A cosy holiday cottage on scenicwalking trail and central to all the sights Co.Clare has on offer. Email or Text for information on availability
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21/08/2024
Celebrating our ancient heritage here in the Burren, The Caherconnell Stone Fort Furnace Festival presents an enchanting weekend for families, highlighting the art of medieval forging and iron smelting at the picturesque Caherconnell Stone Fort in the heart of the Burren.
Over 50 skilled blacksmiths and traditional iron smelters from Ireland, the UK, Europe, and the USA are set to participate in this engaging event.
The festival is designed to delight attendees of all ages, encompassing an Open Air Museum that narrates the captivating history of Irish iron production, accompanied by complimentary guided tours. The momentous “birth of iron” stands as an extraordinary and exhilarating spectacle that should not be overlooked.
Visit Clare The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark Cliffs of Moher Experience Heritage Week Irish Heritage University of Galway Clare FM Clare County Council Wild Atlantic Way Michael Cusack Centre Burren Lowlands Corofin Tidy Towns/Na Bailte Slachtmhara Chora Finne & Past Times History Ireland Burren National Park Discover Ireland
21/08/2024
Two sections of a popular walking trail at the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare, will be closed later this week so that works planned for later in the year can be carried out in the coming weeks. A total of 5,500 metres of the walking route will be closed to the public from this […]
20/08/2024
I love this walk, must do it again soon
15/08/2024
Curious kitten fascinated by Bees....she's curious about everything and loves the cat toy supplied by kind previous guests for previous cat Mr Flax 🙀
10/08/2024
Lovely to hear the flute and others today!
All we needed was Kiernan Jorden for some dancing!
10/08/2024
Musicians enjoying the sunshine for The Feakle Festivsl 2024!
Out for a quiet walk on the otherside of Lehinch beach!
06/07/2024
04/07/2024
One of my succulent plants has just sprouted these incredible flowers!
25/06/2024
Druid cottage welcome the new and very sweet Cat Family!
04/06/2024
You never know who you will meet who is inquisitive enough to sniff your hair and be so interested in a phone, on a beautiful nearby walk...
04/06/2024
I love this walk, thanks for post, it's inspired me to go to Gort, been too long since I've done this walk....
02/06/2024
On a walk near cottage this evening, I see a Drumlin or maybe a megalithic fort. The sunshine which we enjoyed over 3 days had faded but it was still warm with the scent of freshly cut grass.
28/05/2024
13/05/2024
Ring Forts of Ireland
Irish ring forts are some of the most common ancient monuments remaining in Ireland today, once homes to many different clans and families, there are estimated to be over fifty thousand of these fortifications scattered in every corner of the country. Modern research is beginning to indicate that not all of them, or even the majority of them, were simple circular stone walls. They might also have been tower halls, like Scottish brochs, with great inward-leaning walls and a roof overhead, supported by a roof-tree.
They go by many names in Irish, such as rath, caiseal or castle, cathair or settlement, dún or fortress, and lios. Some date back to the bronze age but it is believed that most were constructed during the iron age, remaining in use until about 800 AD. They may have had earthen baks built up around them, complete with a wooden wall above that, lending further credence to the idea that these were closer to brochs in their original shape, although they might have been used as cattle pens after they collapsed.
Underneath and around these forts could be found souterrains, low tunnels and crawlspaces which enabled the inhabitants to escape in case invaders made it inside. These led to chambers or caves and to escape routes into the nearby wilderness. It is no coincidence that there were mostly added around the time of the worst of the Viking depredations!
Ring forts can be quite small, in size, or up to a hundred meter across, and their former inhabitants have left behind items associated with every human endeavour, from craftsmanship to trade to raising a family.
The idea that many of these ring forts might have been brochs or tower halls is founded upon several observations.
To begin with, a ruined broch and an Irish ring fort are almost identical, right down to the hollow walls in several examples - a feature not usually associated with defensive walls. Almost all of the Scottish brochs look like supposed ring forts now, besides the most remote examples, because locals carted away their plentiful unmortared drystone and used it for field walls, farmhouses and other buildings. It is reasonable to assume a similar fate befell Irish halls.
The idea that they were used as livestock pens, at least initially, runs into trouble because it would be almost impossible to fit an animal wider than a human being into their single defensible entryway, unless the Irish had developed some sort of tackle and winch apparatus to haul live cattle over and back in the mornings and evenings. In terms of defence, the low, uncrenellated walls would have difficulty keeping out a determined wolf, let alone armed raiders, of which there was no shortage even before the Vikings arrived.
