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Our holiday home The School House is located in the beautiful valley of Coolkelure near Dunmanway, with beautiful views of Lake Coolkelure , forests and mountains and is also very centrally located in SW Ireland. Coolkelure is Irish for valley of the singing birds . The house used to be home to the schoolmaster who taught in the adjacent school that was in use until about 1960. The house is still authentic but has been expanded and renovated to modern standards. The original part has a cozy living room with a cozy fireplace. We have left the wooden ceilings in the living room and kitchen as well as the stairs completely authentic . The whole house is quite large, but if you are with 1-2 people, you only use the front part and you won't notice anything. If you have a family with children, you can use an extra bedroom. The entire house is also very suitable for 2 families - for example grandparents, children and grandchildren. You then each have your privacy when you want it. We never rent the house to 2 different groups at the same time, so there is no hassle from neighbors. We wouldn't like to have to share the house ourselves!
The house has a terrace and a large lawn. There you can sit comfortably and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake, the forests and the mountains. Children have plenty of space to play here.
Location
The school House is centrally located in the south-west of Ireland and from here you can explore all the beauty of the entire south-west on day trips. For example, The Ring of Kerry is located to the northwest, Ring of Beara to the west, Mizen Head to the southwest, Beautiful coastal route (Wild Atlantic Way) with nice beaches to the south, Cork, Kinsale, Cobh (of the Titanic) to the south-east, nature with walking routes north at Gougane Barra and Inchigeelagh. It can all be reached within 30-75 minutes. Cork Airport is only 60km away, which is a 50 minute drive. I have highlighted 10 sights on the map below, but we have much more information and tips for excursions in the house.
Direct environment
Coolkelure is an old estate from the time of English rule. There is a Manor (large country house), a gate Lodge (gate house), a Rectory (parsonage) and diagonally opposite the house (100m) is an old church. Next to The School House is the old school, which is now empty. All these buildings date from the 19th century. The Manor is even older. Coolkelure walk (8km) takes you past all these places, including 2 lakes and the highest mountain in the area (Nowen Hill). This walking tour should not be missed during your visit to the house. There is a jetty on the lake 150 meters in front of the house where you can fish for wild trout or swim .
Dunmanway, with indoor swimming pool
Dunmanway, a town with 2500 inhabitants, is 6 km from our house. Here we do our daily shopping in one of the 5(!) supermarkets that are open until late. Also on Sundays. There are 6 pubs and you can enjoy delicious food in the Parkway Hotel (every day) or in the pub The Southern Bar (Fri-Sun). Most pubs have free WIFI. Also takeaway: pizza or Chinese. There are shops and a bank with an ATM. In addition to a Pitch and Putt course is the new indoor swimming pool with gym in Dunmanway.
Tips from ourselves, from our own experience
We have been coming here on holiday for years and know the wider area very well. We have a lot of information and tips in the house for day trips, nice places to eat and drink, playgrounds for young children, activities for older children, zoo, swimming pool, fishing spots, where you can catch crabs at the sea with children ( and how...), rock climbing, walking, etc. But it is also wonderful to just stay at the house itself. So nice and quiet. Outside on the terrace or cozy inside by the fireplace.
The journey
If we go to Ireland for 1 or 2 weeks, we take the plane and rent a car (but make sure you reserve online!). If we go for a longer period, we take our own car and go by ferry. We can also provide the necessary information about the various travel options and of course we also have detailed directions to our house.
Reviews
We only joined Micazu in 2018 and not everything was booked through here. However, we have been renting out the house during the holidays for a number of years and I have also added the (handwritten) reviews from the guestbook in the house to the photos. Stay longer? discount on stays of 2 or 3 weeks!
Please read the information about our house carefully and view the photos. Please feel free to contact us, even if you have any questions.
See you soon!
Jan van den Boomen
