Reviews
Lovely Cottage in a Quaint Village! : This cottage is a fantastic place to stay, the pictures and description of the cottage is exactly as stated. The location alone allows you to travel to so many places in Ireland in a just a day trip. The cottage is more than what you expect when you think of a cottage, it is neat and clean with all of the amenities that you want and need. The kitchen is gourmet with plenty of cupboards and all the necessary utensils. The luxury of having a sitting room and a living room allow your family or traveling group to have space to spread out. Plenty of bedrooms, beautiful baths and a wonderful backyard really round out the whole experience. The owner was extremely helpful with answering questions as well as offering some terrific suggestions of places to ride (horseback) as well as places to stay when we made our way back to Dublin for the trip home. I would recommend this property to everyone, it is a perfect place to stay! We loved, loved, loved this home away from home and look forward to visiting again, in the future. Thank you so very much for sharing this wonderful place with our family! We enjoyed walking to the docks in the mornings as well as taking the walking trail. There are two pubs, one is perfect for meals and local music, the other is perfect for a pint and a round of pool.
Set on the amazing Loch Derg this cottage is a vacationer's dream come true. Traveled to the nearby towns on the lake and found we were centrally located to many wonderful sites. And to end many of our days a stop in to the next door pub proved to be quite satisfying to thirst and hunger. Would strongly recommend a car for your stay but we also enjoyed many relaxing strolls in the vicinity of the house. Very comfortable accommodations with all the comforts of home. One week was far too short.
Wonderful Home: We were the first to stay in the Cottage after the renovation and were just blown away by how lovely the home was! We took several photos of the cottage to remember our wonderful time in Ireland and thought you might like to have them. The Cottage is very special and the renovation modernises the cottage in a sensitive manner and enhances its charm. Thank you for letting us stay at you beautiful home. Everyone in town was welcoming and helpful. The location was perfect--not too long of a drive to key sites but secluded enough to feel away from it all. Thanks you!!
Lovely Stay in the Country: This was such a perfect home base for our first week of stay in Ireland. A comfortable cozy charming home with all the amenities and a Magical Garden to sit and relax... (that's what we called it). Loch Derg was beautiful and the forest trail just moments from the front door was spectacular. We enjoyed our times in both pubs, Larkins and Ciss Ryan and we we're completely welcomed by the locals. We took several day trips too, one to The Rock of Caschel and The Holy Cross Abby. We drove out to Killalough (about 15 minutes) and took the boat ride of Loch Derg. We drove to Gallway, which was about an hour and a half, that was a charming town and lovely for shopping. We also met many locals in Nenaugh, Ciss Ryan & Larkins, that gave us some behind the scene tips. The best treat was the hike up to the Millinium Cross and the drive was only about a mile away. We loved Garry Kennedy, I had the best sleep of my life and we would go back in a Heart Beat!!
Highest Ratings for Garrykennedy Cottage: The biggest and most difficult decision I needed to make for my family's two week vacation in Ireland was about booking a "country" home for us to stay in. I knew from my first conversation with the owner that I had made a good decision. When we arrived after a easy drive from Dublin the entire family was sure as well. Garrykennedy is a very comforting place, with a gorgeous lakefront and two friendly inviting pubs where owners and patrons alike make you feel comfortable. However, plopped right in the middle is the real gem.........Garrykennedy Cottage with its inviting courtyard, beautiful gardens a great Irish country look. (pushed our American buttons) The very complete cottage "manual" sent to us by the owners prepared us for the "how-tos" of our stay but could prepare us for how wonderful the property was. We immediately met the charming, and very thorough, cleaning lady who soon left us to an immaculate and comfortable "home away from home" that we enjoyed fully for our weeks stay. The rooms are spacious, well appointed and the bathrooms were modern (with a country feel.........wooden floors) and had all the conveniences. Soon after our arrival I received a call at the cottage from the owner asking if all was well and did we have any questions or concerns............the same was done the night before we left.