Although we look at ring forts today and see nice, neat, levelled walls, most of those were badly reconstructed in the 19th century by enthusiasts with no clear idea what they were doing.
Many ring forts have a central stone platform which is usually listed as "building" despite being only a meter or two across. Rather tight quarters for a building, but an excellent foundation for the central pillar or roof tree of a tower hall! If one wanted to build a hearthstone there are many better and easier ways of doing it than hauling in and embedding a massive slab of rock.
These broch-ring-forts could easily have been designed with internal wooden stairs and walkways, which would not have survived either their demise or the intervening millennia and centuries. And then we have the continued references to towers in Irish mythology, such as at Tory Island, Túr na Rí, the Tower of the king.
Fabulous local Airbnb's for unique places to stay are situated all along this magnificent coastline. Try a different section each year or do it all in one!
09/04/2024
I'd love to get out on the Burren to take a look for this wee beauty..
Finally - one lovely spring gentian makes an appearance
01/04/2024
A quiet day at Druid cottage and thanks for some sunshine 🌞
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Videos
Musicians enjoying some sunshine at Druid cottage during The Feakle Festival 2024! Remembering all the others who stayed here from time to time....
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Just catching a few shots and getting some practice at making reels! 😄
Enjoying some colourful sunshine days @druid_cottage
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April 1st at Druid cottage!
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From the Wild Atlantic Way to East Clare its both dramatic and tranquil .....#
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On a wet grey miserable day the sun shone in our sky,
casting her beauty on Sea, water, land and fellow beings around 14hrs ish.....Super day!
Winter reflections
Wishing you all a peaceful and happy winter holiday and many thanks for following and interacting with our page throughout 2023!
A little bit of Christmas is beginning @druidcottage
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A colourful walk near @druidcottage
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Find warm water at Traught beach Kinvara, the nearest sea beach to Druid cottage along the Wild Atlantic Way
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Visit for a weekend or stay longer in this cozy rental in scenic Co. Clare
See Bio for contact details.
Photos from nearby riverbanks with hope of getting on the water Kayak soon!
Cruinniú na mBád Festival 2023 racing 4 types of Galway Hookers on a cloudy but a dry day out to the coast!
#galwayhookers #kinvara #galwaytraditionalboatfestival #boatsboatsboats #druidcottage
Out n about looking for new places near me I found this beautiful woodland....feeling blessed and checking out another woodland this morning!
Enjoy a River Bank walk in Gort (near Druid cottage) and choose from some very good restaurants for afters.....
Druid cottage has had a freshen up!
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Our Story
'Druid Cottage ' is and ideal holiday hub for visting the Mid West, a quick break away or a quiet space to work on projects such as writing, research or just a much needed rest. Stay three nights or get a special rate for a longer monthly stay. The cottage is situated on a scenic hillside in the townland of Glendree, meaning 'Glen of Druids' in East Clare and is a renovated original stone built milking parlor. It’s wood burning stove and internet connection creates a warm welcome home from home on your return after a day of activities in the region. We are only 25 mins from Ennis and Gort and within one hour of The Wild Atlantic Way, Shannon, Galway, Limerick, Lough Derg, Birr Castle and the spectacular Burren National Park.
The cottage is a separate space on my property and although I enjoy having guests, I also very much respect their space and privacy, also especially an ideal space for the loan traveler who will have their own space but will not feel totally alone on this peaceful rural hillside. The neighbours are friendly too when you meet them out and about and we are also available for help and advise on the area and beyond.
Hikers are welcome as we are on the very edge of the East Clare walking trail. Pubs, food, music and Craic are found in the two nearby villages of Tulla and Feakle, horse riding, fishing, sailing,golf and art courses are also nearby.
The cottage is Open plan with a loft bedroom; please take note of the rustic and securely fixed wooden ladder as seen in the photos. The bed is a comfortable mattress on the floor as a full bed would be too high in the loft and there is also another single bed downstairs.
The shower/toilet is in a separate room and the kitchen is in the main room with high airy ceiling, enjoy fresh drinking water on tap from our own Spring well.
The heating is background electric heat and you supply your own wood for the wood burning SOLID FUEL stove.
Free parking and WiFi on site, the kitchen is well equipped just ask if anything is missing, also a hairdryer, iron, washing machine and dryer.
There is no television but there are playing cards, CD's and board games.
In the photo gallery you will find a selection of photos, some of which are credited to the multi talented Lou Endicott from Melbourne, who was one of our very first guests at the cottage and some new additions from guest Bernadette Jorden from Nova Scotia, Canada. Also a thank you to Sawrah for the following:
http://www.ihavethewanders.com/2013/09/druids-cottage-tulla-ireland.html
