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Elegant Period Mansion

Photo gallery for Elegant Period Mansion

View of house as approached from elegant driveway
Games Room and Bar
Library reading room
Property grounds
Side view of house

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
7 bedrooms6+ bathroomsSleeps 13

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Gym

Explore the area

View map
Ballycumber, County Offaly
  • Place, Clara Sports and Leisure Centre
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Moate Golf Club
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Esker Hills Golf Club
    ‪12 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 13)

Bedroom4 blue

2 Double Beds

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

6 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 5

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 6

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Elegant Period Mansion

Experience the beauty and elegance of a bye gone age at the charming 4 star approved country mansion, originally built as a castle, in 1627 and converted to a dwelling in 1748. Set in its own mature woodlands, with private access to the tranquil River Brosna overlooking a peaceful country village, right in the heart of Ireland. Just 80 kilometres from Dublin and Galway, adjacent to the N6 motorway.
A historic house in a peaceful setting adjacent to many of the midlands famous heritage and tourism attractions Clonmacnoise is just a short drive, likewise Durrow abbey and the shrine of St manchan crafted at Clonmacnoise is situated in the local parish church at Boher,



Telephone and fax facilities, open fires and TV in all bedrooms, 3 lavishly furnished reception rooms, fully equipped games rooms, beautiful rock gardens, riverside walks and your very own watch tower, bicycles available, golfing, superb network of golf courses within 12 kilometres, fishing, private fishing on the estate, Shannon and Grand Canal within 10 kilometres, equestrian, excellent facilities nearby, walking, excellent walks nearby, pubs and good restaurants.
Golf can be arranged for your added enjoyment at Mount Temple Golf Club just a short drive away,for details and to view the facilities please ask us for the website address.

The property is just a short distance from the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise ,and is adjacent to other popular tourist attractions, An Dun Museum, Lockes Distillery, Tullamore Dew Heritage centre and the bog rail tours are all just a short drive away. Birr Castle and Belvedere House and gardens are within forty minutes drive.
This property is an ideal venue for touring the Irish countryside, all areas of the country can be reached on a day visit.
There are excellent bus connections to Dublin and Galway, and the train station is just three miles, taxi services are available in the village.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

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Events

No events allowed

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Pets

Pets allowed

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 936
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Ballycumber

Located in Ballycumber, this holiday home is in a rural area. Moate Golf Club and Esker Hills Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lloyd Town Park and Lough Boora Parklands. Travelling with kids? Consider Clara Sports and Leisure Centre and Tuar Ard Centre Museum. Jet skiing and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain climbing and hiking nearby.
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Map
Ballycumber, County Offaly

What's nearby

  • Clara Sports and Leisure Centre - 6 min drive - 5.8 km
  • Tuar Ard Arts Centre - 11 min drive - 11.7 km
  • Moate Golf Club - 11 min drive - 11.7 km
  • An Dun Transport and Heritage Museum - 12 min drive - 10.6 km
  • Esker Hills Golf Club - 12 min drive - 13.4 km

Getting around

  • Clara Station - 6 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Gap House - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Supermac's - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Auld Shebeen - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Jel's Kitchen - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪KafeU Clara - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Elegant Period Mansion pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Elegant Period Mansion ?

As of 16 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Elegant Period Mansion on 25 June 2026 start from AU$1,144, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Elegant Period Mansion ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Elegant Period Mansion ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Where is Elegant Period Mansion located?

This family-friendly Ballycumber holiday home is located in a rural location, 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Clara Sports and Leisure Centre, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Tuar Ard Centre Museum and Tuar Ard Arts Centre. Moate Golf Club and An Dun Transport and Heritage Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dianne K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a wonderful stay

