11
bedroom Irish manor house vacation rental - Clifden Founder's Mansion
two
blocks
from Clifden town square in the Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.
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CLIFDEN
FOUNDER'S
MANSION
Connemara,
County Galway, Ireland
Accommodates
22
11
bedrooms
11 bathrooms, 1 guest
powder room
This
house, right in the village, is one of the oldest houses in
Clifden. It was built by John D'arcy, who
founded Clifden town in 1823. In the mid-1800's, it became the
property of the Church of Ireland. During the Irish Civil War, it
was under siege and one gable was
breached. For years after that, it was a Sisters of Mercy girls’
finishing school.
It was finally purchased by the present owner's family, who restored
the building.
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The house is perched
on a hill above the village. It's
a 2-minute walk down to the High Street. Views are over the
village
and the church and the Twelve Bens Mountains.
One
crosses a mature and exuberant garden to reach the house. Enter
an inviting hallway that has Connemara marble floors, golden-yellow
walls and crisp white woodwork.
The drawing room is to the left, the dining room to the right.
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The
drawing room is sunny and bright. Decorated in traditional Irish
style that is consistent with the house. It has two large,
comfortable sofas
covered in white damask, several easy chairs, a piano and an
occasional table and four armchairs. There are family antiques
including a grandfather
clock, cocoa brown walls and bright white
woodwork. A turf fire, paintings, Oriental rugs,
white cotton curtain and high ceilings add to the warm ambiance.
The
long dining room has a large window looking onto the
front garden and, beyond that, glimpses of the village.
Walls are taupe and curtains are white. The long mahogany table seats 16 comfortably. An
additional small table can be added,
but it's a bit of a squeeze.
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Adjacent
to the dining room
is a comfortable study that has a cushy leather sofa and a leather wing
chair, an antique writing desk. Walls are silvery-green, the
carpet is beige. There is a fireplace with a carved mantle, Sky
TV,
video player and DVD, books, games, DVD's. A large window looks toward the front of the
property. This is a great
place to completely relax
or have a quiet conversation
away from the rest of the crowd. |
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A terrific
office/library is near the kitchen. It has finely crafted
built-in book cases, an Aga stove for beauty and warmth, a pine
dresser. There is high speed wireless internet connection, a fax
machine and a writing desk. People gravitate to this room, as did
we.
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The
cook's kitchen has a Siemens double oven and a commercial hob, two
Belfast sinks and a
large American refrigerator with an ice maker, a commercial
dishwasher
and a microwave. Counter tops and the back splash are dark green
tiles. Three
walls are tongue and groove paneling.
Walls
and Shaker-style
cupboards are painted cream. There is green stained-glass in some
cabinet
doors. This
kitchen is no-nonsense, but it's not scary. Even non-cooks love
to sit at the farm table. The
adjacent utility/ironing
room has two washing machines and two dryers.
Four
of the bedrooms
have a king bed that can convert to twin
beds. Two bedrooms have a queen bed. Five bedrooms have
standard
double beds.
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There
are three bedrooms on the main level. One has a king bed that can
convert to twin beds. The headboard is antique mahogany. There is
a cupboard and a desk and chair. The tall window looks out to the
gardens. The en suite bathroom has a tub and shower
over tub.
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One
bedroom has a double bed and a single bed, each with duvet and white
cover. There is a built-in clothes cupboard and a desk and chair.
Walls are white. Curtained windows look onto the front
garden. The en suite tiled bathroom
has a shower.
The
third bedroom, where we've stayed, has a king bed that could convert to
twin
beds and nice chests of drawers and a writing desk. The room's
colors are gold and red - it's a bright room
even
on cloudy days. The en suite bathroom, black tile and white
fixtures, has a tub with shower over tub.
The
upstairs bedrooms are in the main house and a wing. The bedrooms
in the wing are smaller and more utilitarian, but most bedrooms
have
TV, direct dial telephones, comfortable beds and high quality
linens. From the upstairs hallway, one can go directly outside
via a little
bridge.
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Another bedroom is to the right at the top of the
stairs. It has a standard double bed with a white cover. and a
nice chest of drawers, a writing desk and a clothes closet. Walls are
green and the window looks down to the gardens. The sunny
green and yellow en suite bathroom has a tub with shower over tub.
The room shown below is to the left at the top of the
stairs. It has a standard double bed
and a dressing table, clothes closet and chest of drawers.
Walls are soft yellow over original white painted wood
work. The blackmailed en suite bathroom has a tub with
shower over tub.
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This
room has a queen bed with a headboard upholstered in Irish tweed.
There is a beautiful antique armoire, a desk and a chest of
drawers. Walls are soft white with sharper white wood work.
The black-tiled en suite bathroom has a shower stall.
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One
bedroom has twin beds with white cotton covers. There is a tall
armoire, a writing desk and a chest of drawers. The black-tiled
bathroom has a shower stall.
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This
room, at the far end of the hall, has a king bed, a tall armoire, a
desk and a chest of drawers, a comfortable chair. This room has
two windows, both of which look down onto the gardens. The tiled
bathroom has a shower stall.
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This
is a homey bedroom that has a queen bed made of local pine, two roomy
built-in clothes cupboards and a combination desk/dressing table, a
comfortable chair. The black-tiled bathroom has a shower stall. |
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This
is a smaller bedroom, but it is very nice. It has a queen bed and
vintage storage pieces. The large tiled bathroom (not black!)
has a bathtub with shower over tub.
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The
mature gardens are beautiful with room to stroll and play. From
the driveway, you'll see the
main
garden that has a small pool with fish. And there's an anchor
from a ship of
the Spanish Armada. There is attractive garden furniture.
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From
the front garden there are views of the mountains. The rest
of
the garden has a high evergreen hedge.
The
swimming pool area has a 6-person
sauna.
The pool can be used from June through August. The hard tennis
court
is there for you to enjoy year ‘round.
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A
2-minute walk takes you into right into the village center.
Clifden is a
lively and friendly place with excellent restaurants, authentic pubs
and very nice shops - including a high-end grocery store.
It is an excellent base for touring the gorgeous and haunting area
called
the Connemara. The beaches are beautiful, empty and clean.
At every turn, you'll see glorious mountain scenery. There are
Irish
craft
shops, many ancient Celtic sites and places to ramble in the
Twelve Bens Mountains. County Mayo, just to the north, is
beautiful. There's lots of golf, of course, and we can tell you
all about that.
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Day
trips to the Aran Islands (Inishbofin, Clareisland, Inishturk) can be
arranged
by ferry or, for smaller parties, the owner might take you there in his
motor boat. This must be arranged in advance. Children
are warmly welcomed at this property, but be aware that the pool is not
gated. Shannon
Airport is 100 miles. Galway City is 45 miles. Dublin is
180
miles.
ACCESSIBILITY
NOTICE:
The
main floor bedrooms are accessible to travelers with moderate mobility
limitations. The showers and bath tubs have safety rails.
There are stairs up to the house from the village.
2008 Weekly Prices
This property books early, you should book early to
assure your dates.
Heating for the house and the pool & electricity are extra, charged
at cost by meter readings.
€1000 refundable security deposit is payable on
arrival.
Cleaning 3 hours daily can be arranged at E15
per hour each to two cleaners.
Cooking can be arranged
at E40 per person for a formal dinner and less for a simple
dinner. Arrange far in advance.
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Other Times
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May, June, September |
July and August
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Xmas/NY/Easter
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€ 2500
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€ 3800 |
€ 5700
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€ 5200
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