Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
30
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hi all, my name is John.
I live in a beautiful part of Ireland on an 80 acre farm. I've 3 girls, 2 still at home. They're good-natured friendly girls who keep busy at their musical instruments and hopefully, their studies.
It's a very picturesque farm. The river Deel runs alongside so basically we live in an a river valley, an ecological niche where nature thrives. Over us all, "our" mountain, Neiphin, looks down.
(I've noticed a couple of single workawayers just recently have found our location too isolated and quiet. I like this calm, but if its the party lifestyle you're after, then our farm is definitely not the destination for you.....it's very quiet around here.)
In the last few years we've used our house to host visitors in a very successful foray into holiday rentals. If I'm at work or away for any reason, it's a great help to me if someone can change the sheets etc.
For the next few months we'd like to improve the farm, work on the vegtable garden, build a small timber bridge (Done!) and a stone one too, rescue a few old sheds, and perhaps construct an 'Olde Worlde' cabin, simply built with a verandah overlooking a slice of heaven, and off-grid naturally......there's always lots of little jobs popping up here and there.
We get things done here in a spirit of co-operation and smiles. We've no wish to exploit anyone, or be dismissive of anyone's best efforts. Most days between Monday and Friday we'll stay focused, and work reasonably hard.....but occasionally, especially if its too hot or wet, I'll tell everyone to take the day off, go to the beach or whatever.
Our house has 7 bedrooms so plenty of space.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Ok, I'm an experienced English Teacher myself so I can help in that regard if needed....but I think living in a rural community in the west of Ireland would provide any visitors to our farm an immersive experience into Irish Culture.
Our chief sell though is our farm, and its beauty. The natural world is alive and well in our fields, woods and river..... and we feel honoured to live here.
My kids all play Irish music (tin whistle, irish flute, and violin) so they'd assist if someone wanted to begin.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We've plenty to do. As mentioned above, we've a gardening project to begin (as I've envisaged it, it could be so lovely), a timber cabin on an elevated deck to build (if we could get this up quickly, our workawayers could move in here if they chose), and other projects too.
As I said, there's always something to do. :)
I'd like that any visitors would help out in a safe, methodical and focused way, safety is paramount..... the ability to get along with tasks well unsupervised would be important too.
Having said all of this, I'd again like to emphasize I do realise this is a cultural/life experience for all visitors; I'd like anyone arriving to look on as friends as they leave whenever on their next adventure.
So, calling all enthusiastic people but especially gardeners 😊
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
German: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I'm especially interested in improving my German, and can help any workawayer with their English.
Accommodation
We've 7 bedrooms, most double, so plenty of choice. You'll have access to all the comforts of our home. In fact, we'd much prefer if you joined in with us, as against feeling yourself a 'visitor'.
The house is clean, spacious, and modern.
What else ...
Please investigate Mayo online; you'll see it's a spectacular county full of interesting and scenic spots.
Locally we've plenty to see too, and I've bikes there for visitors to use.
By car, Ballina is 20 minutes away, Castlebar 40, and our local town Crossmolina is 5 minutes drive.
Of course, we've shops, a cinema, nightclubs, pubs (alot!), doctors, a hospital, churches (alot!), and most other things everywhere else has.
Within reason, I'd be willing to drive you about occasionally. There are buses and trains locally available too.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We've reasonably good broadband. Other workawayers have worked successfully from here.....but truthfully, if the cloud cover is very low and dense, then the connection can be patchy.
Space for parking camper vans
We've space for multiple vehicles of any size.
Can possibly accept pets
We can welcome almost any pet, including horses, but they must be good-natured and respectful.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (13)
He is an open and warm person, who trusts you and your work from the first moment, and helped us a lot with our English.
We are delighted to have met his two daughters, who always chatted with you, and really enjoyed the cultural exchange.
The farm is in a beautiful location at… read more
He worked hard on every job put in front of him, got on with my family, developed a strong friendship with another workawayer, and overall an excellent workawayer who I'd happily recommend to every other host.
He made it possible for me to have a great time and a fascinating first glimpse of Ireland at very short notice.
The work was mostly in nature, combined with crafts and with animals. It was a great opportunity to expand my manual skills and to work independently.
In his… read more
He'd get on with any person, no matter how difficult; he's just very zen.
I enjoyed his visit, and Henrik was… read more
He and his daughters are a very open-minded family who are interested in showing you everyone on site. I was warmly welcomed and taken care of.