This was a gathering from the us and we met at Connie wonderful home.From the original house to the horses in the yard we couldn't have been happier. Connie met us at the house and explained all the workings. She anticipated what we would need and had it all there. A welcome basket, activities for the kids and all the hot water and towels we could use. There was ample space for us to gather and to be seperated. Thank you Connie for making our stay so enjoyable.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

dale o.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ballycumber Beauty

We had an absolutely fantastic stay at Ballycumber House. Connie is wonderful and took great care in showing us around the house and property. I’d highly recommend the stay and be sure to head down to Gussies for a pint or two. Thank you Connie!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 July 2023
Hello Dale and family. So delighted to have you all and so happy that you have such c herished memories of Ballycumber House, the village and of course Gussies and the staff. You were excellent guests and l know that you visited many of the tourist facilities . We look forward to hosting you in the future. Connie and Conor
Verified

8/10 Good

evelien B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

special

The house is very special with its history. Connie can tell you all about. She is a great host, problems get solved very quickly. We loved the house, although it is old and has his special atmosphere. We used the tennis court, became friends with the horses and enjoyed. Each morning fresh bread at Gussie's, a 2 minute walk from the house. A nice outdoor area with more chairs would make it easier for the whole group to eat in the garden...
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 21 June 2022
Thank you Evelien, we have listened to your feedback and have put further seating in place outside.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Randy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Magical Stay

We love Ballycumber House! From the moment we drove up we knew this was going to be an exceptional experience. We were greeted by Connie ( Ballycumber owner) and shown the house and given a wonderful picnic basket full of all the food necessities to get us through the first day of breakfasts ( and more!). Connie also gave us a brief history of her home and left tons of information about things to do in the surrounding area. The house and grounds are spectacular . You feel as if you are living in a different era, but with all the modern comforts. Our entire family felt so privileged to have had this experience . Thank you Connie for providing us with this magical stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 28 June 2022
Thanks so much delighted you enjoyed your stay And the grounds were ideal for your art. Chat soon Connie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Catherine F.

Three weeks at Ballycumber House

Words are barely adequate to describe my “house party” at Ballycumber House. To celebrate a big “0” birthday, I decided to rent a big house and invite my friends and family to join me. Over the course of 3 weeks, 20 people came and went, and the house handled us all, even the night we had 15 for dinner! Connie is an absolute delight, and I am so glad I got a chance to know her. She is incredibly responsive, and her gracious warm welcome set the tone for our stay. The house became our home, and the perfect base for day trips all over the country. I was surprised at how much there was to see and do just within a short drive, and we loved exploring the Clara Bog. I hired a private chef, and when we returned from our excursions, there was coffee, tea and some little tasty treat waiting for us, along with the turf fire. Chef Chris prepared remarkable food in the small kitchen, and no one had to argue about who was going to shop, cook, and clean up after. If you are looking for a centrally-located house, you can’t do better than Ballycumber House. It never felt too small, but when our numbers dwindled, it never felt too large either. The donkeys and the ponies grazing in the front pasture were delightful, too. The house (built as a castle in 1627) overlooks a 5,000-year-old ford and trade route, and is the starting point for a pilgrim walk to Clonmacnoise. How fun is that! Stay here. You will not be disappointed.
Stayed 23 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2020
Catherine, Thank you so much for the wonderful review it was a pleasure to have you and all your friends and delighted you enjoyed your stay with us. Kindest Regards. Connie
Archival

10/10 Excellent

janet n.

Lovely old home in the center of Ireland

We stayed at Ballycumber House in June/July. It is an easy 70 minute drive from Dublin, mostly on the M4/M6. First, the house is enormous, larger than you might think from the description. Our family of seven occupied only a few of the bedrooms. It is very homey and comfortable, with nice, firm beds, good heating (LOL-irish summers), and large bathrooms. We spent many hours hanging out in (one of the!) living rooms by the peat fireplace, enjoyed cooking in the modern kitchen, playing pool in the games room, or tennis. There is a lovely rock garden, picnic table, and nice walk by the river at the foot of the garden. A five minute walk down the drive brings you to the village, two nearby pubs (limited food but great beer selection), and grocery (Gussies has everything you could need). We drove to Tara and Newgrange, to Galway and Cliffs of Moher, and to Dublin, in an hour, so day trips are easy. There are many whisky distilleries (Tullymore Dew!), monuments (Clonmacnoise is lovely), and small towns in a five to ten mile drive. What we loved: the roominess and just sheer loveliness of the house (have a Downton Abby fantasy-this will give you some idea of what it was like to live in a period house), the location (nice village and people, close to tourist areas for day trips), and of course Connie, who gives you a full introduction to the house and makes sure you are comfortable. She is a great host. Ballycumber House is an old home, so you will need to adjust to turning on heaters one hours in advance for the bath water, taking a bath (no showers), sometimes being chilly on a damp night (turn on the radiators-they work well). If you prefer city life, this is a country home. We genuinely loved the Irish countryside, the privacy, and the comfort of Ballycumber. We WILL be back to stay again.
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for the positive feed back, delighted you enjoyed your stay, and we look forward to having you as our guests in the future.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

