“We set off with an early start from the Mountains of Mourne only to arrive in Gurranebane seven hours later, weary from the journey with three children in tow.”
Cahersiveen was a welcome sight and immediately the prominent church and barracks caught our attention, as did the bustle of a traditional Irish town with delightful window displays to welcome any keen tourist! We turned up the hill and arrived, with a warm, spacious and spotlessly clean 'home away from home' to welcome us on our first family stay in the Kingdom of Kerry. The laneway was adorned with wild fuchsia and montbretia, hydrangeas and flax flowered tall throughout the garden and beyond their horizon lay the stunning views towards castles, ring forts, sea and mountain that would capture our imagination and be the subject of many conversations throughout our stay.
Over the course of seven days we explored Valentia Island, Dingle Bay, Sneem, Killarney National Park, Waterville, Derrynane, Rossbeigh, Caherdaniel and so much more. Our minds were occupied with stories of famous Kerrymen such as Hugh O'Flaherty, Daniel O'Connell, Thomas Sneam, and Olympic medalists. Our evenings were spent relaxing in the absolutely idyllic calm of Gurranebane were the children played on the lawn, explored the gardens and soaked up the stunning views.
We felt welcome here. A woven basket of turf and a hearty stove were the perfect accompaniment to a few glasses of Oyster Bay and the constantly changing skyline provided all the relaxation we could have asked for, and more.
The house itself exceeded our expectations: this felt like a happy home, which has been filled with life and laughter. The neutral colour scheme was punctuated with colourful, tasteful art, carefully selected books, a stocked pantry and well placed furniture. The beds were extremely comfortable and the cupboards filled with golf clubs, body boards, a thoughtful beach bag of buckets, spades and 'fun stuff'. Our son spent hours digging a hole on a beach and it was the best day of his holiday (clearly our historical trip to Derrynane didn't quite hit the mark!). Dining was spacious and seamless with a table in both kitchen and main dining room. It was immaculate but welcoming, inviting and well-equipped. This property will not disappoint on any level and offers everything you could possibly need for your stay in Kerry.
We love to shop and dine locally when on holiday and we were met with a warm welcome everywhere in Cahersiveen. This is a wonderful coastal town that captured our hearts, and Gurranebane will most definitely capture yours!
Our only regret is that we could not stay longer!
