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Cottage garden projects in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ireland

Ireland
Last activity : 26 Jun 2025

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Host rating
90 %
Last replied
2 Dec 2024
Feedback
24
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Email verified

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Availability

2025

Min stay requested: at least 3 weeks

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Description
I live in a beautiful rural area at the foot hills of the Slievebloom mountains. My cottage was built early 1800, and I am continually working to improve my garden and house. I have 3 dogs a lab mix and a wolfhound and a little mixed breed Terrier rescued dog.
Very historical area close to double ringed fairy fort, a national monument of heritage. Also my cottage overlooks the most haunted castle in Ireland, Leap Castle. The town of Birr is on 15mins away and is a beautiful georgian town with the famous Birr Castle and gardens and nice coffee shops on main street. The towns of Roscrea and Kinnitty are also closeby. The slevebloom mountains have a good range of walking trails to explore.

I am a very easy going person who likes meeting new people, I have worked with horses all my life and sill have two . I like music and love all animals.

I need help with painting , house and animal care, revamp of the chicken house, and some gardening. I am looking for help to walk dogs feed horses and general house tasks.
I am very flexible with help hours as some days too wet to help outside, which allows you to take days off to travel around.

There is a double room next to a shower and toilet downstairs to accommodate people, and I am happy to take people to nearby towns if they wish to connect with bus services to visit other places while here.
There are plenty of venues that have traditional Irish music nights.
Birr has a beautiful Theatre and art exhibitions.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
LGBTQ
Pets
Van life
Music
Cooking & food
Gardening
Photography
Carpentry
Camping
Nature
Mountain
Animals
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Very Historical area, Leap Castle is just across the valley. Also near Kinnity Castle, and Birr Castle and gardens that are well worth a visit. Traditional music in many venues. Lough Boora is also an interesting site to visit as it is bogland that is now dormant and hosts some beautiful scultures and walks.
Meet neighbours and taste Irish foods and beers, cheeses etc., and make new friends.
Help
Help welcome to carry out projects in the garden, plant up the garden, some light painting, weeding grass cutting, household cleaning etc. Replanting a polytunnel that has been out of action for a while. Also open to suggestions and advice. Good social life and welcome to meet all my friends. Hoping to get some rescue chickens once their house is ready, it needs a revamp and a bit of a tidy up in the run.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Beginner
This host offers a language exchange
I speak a bit if German,😊
Accommodation
Double Bedrooom beside shower toilet. Shared kitchen, sitting room. You can also camp in garden if you choose.Couple welcome or 2 friends can be accomodated.
What else ...
Georgian town of Birr 7 mls, where there are many attractions, outdoor pursuit, swimming pool etc. Roscrea 5mls, River Shannon 14mls.
Airports 1-2hrs drive.
Great cycling and walking routes.
Kinnitty castle nearby.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Garden is large enough to park in and hook up to electricity possible.
Can possibly accept pets
Yes pets accepted but dogs only i have a terrier that chases cats.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets

Host ref number: 932372627895

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Feedback (11)

12 Jul 2023

Left by Workawayer (Alejandro & Margot) for host

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Negative )

3 May 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Ana & David)

Anna and David were a pleasure to have stay. Great workers and can do almost any tasks. Very good with animals and easy, pleasant company. I feel certain they will be back for a visit. I would highly recommend

(Excellent )

9 Sep 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (John)

John what can i say!!🤔 A great experience having John here, he did trojan work, great skills and everthing built to last and enjoy. John completed an extension to my Sun and Moon room, and it will be enjoyed for many years, along with fencing rebuild, storage area created in garden and beautiful gates that work perfectly.
Very pleasant chatty… read more

(Excellent )

View all 11 feedbacks

Photos

$The image depicts a shaggy dog sitting on the ground, surrounded by leaves, with a watermark reading \"workaway\" in the center of the photo.$

The image depicts a dog and two cats resting on a dog bed in front of a wood-burning stove. The dog is white with black ears and a black patch over its right eye.

The image depicts a stone wall adorned with lush greenery and vibrant flowers, featuring a mix of white and pink blooms.

The image depicts a weathered stone castle ruin, featuring a tall tower and battlements, set against a grey sky and overgrown with grass.

Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(4.3)

Cultural exchange:
(4.3)

Communication:
(4.3)

12 Jul 2023

Left by Workawayer (Alejandro & Margot) for host

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Negative)

3 May 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Ana & David)

(Excellent)

9 Sep 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (John)

(Excellent)

30 Jun 2022

Left by Workawayer (Serge & NADINE) for host

Welcome to Jayne's little cottage paradise ! We had a very relaxing 15 days. Jayne has made her cottage a place of tranquillity where you feel at home. We worked happily to meet the challenge Jayne set us...
The result : we enjoyed Jayne's pizzas and friends.
Jayne made us feel comfortable from the moment we arrived and we had a great time.… read more

(Excellent)

28 Jun 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Serge & NADINE)

I was delighted to meet Serge and Nadine, what a lovely couple. Great skills in building an outdoor fire place and Pizza oven, which has been tried and tested before they left. Great company too, they also revamped my chicken house and it looks great. Very responsible and got on great with the dogs. I will remain in contact with them and they are… read more

(Excellent)

2 Jun 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Constantino)

Tino was a pleasure to have help out. He was willing to do all he was asked to do and more. He seemed to enjoy the animals even though he was here when we lost our lovely dog Jenny, she was ill and put to sleep. It was an emotional time and Tino was very respectful of our grief. Good company and his english is alot better than he thinks. I hope he… read more

(Very good)

26 Apr 2021

Left by Workawayer (Constantino) for host

It was my first experience as a workawayer, it was fantastic! the setting is peaceful and Jayne is especially friendly !! I worked very happily in the garden, the bus, the chickens house and the polytunnel, with great freedom and they treated me great, I felt like one of the family. my room was large and comfortable. I was able to enjoy the… read more

