“My brother rented a house name was Brow O’ The Hill in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland.”
Brow O’s The Hill presented multiple health deficiencies. We arrived on April 25, 2026. The house was cold, but heat came on at 10:00PM. We went to bed. On April 26, 2026, we awoke to a cold house with no heat. We tried calling the contact on the documents in the house. The calls immediately responded with busy. We left the house to play golf. We returned at night and the house was cold, but the heat came on at 10:00PM. Woke up April 27, 2026, to a cold house. Called “Margaret” and again the calls went to busy. We called the owner. He said he only had the heat on from 10:00AM to 12:00PM and from 10:00PM to 12:00AM. He said we should put a fire in the fireplace. We know nothing about operating a fireplace and there wasn’t anything to burn. The owner has bad judgement in asking us to start a fire in the fireplace. Knowing nothing about a fireplace could have resulted us in burning down his house. The owner said he would have someone contact us. I think having no heat is a health risk. Further, it is hard to sleep when you are cold.
We also complained about the dead bugs and live bugs on the floor of the kitchen. He said those were common and we just had to live with the bugs. Again, this is a health risk as the bugs could transmit disease. If I have bugs at home, I call an exterminator.
We received a call. She said the owner wanted an additional 300 euros to turn on the heat for the rest of our stay. We should pay the 300 euros to the person who was going to mop the floor.
Lastly, when we arrived at Brow O’ the Hill, there were four garbage cans, and all four garbage cans had refuse in them. The garbage cans attracted flies. The garbage cans were right below the kitchen windows
On one day came and took two garbage cans to the garbage truck. She waited until the garbage truck arrived. Garbage cans with garbage in them are a health hazard. Since all four cans contained garbage when we arrived, The owner is not emptying the garbage cans when he should. Further, should have arrived earlier and had all four garbage cans emptied.
The owner is operating a rental cottage with unsafe health conditions.
We left Saturday May 9, 2026.
We appreciate all feedback, both positive and negative, as we continually strive to provide an excellent experience for our guests at The Brow on the Hill. However, we were very concerned by the overall tone of your comments, particularly the suggestion that the Cottage has “multiple health deficiencies,” which we strongly dispute.
Addressing your points individually:
Heating:
The heating is scheduled for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, which is appropriate for the time of year and consistent with typical usage during the temperatures experienced at the time of your visit. You requested that the heating be left on continuously, 24 hours a day for almost two weeks. We explained that this was not feasible as the system operates on oil and on 25th April there was both a significant increase in fuel costs and a national shortage of fuel due to widespread protests disrupting supply.
Despite this, we offered to extend the heating by an additional two hours at no extra charge, or alternatively to run the heating throughout the night for an additional fee of €300, which you chose. We would also note that additional blankets were available within the property but do not appear to have been used.
We also acknowledge that while the open fireplace is a normal and traditional heating option in Irish homes, we fully understand and respect that you may not have been comfortable using it.
Woodlice (Slaters):
You mentioned the presence of woodlice in the kitchen. This can occasionally occur in Irish homes, particularly older properties, as they are attracted to external moisture and can enter through very small gaps. We have taken all reasonable steps to prevent this issue, including maintaining a high standard of cleanliness, ensuring regular ventilation, reducing moisture levels and sealing any visible entry points. We have also used appropriate pest control measures.
While we accept that there was a higher than usual number present (approx 15), we responded immediately by offering to thoroughly clean and hoover the area at no cost, which was completed. It is important to note that woodlice are harmless and do not pose any health risk.
Bins:
Regarding the bins, these are typically positioned at the side of the property, out of view from the house. They may occasionally be moved by guests for convenience. Collection is carried out on a two-week cycle in line with local arrangements. We were not aware that only two bins had been emptied and appreciate this being brought to our attention. We will address this directly with our caretaker.
We genuinely value guest feedback and always take practical steps to address any issues raised. We are proud of the consistently positive experiences reported by the vast majority of our visitors and we remain committed to maintaining those standards.
We hope that, despite these concerns, you were still able to enjoy aspects of your stay and enjoyed your golfing and we thank you again for bringing your comments to our attention. Edwin
Property Owner
