Eden Cottage Retreat
- Star Rating Self-Catering
- Location Ennis, County Clare
- Open All Year
This home is the best of both worlds. Peaceful and quiet, Eden is tucked on the outskirts of Ennis, a charming and bustling market town, and the capital of County Clare. Only 20 minutes from Shannon Airport, 30 minutes from Clare’s rugged scenic coast, and 3 minutes from the M18 motorway linking Galway & Limerick, Eden’s location is ideal for exploring the best of Western Ireland.
About Eden Retreat
Eden consists of a lovely main home and a detached, little cottage with full bathroom. A covered deck is outside the cottage.
The main house has a large, open floor plan with upgraded kitchen/ dining room/ and living room with fireplace. There is a separate laundry area with washer, dryer, and ample storage. The house has 1 single bedroom & 3 double bedrooms. Eden has three bathrooms. One is upstairs with adjoining bedroom. The largest bath is also upstairs, handy for the other two bedrooms. The final full bathroom is located next to the bedroom on the first floor.
The stunning, peaceful ambience of Irish nature is one step outside your back door. A custom-paved patio, perfect for parties and lounging, awaits you. Gracious sandstone walls and wooden steps lead through terraced lawns and flower gardens.
In the cottage there is a full-sized hot tub. Attached to the cottage there is 1,000 square feet of decking, some covered for all weather, offering a fine outdoor retreat and seating for all! The hot-tub cottage is a cheerful, bright space featuring an indoor hot tub encased in sandstone. The cottage has its own bathroom with shower, and may be used as a fifth bedroom. A deluxe, full height, queen-sized (and very comfortable!) Aerobed will be supplied.
Eden Retreat is an ideal hideaway for one or more couples travelling together. It’s also a great lodging for families to gather. There is an extensive wooden play set with slide and swings, a ping-pong table, as well as an assortment of bikes and trikes are available. Eden welcomes children of all ages!
Features & Amenities:
- Large house that can accommodate up to 9 people in four bedrooms and a separate guesthouse (1 Queen, 2 Full-size and 1 single bed)
- Situated on elevated acre of land – wonderful countryside views from the terraced gardens and many seating areas
- Ample off-street parking
- Full gourmet kitchen, stocked with everything you could possibly need!
- House phone - free local calls. Friends/family can call you from the U.S. for only 2 cents per minute when they use a calling card
- Free Wi-Fi access
- 40” LCD TV with Sky Satellite channels
- DVD/CD player with surround sound and DVDs (lots for kids!)
- Playstation 2 console with selection of games
- Klipsch ipod speaker-dock in Master Bedroom
- Whole house water filtration system with additional under-sink filter for drinking water
- Open fireplace
- Indoor 4-person hot tub located in separate hot tub cottage
- Wooden playset, ping-pong and bikes for your use
- Heating and electricity usage included
- All linens and towels supplied
- Travel cot available
A Medieval Town Renowned for Traditional Irish Music
Just a 5 minute drive from Eden Retreat, Ennis is the county town of Clare and is always pleasantly busy. It takes its name from the Irish word “inis” (island) as it is virtually surrounded by the River Fergus on which it sits. Its streets are narrow and attractive, some of them pedestrianised. The Friary at the bottom of Abbey Street, was founded by the O’Briens in the 13th century. Many of its original features survive and it’s well worth visiting. But the main attraction in Ennis is the locals' obvious love of traditional music. Every May the town hosts Fleadh Nua, an international celebration of Irish culture, while in November, the Ennis Trad Festival is held. But trad music of the very highest quality is on display in the pubs of Ennis throughout the year. It often seems that those in the town that can't sing or play an instrument are very much in the minority. The person who recently labeled Ennis the Nashville of traditional Irish music wasn't far wrong.
