We love to hear from our guests, and who better to hear from than our Irish Landmark Trust super supporters? Vincent and Helen O’Meara have 24 visits under their belt, and were kind enough to share their experience with us!
By the time summer 2024 fully kicks in, myself and my wife will have enjoyed 24 stays in Irish Landmark Trust properties, encompassing 13 different locations. Doing the maths, one quickly realises that this means numerous return/repeat visits.
I find myself wondering what is so special about these places? Why have we racked up such a substantial body of work with the Irish Landmark Trust? Well, first of all, it’s not work! All of our stays have that distinct Irish Landmark Trust vibe in common. Relaxing, cosy and away from it all. Discovering the new world around us and the history of where we are staying (even though it may be down the road from us!). It is wonderful to be able to appreciate and witness the journey that the building has been on, as we add our own small chapter to the story ( check out the visitor books!).
All of the properties have their own unique character, and invariably are perfect bases to explore the locality and further afield. There is just the two of us, so we tend to go to the smaller capacity properties – it’s romantic (we often stay around special occasions) and practical. A different, stylish and often quirky take on a self-catering holiday.
We can say to friends that we have stayed in lighthouses, castles, gatelodges, cottages and so on – all thanks to the Irish Landmark Trust. We have had magical stays on every occasion. The return visits are lovely. The work that has been done and is ongoing is amazing and so important. It is a significant reason why we continue to stay in Irish Landmark Trust properties. So many are ideal for couples.
Stand-out memories are multiple and hard to single out..but…here goes..Gerald in Galley Head bringing us up to the lighthouse..what a man! The history of Irish lighthouses and the Irish Landmark Trust’s contribution to fostering that. Wicklow lighthouse – the flagship property…cooking in an octagonal kitchen 109 odd steps up at the top of a lighthouse looking out to sea! Anne’s Grove Castle so cosy and creepy..Donegal’s railway cottage..Salterbridge gatelodge..such a fabulous, cosy base…we were lucky to experience Russborough..and Castletown..the impressively gothic and literally Batty, Langley. I have to mention Killee Cottage too, a recent addition, but like Salterbridge – a cosy base, wonderfully restored. Lots to see and do. That is only a snippet from our memories, I could go on.
A wish for the future would be to see the continuation of the good work in preserving/ restoring and saving historic properties. Also I would love to see more Irish people being aware of this work and staying in these properties. We often fail to realise the riches that are on our doorstep. Thank you to all of the staff in the Irish Landmark Trust over the years down to the present day. All the best for the future.
Vincent and Helen O’Meara, Clonmel.