Trust properties are highly recommended for Irish stay

Planning a visit to Ireland in 2025? Already deciding “where to go,” “what to do,” and “where to eat”? I can’t help you with any of these decisions, but if you’re considering “where to stay,” I can recommend properties owned by the Irish Landmark Trust that are among the most unique, bespoke, and out-of-the-ordinary experiences you can imagine. Fancy staying in a 19th-century thatched cottage in the Limerick countryside, in a lighthouse in County Donegal, or a mews house in Dublin? Problem solved.

Properties in the Irish Landmark Trust are a collection of restored/recycled characterful buildings, 33 in all, that are available for self-catering holidays. Founded in 1992, the Trust is a non-profit, educational charity whose mission is to save, share, and sustain Ireland’s building heritage. Conservation architects, artisan builders, and traditional craftspeople are engaged in the restoration process, and together they work to strike the perfect balance between historical integrity and modern convenience, one that ensures guests will enjoy all the comforts of a twenty-first century holiday in an authentic Irish building. 

I learned of the Trust properties more than 15 years ago, touring stunning Galley Head Lightkeeper’s House in Clonakilty, romantic Annes Grove Miniature Castle in Castletownroche (both in County Cork), and charming Salterbridge Gatelodge in Cappoquin, County Waterford.

We later spent the night in Kilkenny at a property that combined a 15th-century tower house and 19th-century farmhouse. Our stay proved to be quite a “haunting” experience, and I learned a few years later that the property is no longer part of the Trust’s collection (not sure if there’s a connection!).

Galley Head is actually two properties, one originally for the daytime lightkeeper and the other for the lightkeeper on duty at night. Located on a headland in the Atlantic Ocean, the views are spectacular, and the surrounding area has some of the loveliest beaches in Cork. Gerald Butler, the property host, grew up at Galley Head and was its Lighthouse keeper for a time. His knowledge is, naturally, priceless. 

More recently, I visited the Merrion Mews (63 Fitzwilliam Lane), a beautifully renovated coachman’s cottage just off Dublin’s fashionable Merrion Square. The property dates from the 1790s, is within walking distance of most city center attractions, has space for parking, and WIFI. Most properties do not offer WIFI access in order to provide complete “digital detox,” instead stocking the houses with board games, playing cards, and books. The extremely well-equipped Dublin house is beautifully decorated, sleeps six, and perhaps its most unique feature is that the property is located above working stables which are used “on occasion” by the Mounted Unit of An Garda Síochána (Irish Police). Residents are advised that “horses may come and go during the nighttime, as well as during the day,” but house manager Aaron Faye assured me “that’s actually more of an attraction than a warning.”

According to Faye, “Lots of people rent the property especially for the horses. We have a lot of horse-lovers from the U.S. and U.K. and they’re often disappointed when the horses don’t show up.”

Faye confirmed that the stables are used only when the mounted unit is in town for big events, so guests don’t have equine neighbors on a regular basis. “Families from Europe, folks who come to Dublin for sporting events or for business, love the freedom that comes with self-catering accommodations and the experience that comes with a place like this.”

Inchiquin House, Corofin, Co. Clare.

A holiday at an Irish Landmark Trust Property is truly an immersive experience. The properties are certainly not museums, but exciting pieces of history conserved for future generations to enjoy. For a full listing of properties, a calendar of availability, and things you should know regarding handicapped accessibility, pet policy, and local attractions, visit irishlandmark.com.

Margaret Johnson’s “Recipes” page now includes “Ireland Hopping: Adventures in Food, Drink, and Travel.” For further details on her work, including how to order her cookbooks, visit irishcook.com.