The following locations are in close proximity to Eden Retreat
Bunratty Village (15 minutes)
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, located just 7 miles from Shannon Airport, is high on the list of Ireland's top visitor attractions. If you want to learn about Ireland and how the Irish lived in earlier times, Bunratty's Folk Park is a must. Entire houses of various sizes and dates have been taken apart stone-by-stone and reassembled here, along with a school, a pub, a church, a row of shops, and other buildings. What makes it especially enjoyable is watching activities, including scones and bread being made, as well as work being carried out in the little fields. Chat with the staff; they are very friendly and informative. Bunratty's most obvious attraction is its imposing castle which overlooks the river Shannon. Once the stronghold of the O’Briens, kings and later earls of Thomond, it reflects their style and power. Its Great Hall has a very fine collection of 14th-century furniture, paintings and wall hangings and also hosts medieval banquets which anyone can attend with plenty of entertainment as well as food and drink. Finally no visit to Bunratty would be complete without a pint of plain in the world-famous Durty Nelly's Pub located right next to the castle.Galway City (1 hour)
In a recent nationwide survey the people of Galway were found to be Ireland's happiest! And visiting Galway City, the capital of their county it is not hard to see why. It is a lively university city of narrow streets, quaint shopfronts, bustling pubs and stunning surrounding scenery. It has always attracted a bohemian mix of musicians, artists and intellectuals and that attitude is palpable as you walk the streets. Galway has been commercially important since the 11th century when it was a centre for trade with Spain and Portugal. In 1477 Christopher Columbus paid a visit. Galway earned the title “City of the Tribes” around that time, when it was ruled by 14 wealthy merchant families. Today it is lively, with loads of things to do, and is so popular that it can get very crowded in summer, especially during the annual Galway Races. The annual Arts Festival also attracts thousands, especially for its street parade, organized by the multi-award winning production company, Macnas. Its famous Druid Theatre produces and stages plays and has toured internationally, winning awards, including Tonys on Broadway.Doolin & The Cliffs of Moher (40 minutes)
The small coastal village of Doolin is located on County Clare’s wild Atlantic coast. The surrounding area has much of interest including the barren yet strikingly beautiful Burren region with, among other things, the 5,000 year-old Poulnabrone Dolmen. Also worth a visit is Doonagore Castle and of course the spectacular 650-foot high Cliffs of Moher, which are only a few miles from Doolin. But the real reason people flock to Doolin from all over the world is the traditional music in the local pubs. Until recently Doolin had only three pubs. There are now some new establishments on the scene but we recommend sticking to the old reliables: McGann’s, McDermots and O’Connor’s. Even at that you will be spoilt for choice. Each pub is full most nights with musicians and music lovers alike. Be sure to check out all three!Adare Heritage Village (45 minutes)
Adare is a quaint picturesque village lined with traditional thatched-roof cottages. Snuggled in a wooden and lush countryside setting, Adare is widely regarded as being Ireland's prettiest and most unique village. Situated on the river Maigue, a tributary of the Shannon river, Adare (Gaelic name: "Ath Dara" - the "ford of the oak" - from the combination of water and woodland) dates back, at least, to the early 13th century. Adare village has a rich wealth of heritage, as well as architectural and scenic beauty. Two groups of world famous, ornate, thatched cottages line part of the village's broad main street, punctuated with beautiful stone buildings, medieval monasteries and ruins. Situated in the centre of County Limerick, with just 15 minutes from Limerick City and 45 minutes from Shannon Airport, Adare Village is an ideal base from which to explore County Limerick's many visitor attractions such as Lough Gur and King John's Castle.
The Aran Islands (1.25 hours including ferry!)
The Aran Islands are located off the west coast of Ireland. Here you can immerse yourself in the rich Celtic culture among people who speak Gaelic as their first language. You can take a short ferry ride from Doolin to one of these islands and experience a whole different way of life. Here you will find that the 1,500 people that inhabit these islands are quite removed from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. One of the most famous attractions on the island is the ancient stone fort of Dun Aengus. This fort dates back to the Celtic Iron Age around the first century AD and is perched atop spectacular 300 foot cliffs that drop straight down to the Atlantic.Cork City (2 hours)
Cork City has undergone a transformation in recent years with the city centre geting a compete facelift. Always a much prettier and more pleasant city than Dublin, now Cork really sparkles. And so do its residents who claim to be Ireland's friendliest. Whatever the truth of that claim it is certainly true that there is no shortage of characters in "the real capital" as the locals jokingly claim. The city itself dates back to the 7th century and boasts some fine Georgian architecture. There are a number of places worth visiting while in Cork including the imposing St. Finbarr's Cathedral, St Anne's Church, which houses the Shandon Bells and Cork City Gaol.Killarney Town (2.5 hours)
Killarney lies on the edge of the astoundingly beautiful Killarney National Park, with its three magnificent lakes and the spectacular MacGillycuddy Reeks mountain range. The park is also home to Muckross House and Gardens and Ross Castle. Killarney is a wonderful base for all manner of activities including angling and water sports, golf, riding, orienteering, hiking, cycling, and canoeing. The town itself is quite small but full of charm - this you will soon see as you walk down the brick footpaths and pass curious old-style shop fronts. Killarney is well known for its excellent shops, restaurants and cosmopolitan appeal. It is also renowned for its evening entertainment including many singing pubs, cabarets, dancing venues, and banquets. Traditional Irish music can also be heard in many of the local pubs.We value your privacy! We will never share your details with anyone else.
