Pet care and co-living in the Mealagh Valley, Bantry, Ireland

Infos

• 

  Description

  Hello! I'm Myrthe — a student of psychotherapy, holistic massage therapist, and long-time Workaway host living in the peaceful MEALAGH Valley, near Bantry in West Cork. As I head into my final year of university, I’m looking for a responsible, animal-loving person to share my home and help care for my pets during two key time periods.
  
  📅 Availability
  I’m looking for someone to stay for a full three months during either of the following:
  September to November
  February to April/May
  This setup is not the typical Workaway exchange. It’s a room-only exchange (no meals provided) in return for around 15 hours of help per week.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: if you don't have your own transport, I'm afraid we won't be a match. This is a non-negotiable.
  
  🐶 What You’ll Be Helping With
  The primary task is caring for my two dogs and one cat:
  - Feeding and walking the dogs twice daily
  - Giving medication as needed
  - Letting them out midday (if you’re around)
  - Providing general companionship and a calm, consistent presence — especially for one of my dogs, who is blind and easily anxious
  
  This takes about 1.5 hours per day, five days a week.
  In addition, I ask for one full day each week (approx. 6 - 8 hours) to help with non-household tasks such as:
  - Cleaning or checking in on my mother’s nearby apartment
  - Gardening
  - Odd seasonal tasks or errands
  
  These duties vary depending on the time of year and what’s needed.
  
  🏡 About the Living Situation
  
  You’ll have:
  - A private bedroom with en-suite bathroom
  - All bills included (heat, electricity, internet)
  - Access to shared kitchen and living room
  - A quiet, rural setting perfect for remote work, writing, or rest
  
  Please note: Meals and groceries are not included — you'll need to shop and cook for yourself.
  
  🧹 Co-Living Expectations
  This is not just a exchange — it’s a house share, so mutual respect and basic cleanliness are really important.
  We’ll both be responsible for keeping our shared living spaces tidy, doing our own dishes, and keeping common areas clean. These co-living tasks are not included in your Workaway hours — they're just part of sharing a home.
  
  🚗 A Few Essentials
  - The house is rural, about 14 km from Bantry — you’ll need your own transport
  - WiFi is available, but mobile signal is patchy
  - Ideal for independent, grounded people who enjoy nature, animals, and a slower pace of life
  
  If you’re looking for a peaceful three-month stay with furry friends, nature all around, and a warm shared home — and are happy to exchange 15 hours of help a week for private accommodation — I’d love to hear from you!

• 

  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
• 

  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We’ve hosted volunteers for over 30 years, and love meaningful conversation alongside plenty of quiet time. You’ll experience rural Irish life, scenic walks, and the rhythms of a slower, nature-connected lifestyle. We also have a large holistic health library (with books in English and Dutch) to explore.

• 

  Aide

  I need support with daily animal care (feeding, walking, medication) for two rescue dogs and a cat — all sweet but with their quirks, so confidence with animals is essential. In addition, one full day a week is dedicated to gardening, cleaning or general seasonal tasks.

• 

  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Hollandais: Courant
  Allemand: Débutant
  Français: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
  
• 

  Hébergement

  You’ll have a private bedroom with your own en-suite bathroom in a shared country home. The room is centrally located with access to both my apartment and my mother’s, depending on who is around.

• 

  Autres infos...

  We are located in the Mealagh Valley, 14 km from the nearest town, Bantry, in West Cork, Ireland. It's a rural area, but I travel to Bantry a few times a week and can give you a lift if you want to explore. Hiring a car is recommended for more extensive exploration, or you can rent bikes from the local town
  
  This is a great place for those who love the outdoors, nature, and walking. We are on the famous 'Sheepshead Way' and 'St Finbarr Pilgrims Path' walkways. In our local town, there are great pubs and places to eat, as well as Bantry House and Gardens, and a cinema. You can take a trip to Whiddy Island or the renowned Garnish Islands in Glengarriff. Glengarriff is a nature reserve with beautiful native woodlands.
  
  The Wild Atlantic Way is beautiful and rugged, and the views of the bay on a clear day are breathtaking.
  
  If you need a suburban life, close to shops and other conveniences, this might not be the place for you. We are enveloped in nature in wild West Cork.
  
  What to Bring
  Please bring work clothes, including shoes/boots that can get dirty and clothes suitable for painting and other messy tasks. We provide work gloves.
  
  Weather
  Irish weather can be unpredictable, so bring clothing for all conditions, including layers for warmth, rain, and cold.

• 

  Informations complémentaires

  • 

    Accès Internet

  • 

    Accès Internet limité

  • 

    Nous avons des animaux

  • 

    Nous sommes fumeurs

  • 

    Familles bienvenues

• 

  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  There is a desk space in the bedroom you will be sleeping in. Plenty of room for setting up a work space!

• 

  Espace pour garer des vans

  Cet hôte a de la place pour les vans.

• 

  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Un

• 

  Mes animaux

  

  Ruby

  The Matriarch of the household my little cat Ruby is around 13 years old. Maybe older. She is showing her age and walks around the place like she owns it. And she probably does.
  
  She has daily meditation to keep her going and needs to kept an eye on when in the kitchen. She has been found sitting in the middle of the frying pan licking around her, regardless if the pan is still a little hot!

  

  Jazz

  Jazz is my most recent rescue. She is perhaps around 3. She needs lots of love. she can be very needy :)
  
  She does not always listen very well so needs to be kept on the lead. It can feel like she takes you for a walk rather than the other way around.
  
  She needs to be left out often as her bladder is not the best at behaving :)

  

  Lukey

  My first rescue dog. He is around 7. But could also be older.. definitely act like it sometimes :)
  He has two eye conditions. PRA - which means he is slowly going blind.. he currently sees shadows and movement in full light. Almost fully blind in the dark. His second eye condition is closely monitored.
  
  He needs a lot of minding. He can get anxious easily and needs lots of reassurance. You also need to make sure you watch him when he walking so he does not walk into anything! He loves playing with his ball.. a special one that makes lots of noise.
  
  He has to be taken on the same walk everyday. Not very interesting fro us and for him, but safe!
  
  He is my baby :)

Sécurité du site

Feedback (18)