audrey M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent experience

Had a brilliant week at Connie,s house. Great host very helpful. Plenty of space for everyone, lots of fun things to do around. Will be back. Thank you Connie for all your help and information. The scones went down well to
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 18 July 2021
Audrey Thanks so much for your kind comments and glad you enjoyed your stay. My motto is to have everything correct and well presented.Thanks so much for your beautiful thank you card. Looking forward to hosting you all again. Connie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie F.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing House

We had a fantastic break away at Ballycumber House for a group of 10 adults, 4 children & 2 babies. The kids had a ball playing in the huge gardens & in the well stocked playground. The adults enjoyed the sun terrace & the folly. We explored nearby Birr Castle, Lough Boora Park & Glenbarrow Waterfalls. I can’t recommend the house highly enough, Connie was so kind & welcomed us with freshly baked scones.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug 2020
Thanks so much Debbie. Glad you all had an enjoyable time We look forward to meeting you in the future sorry that l cannot fix the weather ,but you managed to have a few decent days Chat soon Connie and the Ballycumber house team
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A wonderful place ♥️

We for a group of 10 family and friends, and the house was a great way for us all to have separate adventures but come together at the end of the day. It's pretty central in the country and made travel to anywhere we wanted to see a fairly easy day trip. The history of the house is very interesting, and this place is huge! There were rooms I saw only once lol. The river in the backyard and the horses that run in the pasture next to it, and the folly on the hill, it doesn't get much more picturesque than that. I can't forget about the friendly, and tolerant locals also lol. And last but not least, Connie. She maybe the true treasure of the house. She arranged a birthday dinner for us on the day of our arrival and made the day extra special. Thank you again for allowing us to stay in your lovely home.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patrick M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect base for touring Ireland

Two families, one week, perfect. Easy access to highways, convenient pub and store walking distance. Host is a gem..........for a larger group this works fantastic. The history and surroundings will be a pleasant surprise. Enjoy!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Antonio Simone D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing house

Staying in this ancient house is a unique experience. The house is huge and all rooms are beautiful. I recommend this house to everyone.
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for your kind words it was a pleasure having you and hope that l can have the pleasure of having as our guests again.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sue K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

May 26th to June 3rd

Connie was great! She was more then accommodating even when we had three more guests that decided to join us. We enjoyed our stay. Beds were clean and we were able to cook meals for 14 people. One downside is you have to take fast showers or you would run out of hot water. We would stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul and Tracie S.

Beautiful, One of a Kind experience, in Period Mansion.

We were so excited to find The Ballycumber House available to rent for holiday. I love older homes and manors and the history and stories that come with them. Ballycumber is beautiful inside and out. It catches your heart, from your first glimpse coming up the driveway, no where else compares, especially when your teenagers say, "we get to stay here, all to ourselves?" For a moment we stepped back in time and it was amazing. Ms. Connie is a beautiful soul and she shared her home and memories with us. There is a library full of books to keep you intrigued for hours, there is even one with information on Ballycumber itself. The girls loved the donkeys and the game room in the basement that was originally part of the castle in the 1600s. The river behind the house was beautiful to look at as well as the very old stone Gazebo on the hill which you can read about in one of the books in the library. The beds were very comfortable and rooms very cozy. There is plenty of room for all. The kitchen was perfect and next to it was a laundry with washer and dryer. Thank you Ms. Connie, for everything, I love Ballycumber and it will always have a special place in my heart. Your friends from Kentucky United States of America......The Smiths
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2020
Hello Paul and Tracie ,and thank you for you lovely review and thanks so much for visiting Ballycumber House, I hope you enjoyed your visit to Galway ,the Cliffs of Moher and the Dublin experience,the Irish weather could have been better for you but it does have its moments, Thanks again for your visit ,and your kind comments, Connie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sheridan M.