John often drove me to beautiful places in the area and told me a lot about the history of the country.
I worked mostly on small build… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.8)
He is an open and warm person, who trusts you and your work from the first moment, and helped us a lot with our English.
We are delighted to have met his two daughters, who always chatted with you, and really enjoyed the cultural exchange.
The farm is in a beautiful location at… read more
He worked hard on every job put in front of him, got on with my family, developed a strong friendship with another workawayer, and overall an excellent workawayer who I'd happily recommend to every other host.
He made it possible for me to have a great time and a fascinating first glimpse of Ireland at very short notice.
The work was mostly in nature, combined with crafts and with animals. It was a great opportunity to expand my manual skills and to work independently.
In his… read more
He'd get on with any person, no matter how difficult; he's just very zen.
I enjoyed his visit, and Henrik was… read more
He and his daughters are a very open-minded family who are interested in showing you everyone on site. I was warmly welcomed and taken care of.
John often drove me to beautiful places in the area and told me a lot about the history of the country.
I worked mostly on small build… read more
Meeting them has improved our lives here on the farm in lots of ways, and I hope they've enjoyed their experience too.
Stefan is a gentleman, has a can-do attitude, and has wonderful skills with probably everything I'd say, but while he was here, he achieved so… read more
She's full of knowledge about everything to do with agriculture, so we were worried that our hobby farm might disappoint her because of its small scale but no, she was happy with all tasks given to her.
Highly… read more
The work was not too hard and I especially… read more
Pavan is a gentle, thoughtful, spiritual guy with a keen wit and sense of fun, and a driven work ethic.
Every task placed in front of him, he achieved and to a high standard.
He was a very comfortable… read more
I had the opportunity to stay with John for almost 3 weeks(15 days) and it went really fast. I enjoyed my stay at the farm talking dogs for a walk, occasionally feeding the goats, little cleaning and wood restoration work.
John is very good host and he… read more
I spent six months with this lovely family and every single day I felt genuinely welcome. John is an exceptional host who is unfailingly kind, caring and refreshingly humorous. We spent many hours of work together and under his… read more
It did! He has been a pleasure to host.
He's a very cheerful fellow, who gets on with everyone. My own kids are very fond of him.
He's learnt tin whistle from my youngest, and very patiently taught her guitar in return.
As regards work, he has every… read more
She arrived in a waft of positivity, and every day turned up with a can-do attitude.
While here, she accomplished so much, but always with care, so that much appreciated by me.
Equally though, she merged into our family without the slightest problem.
She's a skilled flautist, and that's something my youngest is aiming… read more
Set in the most beautiful rolling countryside, the river Deel is the focal point of the farm and John has made a lush and grassy walkway along the banks and through native woodland for it to be enjoyed to the full.
The tasks for… read more
She was charming, very well spoken, an easy presence in our house and family, and always read to laugh.
As regards work, she took instruction well, and worked consistently and efficiently. I was working away quite often during Agathe's four… read more
We all enjoyed her company, her laugh is infectious.
Any task I put in front of her, she tackled conscientiously and with a smile.
An excellent visitor to our farm, I recommend her to any other host, and Soraya knows she's welcome at any time in the future. 😊
She spent a few weeks with us, and myself and my daughters became very fond of her.
Just then, I only had farm work to do, but Selma was great. She didn't complain, and did her best.
Really she should be cooking, shes a wonderful chef....and perhaps… read more
They are both quality people, very generous, very conscientious, very comfortable in company, and I really can't write words which will do them justice.
They work hard, don't look for short cuts, have considerable… read more
Millie is as interesting, sociable and kind as she appears on her profile.
She's had a fascinating life, and doesn't mind telling the tale.....is a gifted artist, has a magical quiet way with animals, will work away efficiently and without fuss, is nearly a good cook (seemingly the ingredients were faulty), and takes joy… read more
With Louna, we got all of the above, we got a new family friend too, and truth-be-told I feel like I've… read more
I… read more
She's a very polite and friendly young woman who, when given a task, works carefully and diligently to the end.
She's welcome back any time.
She's a very engaging, and intelligent person who quietly gets on with everyone. She's relaxed and chatty, but come time for work, she was the first to leave the table to begin.
Here, she mostly painted. Another might… read more
With this lovely couple though, there was no need for any worries.
They were unfailingly cheerful, polite, and enthusiastic.
Lena is quieter, keeps an eye on Jacob, stays busy, is always ready to throw a big smile across any… read more