We found the cottage central to all things we wanted to do. The town of Nenaugh is a treasure with great shops, people and pubs. We took day trips to Galway, Kilkenny, Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher and Cork always finding ourselves back at the cottage to use the fantastic kitchen ( I am a better than average cook and found the range to be the best I have ever used) to prepare our evening meal. I would recommend this to anyone and so would my family. When we regrouped at our home to share our Ireland vacation pictures and stories we each shared our favourites.............two (of the six of us) said that the stay at Garrykennedy Cottage was the highlight.
This is a wonderful central location for day trips or half day trips to all kinds of attractions. The house is comfortable, clean, well appointed and there is a full instruction manual for operating the appliances and such that function differently in Ireland than they do here, so there's no stress. There were baby ducks and baby swans in the lake while we were there - it's a very peaceful place. The pubs were great, the food at Larkin's is of good variety and quite tasty. Overall, I feel like we really had the luck of the Irish when we found GarryKennedy Cottage. The whole process from finding it online, to making the arrangements, to getting there, staying there - all of it was easy - all except the leaving part. It was really hard to leave. I would absolutely recommend it to family and friends.
The Perfect Visit: Garrykennedy Cottage was the perfect blend of old world charm with all the modern amenities. The pictures on the site only tell a partial story of how wonderful this cottage really is. When we arrived we were warmly greeted and felt instantly at home. Although Garrykennedy is perfectly located to tour all the wonderful sites (Rock of Cashel, Cliffs of Moher, Limmerick, Bunratty Castle and more) the village itself is delightful. We enjoyed the friendly pubs, wonderful food and amazing views right from the cottage. Take the time to enjoy Lough Derg itself. We loved Killaloe and Ballina. Our group was from the ages of 7 to 70 and there was something for everyone. The "Cottage Handbook" also made everything so easy with dining recommendations to trip ideas. I'm now partial to Garrykennedy and think it's one of the best places to be in Ireland!
Our stay at the Garrykennedy Cottage was wonderful. The listing description was very accurate not only on location but also on the cottage's rental appearance as well as amenities. The cottage was very clean, well maintained and modern. All the niceties of home. the owner called personally on the day of our arrival to make sure all was well, answer any questions and to give us a personal overview of the area around Garrykennedy, places to see and pubs for dining. Larkin's next door to the cottage was a very inviting family oriented pub with good food and traditional music. The cottage was well within driving distance of many wonderful sights. The owner has compiled a very complete guide which is at the cottage for places to visit within 2 hours of the cottage. As a side note the roads in Ireland are very rural in nature and even a short trip may take two hours, but enjoy the leisurely drive and relax. I would visit the cottage again without hesitation. This was one of my most enjoyable vacations in some time.
Dream Vacation: Our week at Garry Kennedy Cottage was fantastic. The accommodations were superb offering the character of Ireland and the comforts of home.Our large group was accommodated quite well and we had plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the cozy fireplaces. We enjoyed the modern kitchen and the bright and air dining space.Coffee in the yard was a pleasurable experience. We did a lot of touring during the days but spend a lot of evenings enjoying the waterfront area. Larkins was a delight so welcoming and so close to the cottage. We enjoyed the food and music there. We really appreciated the wealth of information offered before and at the cottage to meet our every need while we were there. The addition of WIFI was a special bonus and allowed us to stay in touch with family. Everything was organised and every effort was made to make our vacation one to remember.
Thank you for being what you said you were--perfect! We had a such a wonderful time, and this place made such a great first impression on us, that we will definitely be back to Ireland. The most friendly people everywhere that we traveled, and the perfect time of year--April--with not one shower. Luckily we got in just before the airports were closed due to volcanic ash. Unluckily, they were opened in time for us to have to leave on schedule.
