My partner Peter and I had a great opportunity to live in Ireland for 3 months and couldn’t have chosen a better spot than the Old Pub Cottage near Lauragh, Co. Kerry. It was a sweet, rustic, cozy cottage and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay along with many extras like a wood burning fireplace, two bathrooms, and a washer and dryer. Our hosts, Eileen and Robert O’Shea were helpful and attentive without being invasive. They answered all our questions, made great suggestions of where to go and what to do and kept us well stocked with wood!
The view from every window was spectacular and the cottage was situated in a place that was perfect to relax, sink into the abundant natural beauty of the immediate area, but also had easy access to visit some of the most spectacular places I’ve ever seen! The Beara Peninsula is a beautiful and unspoiled part of Ireland. There were some wonderful eating places, like Pedals and Boots Café, and Josie’s Lakeview House restaurant on the shore of Glanmore Lake. We did a lot of hiking and walking while there, and there are trails everywhere to ancient archeological sites, standing stones, medieval castles and forts, famine ruins, often along the ocean shore, and always, within view the stunning beauty of the hills and mountains. I took a lot of pictures and have posted some of my favourites.

Eileen and Robert could not have been more friendly, warm or inviting. They welcomed us as if into their own home. We were greeted by a roaring fire and a boiling kettle. Two very nice and interesting people to talk to, full of useful ideas and ready to offer assistance. The house is utterly charming. It is a warm cosy shelter from the elements and a welcome sight at the end of a days travels. It is surprisingly spacious, with an open plan downstairs and generous sized bedrooms. Robert crafted most, if not all, of the wood craft with great skill and talent. Eileen is responsible for the beautiful drapery. With this house nature comes right up to your door. At night you can hear the sheep, the occasional fox and even some deer. The entire family, dog included really enjoyed their stay in this special little house. The Beara Peninsula is breathtaking. Even though it was November we had sunshine most days. I will review the locations we visited separately but top marks went to Bonane Heritage Park, Healy Pass and Glengarriff. There are distances to be travelled but once you get your bearings it is a fantastic location to be in. We were sorry to leave.

From the moment you open the door to this cottage, you're greeted by the warmth and friendliness of a true home away from home. The woodstove will be roaring, to drive away the dampness of a rainy day, and Eileen will have a pot of tea ready for you. She'll give you a quick tour of the cottage and it's history as an illegal pub (what fun!). Her husband will take you to the map on the wall and point out all of the interesting local sights to see. Then, they'll let you know where to find them (at the bottom of the lane) if you have any questions, and leave you to your own devices.

The Beara peninsula is an increcible place to visit. Stunning hikes and drives, cliffs, ocean views, caves, gardens, and mountains. Read through the guest book when you get here - past guests have provided their recommendations for the best sights to see - very useful! For such a teensy-looking cottage, you'll be amazed to find 1.5 bathrooms upstairs, and two full bedrooms (one single, one double). The kitchen is fully-equipped, and the living room has that lovely woodstove as a focal point. Wifi was included when we visited, and fast enough that we could stream Netflix.

Note that you'll be expected to pay for the electricity that you use at the end of your stay. We did not use the washer or dryer, and heated exclusively with the woodstove, so our bill came to only 3 Euros total, which appeared to be below the typical 5 Euros/day.

The only reason I don't want to recommend this cottage to everyone looking for a place to stay away from the hustle and bustle is that it might not be available the next time my wife and I want to book it!

This cottage was the perfect place for me and my husband to spend time away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The location was ideal to explore the ring of Beara.
The owners Eileen and Robert very warmly welcomed us when we arrived. They gave us lots of information on the places to visit and restaurants we could try. Eileen and Robert made sure the cottage had all the essential items to make us feel at home.
We loved the evenings sitting in front of the wood burner and the afternoon teas we had in the front garden admiring the mountain views.
There's a few places nearby which must be visited. Healey pass by car or bike, Glenichiquin Park and Derren Gardens.