Great experience

We had so much fun at this stunning country mansion at the kick off of our trip. It comfortably fit all 13 of us, and was a true experience in the gorgeous Irish countryside. Just an hour and a half (on the train located just 3 miles away) from both Galway and Dublin, it was a perfect location for us to see as much as possible during our 3 nights at Ballycumber house. All of us agreed that Connie was the best part of the whole experience. She was knowledgeable and helpful, and extremely passionate about the former castle turned home that has been in her family for generations. She even made sure we had reached our next destination safely. If you keep in mind that this is a unique experience and not a 5 star hotel (plumbing and electric were added well after the construction of the house) then you will not be disappointed! I would definitely send anyone headed to Ireland to stay in Connie’s beautiful home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah W.

Wundervoll! Wir kommen gerne wieder.

Wir waren vom 23.05. bis 30.05.2018 mit der Familie (6 Erwachsene) in Irland und haben in dieser Zeit im Ballycumber House gewohnt. Es war einfach nur großartig! Connie hat uns sehr herzlich empfangen und hat dann eine ausführliche Führung durch das Haus gemacht. Es ist sehr viel größer als es auf den Bildern erscheint! Wenn man ganz allein im Haus ist, kann man sich schon mal gruseln, weil es einfach riesig ist - wenn alle 6 Leute im Haus verteilt waren, sind wir uns oft einfach nicht über den Weg gelaufen. Am ersten Tag war es für uns noch ungewohnt, dass wir uns dort einfach frei bewegen konnten, da wir manchmal das Gefühl hatten, in einem Museum zu wohnen (einige der Bücher in der Bibliothek sind 100 Jahre alt und auch die Einrichtung ist teilweise so alt oder erscheint so). ;-) Nach ein paar Tagen hatten wir uns daran gewöhnt und haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt. Sehr charmant ist auch die direkte Lage am Fluss. Wir hatten sehr viel Glück mit dem Wetter (jeden Tag ca. 25°C und Sonne) und haben es dann umso mehr genossen, draußen zu sitzen. Wir haben Irland mit dem Auto erkundet. Von Ballycumber bis Dublin sind es ca. 1,5 Stunden Autofahrt und bis nach Clonmacnoise sind es ca. 25 Minuten Autofahrt. Es ist also ziemlich zentral gelegen. Auch die Gegend rund um Ballycumber ist absolut sehenswert. In Ballycumber gibt es auch Pubs, die man unbedingt besuchen sollte. Für uns steht fest: Wir kommen gerne wieder und bringen dann noch ein paar mehr Leute mit. Genügend Platz ist da. Connie ist eine tolle Vermieterin, mit der man sich auch sehr gut unterhalten kann. Außerdem konnten wir sie einfach und unkompliziert anrufen, wenn wir Fragen hatten. Danke, Connie! Wir hatten einen wundervollen Urlaub! (I wolud really like to write also in English but there´s no space for more words. Otherwise I wouldn´t have stopped writing more positive feedback.)
Stayed 7 nights in May 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2020
Hello Sarah, may l thank you for your wonderful review. It was a pleasure having you as guests and l am delighted that you enjoyed your stay and felt so welcome in our community, With good wishes Connie.
Verified

8/10 Good

Rebecca W.

Lovely house in perfect location

The house suited our needs and had everything we required, even a little play room for my daughter! The location was perfect as we were able to travel to different places in Ireland. The local shop/pub/coffee shop was lovely and the people were very welcoming and as it was in walking distance from the house it was the perfect place to stock up.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2020
Thank you so much Rebecca, l am delighted you enjoyed your stay at Ballycumber House. Chat soon. Connie
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Tanya H.