(Excellent)

18 Aug 2020

Left by Workawayer (Volker) for host

brocken cottage was my first workaway event for more than 2 weeks. It was a very good place for me to improve my english, because Jayne is a very friendly and relaxed person. I quickly felt at home. - I worked a lot with wood (upcycling). Jayne gave me an absolutely free hand in the implementation. I could work very independent and inventive. I… read more

(Excellent)

10 Aug 2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Volker)

It was a pleasure hosting Volker, he is polite, good conversation, and easy company. He is very creative in his work and very inventive, as I like to up-cycle things. He built a lovely lean to for me and secured my seating area from the chickens. He mended doors, painted, cut grass and everything else that was asked of him. I would recommend… read more

(Excellent)

5 Jun 2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Marcus Vinicius & Carla Daniela)

Marcus and Carla were great, very happy couple, cared for my dogs, horses and tended poorly chickens. They did alot of digging, gardening and painted a wild flower garden. I will keep in touch with them as we became good friends. It was a pleasure to have them here😊

(Excellent)

5 Jun 2020

Left by Workawayer (Marcus Vinicius & Carla Daniela) for host

This was our first workaway experience.
We enjoy nature and spend unforgettable moments with Jayne.
Jayne is a nice, kind, caring and generous person.
We could not forget to talk about your lovely animals, your two horses Penne and Luige, your beautiful chickens and your lovely dogs Lulu, Fred and Will.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity to… read more

(Excellent)

24 Aug 2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Nicolás)

Nicholas was very pleasant company, always a smile and no problems with any work he was asked to carry out. He looked after my dogs , chickens, while I was away and he allowed me to enjoy my time away feeling confident that my home was in very good hands. He worked hard digging and weeding in my garden, with a smile.I have invited him back to… read more

(Excellent)

15 Jun 2019

Left by host for Workawayer (KEVINPMCC)

Kevin was very diligent in his work, and I was very impressed by his perseverance in painting the windows at the cottage.They turned out fabulous. Kevin was thrown in at the deep end with my 2 horses, and remained calm throughout. Horses liked him, I enjoyed his very pleasant company, easy going and well able to cook for himself. He was very… read more

(Excellent)

13 Jun 2019

Left by Workawayer (KEVINPMCC) for host

Jayne was an excellent host. She has a wonderful home and property with a beautiful vision for enhancing it. We did lots of work and had good fun. I very much enjoyed her animals as well. She's direct and open in her communications. She was very helpful and supportive during my visit, encouraging me to go exploring. Highly recommended!

(Excellent)

1 Jul 2017

Left by Workawayer (Adrian) for host

Jayne is a wonderful person and a really good host. She is very kind and always thankful for any help. When we forgot things she was honest and said that it shouldn't happen again...which is good! The work wasn't that difficult and we had enough time to travel to kinnitty if we want to and to see the beautiful landscape. It was also great that she… read more

(Excellent)

16 Mar 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Ana Beatriz & Ernst)

A beautiful couple, enthusiastic happy, cheerful. Dont mind working in the rain!!!! Great fun to be around. Ernie is some man to dig!!! Great work while they were here despite the rain, which they loved. I hope we stay in contact and they are welcome to come and visit anytime, there will always be room for these great people.

(Excellent)

12 Mar 2017

Left by Workawayer (Ana Beatriz & Ernst) for host

Staying with Jayne was one of the most amazing surprises of our Ireland trip! Me and Ernie we were pleased from the first minute with her. She's such an easy person to talk and enjoy the day. And the Slievebloom region is beautiful! Lots to see and walk or cycle around.

We did different tasks such as helping with the horses (we had such… read more

(Excellent)

1 Mar 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Carlos)

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Negative)

12 Nov 2016

Left by Workawayer (Caspar & Ulrike) for host

We enjoyed our time at the cottage from the first moment we arrived. Jayne is a easy going and very open person, who hasn't got a proplem in giving clear instructions. In her typical "do it yourself" way, she always knows what to do. For us every day was a surprise, cause the work we did was from day to day different. These versatility was the… read more

(Excellent)

27 Aug 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Raul)

Raul was great fun, hard working and an excellent cook. Hope to keep in touch as he is a great character. Really enjoyed meeting him and working with him

(Excellent)

3 Aug 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Felipe & Bruna)

Fillipe & Bruna were a great couple and willing to do anything that was asked of them. They were cheerful and enthusiastic at all times even the rain did not get them down!!

(Excellent)

31 Jul 2016

Left by Workawayer (Felipe & Bruna) for host

It was an amazing experience, we'll never forget all great times that we spent with you and yours friends. Everything was perfect, the place is comfortable and we felt at home from the first moment that we arrived in the cottage.
We learnt a lot and laugh all the time. Jayne has an example life style and we were very luck to met her. The job is… read more

(Excellent)

15 Feb 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Karola & David)

Karola was a pleasure to have stay at my cottage, helpful in every way possible, and even the rain did not get here down. I would recommend her to other hosts.

(Excellent)

14 Sep 2014

Left by Workawayer (Carmiella) for host

Emi and I had a most wonderful two weeks with Jayne and her crew of pups. Jayne is consistently upbeat, warm, and always interesting to talk to and to learn from about topics ranging from Irish spirits to horse care! And we do still believe she just might be a dog whisperer ;) a friendlier set of dogs than Lulu, Fred, and Scrapper is hard to come… read more

(Excellent)

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Cottage garden projects in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ireland

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Feedback

ID verified

Email verified

Badges (4)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Interests

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Space for parking camper vans

Can possibly accept pets

How many Workawayers can stay?

My animals / pets

Feedback (11)

Photos

Feedback