We had a great week at the Garrykennedy Cottage during July 2009. The Cottage is much nicer and much bigger than the photos suggest. We loved being able to stroll down the street to Larkins Pub for a burger, a pint and traditional music - and to the marina to watch the boats coming and going. We took to the roads most days touring; visited the Cliffs of Moher, the Rock of Cashel, Kings Johns Castle, Dingle and the Ring of Kerry and the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. Most of all we enjoyed returning to your lovely cottage each evening. It was so welcoming and comfortable. The kids used one sitting room and the adults used the other. Plenty of room for all of us. We lit the fire and wood burner a few nights which made the place so cozy. The beds were super comfy. We all slept so well. The house was very very clean and the housekeeper was very helpful. We really did not want to leave and can?t wait to return. Thanks for a wonderful week. We will never forget our stay at Garrykennedy Cottage.
Our family of 5 adults and 2 young children had a grand two week visit. Being back in Ireland was a treat and the cottage and village were just what we wanted. The cottage is charming and comfortable and very well supplied both with necessities and welcome extras. The little garden is delightful. Roy and his wife at Ciss Ryans Pub were welcoming, gracious and invaluable in making out visit unforgettable.They let our kids play on their backyard trampoline and also helped with phoning and making special arrangements. The location of the cottage enabled us to travel easily to the places we wanted to see, and being on Lough Derg gave us many happy hours just being " at home." Renting a boat opened up wonderful adventures on the lough from fishing to picnicking --- just the cows and us --- on Holy Isle with its charming monastic ruins. The trip was such a success that my daughter and her husband have named their new puppy Tipper (for Tipperary) and my son and his family have a framed hurling poster proclaiming "Tip is the Best" in their family room.
We had a glorious time at the cottage! The village of Garrykennedy is a delight and the people wonderful and welcoming. We loved meeting your neighbor Simon and his wife and getting to know their menagerie of animals. He'd stop by in the mornings on his way to the field so we could see his Argentinean ponies, Napoleon and Spartacus with his dogs, Zac and Sydney in tow. We enjoyed the great day trip driving routes from the cottage but for the most part, we sat by the fire, read, walked, fed the ducks and swans and, in general, just relaxed which was our intent when we rented the cottage. A friend from Nenagh (6 miles away) came for a short visit one evening and we caught up with the family members when in Dublin before leaving for Italy . All in all, it was a superb visit and just what we wanted. Having been to Ireland many times, this time was extra special as we felt we "lived" there. Thank you for sharing the very special Garrykennedy Cottage with us.
We rented Garrykennedy on May of 2009 and very glad that we did. It was bigger the pictures showed, very clean and well equipped to handel our every need. The location of the cottage also worked out very well for us as we did many day trips which brought us back to the cottage late afternoon. The cottage is very modern with old world charm that well exceeded my expectations. Everything worked out well for us and we would highly recommend this cottage.
GerryKennedy Cottage is located in a quaint little village on the shores of Loch Derg. This cottage is one of the few places we have rented from online photos and description that the actual home far exceeded the website description. The cottage,built in the 1700's, still reflects its history yet it has been magnificently updated to provide every possible modern amenity We were a family of five who rented this particular home primarily because of its proximity to family in Nenagh. We had plenty of room to relax and have quiet space and to entertain and visit with family. The gardens are lovely and provided views of the lake and the old castle while still being very private. The owner was very helpful both while planning our trip and during our stay. The village hosts two pubs and plenty of friendly people that made us feel welcome. We enjoyed their stories and music. There is a store within walking distance for the quick necessities of milk, bread etc. There were very nice stores in Nenagh (6 miles). While the cottage is ideally located to the major 'must see' attractions of Ireland what made this place special was that for a week we weren't tourists visiting Ireland we were experiencing Ireland first hand.