Awesome place, amazing experience!

We were a group of 10 adults plus a 10 month old traveling around Ireland, some of us for the first time and others, like me, traveling the Emerald Isle for the 4th time. I wanted a place centralized for part of our trip and Ballycumber was the best choice I could've made! Connie was wonderful from the very start and really showed she cared about her guests. This house is so amazing and the grounds are beautiful. The location is perfect, easy to find and super close to 2 great pubs! Gav and James were just as wonderful as Connie in making us all feel welcome! We came during a rather cold couple of days, it even snowed a bit! But we still loved the old feel of this house and really appreciated the fireplace in the main living room. Connie welcomed us early on our arrival day since our intercontinental flight got in at 5 am. Showed us around and gave us the history of the house. Just an absolutely amazing experience! Tons of room for all of us. Would love to stay again someday! Thank you so much Connie!!!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Phillis D.

Absolutely Amazing

You will enjoy your stay. The listing is accurate, and the property is clean and maintained. We had a problem with the clothes dryer during our stay and it was replaced by the end of the day. Our owner, Connie was a delight, I simply can not say enough positive things! I would highly recommend the property for a large group. We had 9 in our group and we had plenty of space and beds. We loved the rural setting, the animals, and the history. Do not miss having Irish Coffee from the Pub in town. James makes the best! Because of the age of the property, do not expect the most modern of accommodations. We had no issues, and found it part of the charm. We Americans had to learn how to bathe and not shower. But, we had fun learning! Miss Ireland immensely, and wonderful friends we made.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Lena H.

The best holiday!!

I booked this magnificent property as a base for my family to attend my daughter's wedding in Tullamore. We arrived to a wonderfully warm welcome from the owner Connie who gave us a complete tour and history of the house. We were enthralled by the information, the property and it's amenities. To say this house is fully equipped is an understatement....we followed Connie from room to room, all falling more in love with Ballycumber House with each step. The children were delighted with the grounds, playroom and sheer expanse of playground both inside and outside. The people of Ballycumber are wonderful and we were made to feel right at home from the minute we arrived. The children were even invited to the local to hold the 6 nations cup which was visiting the area. A photo was taken with the children holding the cup and we were sent a copy of the Ballycumber newsletter the photo appeared in. You can imagine how excited the children were to see it. The place is heavenly, we cannot wait to return and are planning our next visit. Thank you
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Steven R.

Ireland Elegance

This was the cherry on the top of a 2 week stay in the beautiful country of Ireland. The first week we cruised down the Shannon River on a canal boat which was a great way to discover Ireland. It was great to head back to Dublin Airport to get our rental car and head out to the Ballycumber House. Its and easy hour drive to the house and this homes entrance will take your breath away. This home is very elegant of days of the past with beautiful grounds and river in the backyard. You can see the old castle guard towers when you approach the house up the long driveway. The owner Connie and her husband were there to greet and welcome us. She gave us the grand tour and history of this castle home. This house is centrally located in Ireland and great day trips in all directions. We recommend Kilbeggan Distillery tour just 10 minutes away. There are 4 little pubs down the driveway and across the street that are great for locals and a great pint. They welcome you with open arms and a healthy pint. There is a market next to the pubs and full town a short drive away that provide great shopping and larger market in Tullamore. The home is large with a nice kitchen and great dinning and gathering room. the utilities for the week were cheap as long as you do not leave during the day and leave the heat on. If your wondering if staying here or in Dublin would be best, we feel this was the better option. One reason it lets us be within 2 hours drive to many sites like the Cliffs of Mohr and Cork. the price can not be beat, especially over the high hotel room rates in Dublin. This home is perfect for families or a group of friends and brings your trip way under budget without sacrificing elegance.The pictures in the listing do not do justice of the grandeur of this house. We will definitely be back to stay at the Ballycumber House. We were actually sad to leave.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

R A.

