True Irish Escapes
Date: 04/22/2004
The Irish Landmark Trust has 11 restored properties to rent, including this lightkeeper's house on a headland in County Antrim.
Dear Reader,
You can have a Georgian coach house with stables and a cobblestoned courtyard...a lightkeeper's cottage with the best sea views in town...or a fully restored 12th-century castle...all to yourself...for a fraction what you'd pay to stay in an average hotel room. Plus, if you're an artist, you pay less again.
The Irish Landmark Trust conserves and restores historically important buildings in Ireland, and some are available to holidaymakers as self-catering rentals.
For example, the octagonal-shaped Wicklow Head Lighthouse. Established in September 1781, Wicklow Head's first light was actually part of a pair of lighthouses built on the promontory at the same time. Sleeping four to six people in two bedrooms and on a double sofa bed, the lighthouse has one bathroom. Other rooms include a living room, and a kitchen located right at the top. The property is private and is surrounded by open ground. Private parking is available on site. Depending on season rental rates are between 735 euro ($875) and 1,175 euro ($1,400) weekly. Between October and May, you might be able to rent it midweek--Monday to Friday--for 440 euro ($525).
Near Fermoy in county Cork, Anne's Grove will appeal to romantics and lovers of the Gothic. It's a miniature replica of a medieval castle built in 1853. Sleeping just two people in one double bedroom, it has a bathroom, cozy kitchen, and living room. Weekly rental rates are between 325 euro ($385) and 465 euro ($555). In winter, you can rent it for the weekend for 250 euro ($300). As with everything in the Irish Landmark Trust's portfolio, Anne's Grove does not have a telephone or television.
Some properties have disabled access. Contact the Trust for details.
The Irish Landmark Trust, 25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2; tel. (353)1-670-4733; fax (353)1-670-4887; e-mail: info@irishlandmark.com; website: http://www.irishlandmark.com.
Steenie Harvey
Roving Euro-editor, International Living
P.S. Discounted rates are offered to artists...as long as you leave behind a piece of work relating to your stay.
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