Location A brand new guesthouse, set within the backdrop of the lush Galtee mountains, Barnahown in Mitchelstown offers a fresh base for those wishing to discover one of Munster’s most beautiful, yet unheralded areas. Or indeed, an appealing layover for those travelling onwards to West Cork or Kerry. Located within the environs of Mitchelstown town itself, the roadside farmhouse is flanked to the rear by Friesian-peppered pastures and Munster’s vales folding in the distance.
It makes Barnahown an attractive base for hikers and bikers and while there are no trailheads proper around the property, the car park for the likes of Galtee Mór lies 15km away. 8/10 Style and design Originally an 1800s farmhouse, Barnahown has been refurbished and reimagined by its owner, Ciara O’Brien, who offers a sustainability-centred accommodation with a regenerative tourism ethos. The building strikes an impressive figure from the front with a smartly landscaped garden and pathway leading inside to the property.
Inside, a reception room, guest lounge and a light-filled breakfast room to the rear featuring locally sourced furniture while the walls are adorned with a tasteful selection of local maps and retro prints. A pink staircase adds a pop of colour too. It’s an impressive makeover and while I feel light-coloured walls and polished concrete throughout the ground floor dips the property’s cosiness, it’s clear a lot of thought and consideration has gone into the offering.
8/10 Servi.