Best Family Vacation Ever

Our family trip to Ireland was many years in the planning and, thanks in great part to our choice of Ballycumber, all I had dreamed. Connie, the owner, is a delightful person and she gave us outstanding service. Her helpful, encouraging emails as we prepared for our trip trans-Atlantic reassured me that our holiday would be memorable. Sure enough, as our jetlagged group drove onto the beautiful grounds there was Connie and her husband ("the gardener") to greet us warmly and give us the grand tour. She left her phone number in case anything was amiss (it was not), left us alone to enjoy our amazing private estate, and then returned at the end of an all-too-quickly-over week's stay to bid us a fond farewell. Connie mentioned that she did not want to oversell Ballycumber House and so, with that in mind, I will say that if you are looking for a sleekly updated property this is not the location for you. The photos here are accurate; Ballycumber is old, large, and full of interesting furniture and family heirlooms. It is quirky in the very best sense of the word. Our family of 10 had loads of room to spread out, relax and explore when we wanted and then to come back together again when it was time for a family meal or celebration. And celebrate we did! Our daughter's boyfriend was so charmed by his Ballycumber research before joining us that he chose the old watch tower/castle ruin in the field next to the house to propose to our Katie. What a perfect spot for an engagement! We chose Ballycumber because we were traveling with a toddler and thought it would be easier to locate centrally and take day trips than to pack up and move on every day or so. That worked well. Some of our group opted for daily excursions; visiting the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Clonmacnoise, Blarney, and even the Ring of Kerry. Others stayed closer to home on the "long drive days", shopping in Moate and Athlone, visiting a local petting farm, or climbing trees and playing in the billiards room or "Claire's playroom." And all of us thoroughly enjoyed taking the short stroll down our picturesque drive to one of the local pubs for a late breakfast or a late pint. The folks in Ballycumber made us feel very welcome. So the house was massive, historical, comfortable and the grounds (fields, gardens, river) were picture perfect serenity-- an amazing week and all for about the same cost as our 2 nights in a small Dublin hotel. Would we go back to Ballycumber? In a heartbeat!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

The Monaghan Family from California

My very large, extended family have stayed in Ballycumber House several times over the years at Christmastime. She is a grand, welcoming and comfortable house, child and family friendly, warm and cozy yet cavernous and expansive to spread out! Incredibly hospitable friendly townspeople (until Christmas next, Sully!xoxo), someone was always able to get us what we needed. Three pubs at the foot of the property gates (hmmm, which one today-Gavin's, Gussie's or Healy's) to choose from, two markets to provide our grocery needs (Mrs. Egan, a million thanks!) - 200 foot walk from property to pubs and markets. Bus and rail stations a short 10 minute drive, close to major cities for shopping, etc. The boys fish for eel and salmon in the Brosna River just off the back door, chased the ponies in the yard, caught a rugby match in nearby Tullamore and sipped many, many a pint o'the black stuff at Gussie's (Our love to Tony and Eammon!)! Chipper truck serves yummy fish and chicken sandwiches, curry and garlic chips until the wee hours- parks at the foot of the gates (Kisses to Mags for us)! Just DIVINE after a night of drinking as we stumbled home. We drove from one coast to the other sightseeing in the middle of winter, no problems! Visited Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Cliffs of Mohr, Clonmacnoise, Shrine of Knock, Kinnity Castle, Locke's distillery, Tullamore distillery, Burr Castle (closed in winter as many touristy sites are, check ahead of time) and many other local sites in our 14 days stays. We cannot say enough about the value, the central location for Ireland and the care shown us by the owner and her family. If a quiet, country atmosphere with helpful folks and a REAL Irish experience are what you seek...Ballycumber House is for you! We are asked time and again why we come in the dead of winter during Christmastime...well, coming from California - real weather, real people and a real Irish experience are exactly what we are seeking, and it's what we love, miss and cherish at Ballycumber House! We leave a part of our heart there every time we leave! We've talked about going other places and experiencing other cultures on our annual family trips, but our hearts, the Motherland, the people of Ballycumber Village and the Grand Dame, Ballycumber House, call us back every time. We miss each and everyone, we count the days until we return, we cherish our memories...God Bless Ballycumber, County Offaly! Slainte! The Monaghan Clan Orange County, California

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