Hello
Thanks for taking the time to look at our lovely Myross Island holiday home near Union Hall, on the Haven Coast of the Wild Atlantic Way. Built by our grandparents, it’s been in the family for fifty years (though it’s had a lot of modernisation in the meantime!) and seen countless happy holidays over generations. It’s a comfortable house in a stunning location and very special to us. We hope you’ll come to love it too.
Accommodation:
Our centrally-heated home sleeps ten over four bedrooms – two spacious doubles and two rooms with a single bed and two bunks in each. There are two bathrooms upstairs (bath, shower, basin, toilet in one; shower, basin, toilet in the other), plus a separate toilet and utility room (washing machine/ dryer) on the ground floor.
Downstairs is mostly open plan – a huge living room (open fire for coal, wood or peat) with an eating area at one end, then around the corner to a large, fully-equipped kitchen (fridge/freezer, electric cooker, microwave, dishwasher, larder cupboard).
We’ve resisted putting in a TV thus far, but we have succumbed to WiFi, which includes a landline phone connection.
The adjacent garage houses the oil-fired boiler, fuel for the fire, fishing rods, buckets and spades and other bits and bobs … Sadly, that leaves no room for a car (!), but there’s ample standing space for two cars in the driveway.
The garden includes a large sloping lawn and steps up the rocks to a picnic table looking out across the cliff to the sea.
In the area:
We’re about 100 metres from the shingle beach at Squince Harbour, well known as one of the cleanest in West Cork. Sheltered by the cove and Rabbit Island opposite, it’s perfect for paddling, swimming, crabbing and climbing round the rocks. There are numerous other beaches nearby. A favourite of ours is Long Strand near Castlefreke, an expansive stretch of sand that’s almost always deserted.
Union Hall is around five km (three miles) from the house; a short drive, or a picturesque walk in good weather. The fishing village is well-served by the Centra supermarket. We grew up knowing it as “Fuller’s” and it’s still run by the Fuller clan who keep it remarkably well-stocked – there’s rarely a need to look further afield. You’ll also find marvellous fresh fish in the village and you can eat well at any number of local pubs, both in Union Hall and neighbouring villages. There are large and excellent supermarkets in the nearest towns, Skibbereen and Clonakilty.
West Cork is steeped in Irish history. Myross’s ruined medieval church and graveyard are a stone’s throw from the house and the last resting place of the Clan Cahil O’Donovans. The first recorded death from the potato famine took place on Myross and the graveyard still has its famine memorial standing. Skibbereen was one of the worst affected areas and has an excellent local museum with a permanent exhibit on the famine. The road to Skibbereen also saw the assassination of Irish nationalist icon Michael Collins in 1922.
From the bronze age, “The Druids’ Altar”, Drombeg stone circle, is nearby and well worth a visit. A bit more recently, Union Hall was a significant location in Sir David Puttnam’s 1994 film, “The War of the Buttons”.
Outdoor activities are numerous, with waymarked walks between Union Hall and the house, whale and dolphin watching and kayaking with qualified instructors are easy to find both at Reen Pier (very close by) or Baltimore (around half an hour’s drive). We’ve had some fantastic trips with Jim Kennedy and his team at Atlantic Sea Kayaking.
Whatever kind of holiday you’re planning – outward bound, food and drink, kids and activities, culturally curious, curled up with a book in front of the fire, or any combination thereof – we believe our home is an ideal base camp … because you can bet we’ve done them all.
Hit the button and you’ll get in touch with me, Patrick. I've lately taken over managing the house from my cousin, Kylie (roundly praised in our reviews). It's a lot to live up to, but I’ll be happy to help in any way I can.
Enjoy, and please don't forget to leave a review.
Patrick