Dom
August 2013
Our family, all thirteen of us – eight adults and five children ages 3, 9, 11, 12, and 16 – thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Lisheen House. Mary and Seamus were the most gracious of hosts from our first contact on the web to our reluctant leave taking of their home at the conclusion of our stay.
Lisheen House is large and accommodating, comfortably and tastefully furnished, and laid out in such a way as to provide for both large family gatherings around the table and private nooks for those moments when you need a quiet retreat. The upstairs lounge also was a wonderful place for the younger set to gather while the older folks enjoyed one another’s company downstairs. The house boasts a multitude of windows and skylights with different and magnificent views in all directions -- the Burren Hills, the rolling fields, and Galway Bay.
Situated about forty five minutes from Galway City and ten minutes from the village of Ballyvaughan, Lisheen House sits at the portal of Burren National Park, is one green field away from Galway Bay, and about one hundred yards from Linnanes, a very fine restaurant pub. At Linnanes, you can sit inside or on the patio that overlooks the dock where the fishing boat that may have caught this evening’s diner may be berthed. One of the delights of Linnanes, besides its excellent food, is that it is truly a local place patronized mainly by locals. As a result we felt and were treated more like neighbors than tourists. That same sense was enhanced by the folks who were our neighbors, including the farmer across the road who stopped his tractor to chat with our three year old grandson and the folks behind us who rummaged about their garage to find a bicycle pump we were in need of.
We also enjoyed the Russell Gallery, a combination teahouse and gallery featuring local artists, that is about a half mile down the road. Just beyond the Russell Gallery is the Flaggy Shore where there is a serene walk several kilometers long along the Bay. Also along the Flaggy Shore there is a small and secluded beach where you can, and we did, take a dip in Galway Bay.
Lisheen House is a wonderful place for a large family gathering. For those who wish to wander it is convenient to all the treasures of Co. Clare and Co. Galway; for those who wish, for the nonce, to feel themselves part of a beautiful land and a friendly community, no place could be finer.
All thoroughly enjoyed our stay. I recommend it unreservedly.