Hi I'm Steph Gahan, your host who originally hails from Dublin and moved to Clare in 1978 for the good life, immersing myself in textiles and family, I did my share of over seas travel and went back to college as a mature student. I still work with textiles,enjoy meeting people and traveling between France and Ireland.
My aim is to create a home away from home for you with warmth, peace and relaxation with time in nature. I have a sense of what people need when studying, traveling, having an adventure or just need a good rest, even 2 cats for cat lovers, one who welcomes you with open arms, the other more dignified and they will both leave you alone if you choose not to entertain them.
Mystic Co Clare is steeped in history, storytelling, castles, megalithic sites, spectacular scenery, uncrowed roads, lakes and untouched mountains. Situated on the East Clare Way walking trail we are also in easy reach of the Wild Atlantic way,the Burren national park, memorable Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher, Doonbeg, Killkee, Loop Head, historic Lough Derg on the Shannon river and on long summer days it is possible to visit Connamara in Galway and Dingle in Kerry. It is a joy to discover some or all that the mid West has to offer and leave with a dream of returning another day.
In the past 'Druid cottage' was a thatched milking parlor made from local stone, after much conversion it is now a comfortable and charming homely cottage hidden among the soft rolling hills of East Clare, exactly half way between the villages of Tulla and Feakle in the town-land of Glendree, which means 'Glen of Druids'. In rural Ireland we have townlands (no town) instead of street names with house numbers, we have family named houses as we all know who lives in which house hence the address is very short, you need directions to the house with land marks, not an address!
The town-land of Glendree (Glen of Druids) is a peaceful and relaxing place where you can enjoy clean air, fresh spring water, scenic walks, music, horse riding, alternative therapies, fishing, golf and the 'Craic' in the local pubs. Although rural, it is not really isolated as there are friendly neighbours nearby, myself included, as the cottage is beside my own house. I respect your space and single guests have the comfort of knowing that they are not totally alone n a beautiful hillside.
Have a look at link below of a small video that one of my first guests made on her stay some years ago, the cottage has had some additions and decoration since. I must make another updated version!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwIYB1qtJE8
