Profile information
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Host rating
100 %
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Last replied
24 Jul 2026
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Reply rate
94.0 %
Usually responds within 16 days
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Feedback
45
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Facebook verified
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ID verified
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Email verified
Badges (5)
Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks
Details
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Description
Temporary Immediate Position between now and September - we are painting and cleaning my original home near Lough Derg in Ballina-Killaloe, Co. Tipperary. We will be up and down between the 2 houses between now and July, then more often there. We would like to have someone who doesn't mind spending time with us and alone - perhaps a couple...
Really appreciate energetic people here who can work with initiative, use google/translate to look things up if necessary.
Please FULLY READ our profile.
We are looking for help with maintenance inside and outside the house in Moycullen , cooking and housekeeping as well as weeding and planting..
From May to September 2026 we need mostly help outside on the land around our house. Physical strength is important for this. During this time we can take a couple..
The house is looking onto a lake.
The land around it needs work, as does the house itself.
Food: we eat a diverse range of cuisines and need someone open to trying different foods - though not red meat based. We don’t provide specific products for dietary restrictions, such as dairy or gluten free.
We are on the Connemara bus route. The bus routes are Bus Eireann 419 and CityLink 923 (look at the 419 timetable) and Clifden route
Our family is Mark and Nikki (aka Dad and Mam), Maebh (22), Art (11)and Cuan (9). Maebh doesn't stay with us these days as she is working in Dublin.
I am presently a stay at home homeschooling mom after finishing up further education in accounting and previously worked in a street theatre company here in Galway. I continue my education with childcare, horticultural and biodiversity related courses.
Mark and I both have B.A.s in Media and Irish(he), Geography(me).
Mark finished studying a Masters in Primary Education and works in special education.
I have had a variety of extra courses which have led to an eclectic collection on my CV! - Yoga Teacher, Massage Therapist, Horticulture, Biodiversity, Accounting, TEFL, Montessori Childcare, child psychology and Special Needs Assistant!!
We have been to many European destinations, but my favourite travel experience is when I stayed for 7 months in India with Maebh. I went back twice after, but to stay in an ashram and to do training in yoga and massage styles. I know my husband's favourite 'travel' experience was his time spent living in Brazil. He worked as a TEFL teacher.
We have been so grateful for the workaway people we've had - a few have truly been exceptional, beyond our expectations and so gladly received.
We hope you will find our host listing interesting enough to ask more questions about.
Help is Monday- Friday 9.30-3.30 with lunch break around 1/1.30.(but we are flexible enough)
We try to accommodate giving more days off in a row so that people can travel further away - often people think it must not take long to get around Ireland but road networks and transport mean this isn't necessarily true.
We can also guide you to attending free conversational English language exchange evening events in Galway town. Most people have found us easy to understand as we have neutral accents, are used to speaking to non native English speakers and have both been TEFL teachers -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
House & pet sitting
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Interests
Plant care
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food -
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Practicing English - we will try our best to speak as much as possible;. I tend to chat a lot throughout the day as I’m curious to know more about the people staying with us. And at dinner we converse a lot
Enjoying Galway. There is a high student population in Galway which adds to the vibrancy of the city.
Galway is a fun, vibrant town known for its arts and music scene, especially in July with the Film Festival and renowned Galway Arts Festival and Halloween for the Macnas parade. Also a feature is the Galway Market which runs every Saturday and Sunday.
Travelling around on the days off. Numerous beautiful beaches are nearby (Silver Strand, Salthill, Barna), as well as the beautiful Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, and stunning, Irish-speaking Connemara. Also an abundance of lakes, including the one at the back of our house -Ballyquirke Lough. -
Help
May - September: Shelving, building bits and bobs, chopping wood, gardening - pruning and planting and weeding. General maintenance. Using own initiative is important or just a good amount of common sense!
We would love someone with general knowledge of tools usage -
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Irish: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
French: Beginner -
Accommodation
Own Bedroom in a 4 bedroom Detatched House in the countryside.
Alternatively; full caravan on site with memory foam mattress 😊 -
What else ...
We are beside a lake and near coastal areas in Connemara and Salthill.
Galway is well known for it's multicultural aspects and there is always something to do or go to here. There are many festivals or mini festivals. A quick google search would give you some idea! -
A little more information
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Internet access
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Limited internet access
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We have pets
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We are smokers
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Can host families
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How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
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My animals / pets
Nova (2004 years)
Siberian Forest Cat age 4
Rogue (3 years)
Labradoodle - (3/4 poodle)
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (22)
I also feel that this person will use this platform less than I do; as I’ve been using it for almost 10 years, and I think that’s his point of leaving a negative feedback for me. I’m only responding to the fact … read more
She tolerated my going on about non-native invasive plants and probably now knows more about winter heliotrope than she might ever need to know!
When I saw some of Malin’s … read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
I also feel that this person will use this platform less than I do; as I’ve been using it for almost 10 years, and I think that’s his point of leaving a negative feedback for me. I’m only responding to the fact … read more
She tolerated my going on about non-native invasive plants and probably now knows more about winter heliotrope than she might ever need to know!
When I saw some of Malin’s … read more
It's a busy family, … read more
I'm writing you this feedback to say a big thank you. ❤️
For 6 weeks you have been like family and friends to me.
Nikki, a woman full of energy who loves to talk!
Mark, a calm personality who loves to make jokes.
Nikki and Mark agreed to take me in urgently, following a horrible workaway mission. They immediately made me … read more
As a workawayer I was literally an handyman, doing a variety of different jobs like gardener, carpenter,plumber, builder, mechanic, electrician etc. There's a lot of work to do around and inside the … read more
Working with Nikki, I often did things differently than Nicky said, and she treated me with great patience.
She understood my poor English well :)
They helped me in the process of settling in Ireland as well.
(But they wouldn't always be able to help because they're busy.)
Especially, I had a lot of … read more
They did everything to make me feel comfortable. Nikki likes to talk, and so do I, so we got along great.
There is so much to see in Galway, and you can take short trips to see Connemara.
thank Nikki! :)
welcome to visit whenever you can:)
He's the kind of person you could have stay longer:)
His work ethic was to give 100% - and I … read more
You will find this charming family warm, caring and adventurous! It has been such a privilege to stay with them for a few months, it flew by so fast and was so hard to leave. If you're looking for a family-oriented environment this is the place for you! Have mad cooking skills? They love to try new things and are always … read more
On a practical note, from day one I knew exactly what was expected of me and what I needed to do which made everything so easy. Nikki was so helpful with … read more
SO, the main thing is, Renata is fantastic. She stayed with us for … read more
She … read more
Such a blessing to come to Nikki and Mark family! Since my first time with this family, I really know that i would like and maybe love this family. And yeay! It’s really true! I am falling in love with this family. There is no perfect family but they show me, how to share the … read more
From the beginning I knew she was just able to do everything, because she didn't need me to show her the way around the kitchen, instead, telling me kindly, she could find everything herself. It was true. She … read more