We really enjoyed our stay at the cottage. The light that flows through the house is calming, as are the flowers. The housekeeper, Anne, was very sweet, and the small village is a wonderful space for children. I suppose that's what we liked most -- the open green area, the lake in front of the cottage and the playscape where the children could roam. Denise next store at Ciss Ryan's Pub was welcoming to our children who played with her daughter a fair bit. We rode horses in Clonlara, and they were fabulous people with wonderful horses. King John's Castle was worth a run-through, even though our Fodor's guidebook said it wasn't. Bunratty Castle was worth the drive. And Larkin's Pub & Restaurant (3 doors down from Garrykennedy Cottage), of course. They hosted a memorable night for us -- a wet, cold night in front of a fire with great pints and whiskey. The waitresses there let our children pull some pints and take a few orders -- great sports. The cottage was lovely, the area people very kind, and the weather unbelievably great. I appreciated the photos of the older Irish folks that sit on the mantles at the cottage. I understand they are all deceased former residents of the village. I'd recommend the house to friends who and are looking for a rural Ireland holiday. With the exchange rate as it is, an Ireland vacation is an expensive one, and Garrykennedy Cottage not a cheap place to stay. I wanted to ensure a wonderful time on this trip, my husband's first time to Ireland , so I was willing to spend the money on a special house. And this is indeed a special house.
We arrived home a week ago but still long to be back in GarryKennedy! Our stay in your house was absolutely magical. It was the culmination of three weeks in England and Ireland . If we were to do it again we would again plan a stay at your house as the last part because we truly relaxed and enjoyed GarryKennedy and the house. We are already planning to go back and stay at GarryKennedy as soon as the dollar gains some strength!! The house far exceeded our expectations. The renovations are spectacular and showcase the quaintness of a 1700's house while providing every modern comfort possible. I enjoy how so much outdoor light, gardens and landscape could be enjoyed from the indoors. There is no consensus on what we enjoyed most about the cottage; it was all spectacular. It was nice to have a well equipped kitchen where we could comfortably cook. The living areas were phenomenal and allowed for quiet places to read and relax. Cumulatively we read 13 books the week we were there. We left some behind for others to share AND to also make room in our suitcases for the gifts we bought! I loved sitting in the upper garden knitting and looking out at the lake with the castle in view as well. The bedrooms were very comfortable and the bathrooms were great. My teenage kids were spoiled having 3 bathrooms as we have only 1.5 at home! It was great to have a washer and dryer to clean clothes and to dry clothes. We were warmly welcomed at Ciss Ryan's pub in the village and built quite a relationship with many of the 'locals' as we frequented the pubs nightly. It was great to hear the stories and to experience first hand the Irish people. Larkin?s pub and Restaurant was also a great place to go. We found the people of Ireland very welcoming and warm. It made us stop and give reflection to our lifestyle and how we encounter people on a daily basis. We had cousins come to Gerrykennedy to take us out on their boat so we did not rent a boat. While at the cottage we did go to Holy Cross Abbey and the Rock of Cashel. That was a nice day trip. We also went to the Cliffs of Mohr which we found fabulous. As we mentioned on the phone, your website needs to be updated to include all your lovely changes and showcase the extraordinary additions. The house is a great value and we have already promoted it to many of our friends and families. This trip was the trip of a lifetime but all of us have quickly realized that it will not be our only trip. We have Irish roots and we now have Ireland in our blood which is already calling us back. Thank you for being part or our extraordinary experience.
I wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had at your cottage and thank you for the opportunity to experience the charm and coziness it offered. I hope to be writing a review on Tripadvisor.com in the near future, as this is the website that led me to you. Again, thank you, we will have many wonderful memories of your beautiful cottage and magnificent country!
We enjoyed our stay at Garrykennedy cottage thoroughly. Thank you so much for allowing us to stay there. We have been regaling about your cottage and the beautiful location to everybody who will listen. In addition, your kindly neighbor with the two cats gifted our eleven year old granddaughter with a lovely antique looking doll. Rebecca, our granddaughter, carried her doll in her backpack with her head bobbing along behind her all the way back to Signal Mountain, TN.
We took several photos of the cottage to remember our wonderful time in Ireland . As we were the first to stay in the Cottage after the renovation, I thought you might like to have them. The Cottage is very special and the renovation modernizes the cottage in a sensitive manner and enhances its charm. Thank you for letting us stay at you beautiful home.
