a fantastic time during my stay. She showed me around the area, and I thoroughly enjoyed walking along the beautiful beaches. I loved baking my apple pie for Carmel. ;)
The neighbours were also welcoming, often taking me along to explore the surroundings.
Reily and Tobi, Carmel's dogs, are incredibly sweet… read more

(Excellent)

28 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Charly) for host

To begin I want to say thanks to Carmel. It was my first experience with workaway, and I spent a wonderful month with her and all the others that I have seen. She made me feel at home in her house and I think it made a big difference. Carmel is a lovely, friendly, and talented woman. I don’t know if I could have found a better person. I did this… read more

(Excellent)

25 Jul 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (MoLehm)

Anybody reading this review from Ireland will be familiar with the TV ad, that said, "If Carlsberg did....." Well, I can safely say in all sincerity if Carlsberg did Workawayers, Mo would certainly be their poster girl! From the moment Mo first made contact with me, she showed herself to be efficient, honest and diligent. On meeting her and on… read more

(Excellent)

19 Jul 2023

Left by Workawayer (MoLehm) for host

It was my first Workaway experience and I am absolutely overwhelmed. From the first minute it felt like a second home. Carmel and her neighbours John and Josie are so lovely and do everything possible to make sure you have a wonderful time in their area. I fell in love with Clonakilty, this town is beautiful. It is so colourful and there are lots… read more

(Excellent)

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Help with gardening and some home tasks in Co. Cork, Ireland

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Feedback

Email verified

Badges (3)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

Space for parking camper vans

How many Workawayers can stay?

My animals / pets

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

Feedback (8)

Photos

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

Feedback