Wow - does this place ever capture the zeitgeist of our changing times ... It is rare indeed to find a hospitality destination that has been so mindfully created and carefully thought through, to provide everything that the guest will need for a comfortable and rewarding stay (and nothing that is unnecessary), and to embrace the local community and culture so warmly. A couple of examples come to mind - Inis Meáin Island Stays (formerly Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites) on the Aran Islands, and Breac.House near Dunfanagahy in Co Donegal - and there will be others, but it is very unusual and hopefully a sign of the direction that Irish hospitality is taking.
The brainchild of local woman Ciara O’Brien, a native of nearby Mitchelstown who chose to reinvent herself and her life after twenty years in the corporate world, Barnahown B&B is the transformation of a much-loved traditional farmhouse that she often passed by as a child - and which came onto the market at just the right time for her to work her magic on it.
Billed as 'a luxurious low-impact destination offering Galtee mountain views, creature comforts a-plenty, and access to a multitude of local wellness, adventure-based, and food-focused experiences', the care taken with the restoration work and eco-credentials - including PV (photovoltaic) panels and fast EV chargers - is immediately obvious to arriving guests, who are delighted to find that the traditional materials used by local craftspeople blend perfectly with the home comforts that Ciara has built into every aspect of a stay at this delightful (and dog-friendly) home from home.
The four bedrooms are named after after some of Ciara's favourite Galtees hikes - Cush, Lough Curra, Galtee Mor, and Temple Hill - and the furniture was handmade by local craftspeople.
Although it is an old house and the bedrooms are not huge, Cush and Lough Curra have king-size beds, while mountain views to the rear of the building can be be enjoyed from the super-king beds in Galtee Mor and Temple Hill - and, in line with Barnahown's low impact philosophy, the compact en-suite bathrooms have gorgeous eco-friendly refillable Irish toiletries from The Handmade Soap Co in Co Meath and LanaiBlo Hairdryers.
When it comes to breakfast, the aim is for everything that you eat and drink to come from within a 20-kilometre radius, and the eggs, from their own hens, are a highlight of a very tasty Full Irish of local ingredients, as is the Black & White Pudding Roulade by Hanley’s of Mitchelstown. Local juices (The Apple Farm, Cahir, and Ballyhoura Apple Farm, Killinane) are among the drinks and local cheese and relishes are also offered. Dinner isn't offered at Barnahown, but their ‘Cork Shore To Galtee Mor’ tasting platter is available to order - an appetising introduction to local food producers, it includes either a glass of Irish bubbly in the form of Killahora Orchards’ Fine Perry - a favourite of Ciara’s, from Glounthaune - or a craft beer from Mitchelstown’s own Eight Degrees Brewing.
Many people coming to stay at Barnahown will know exactly how they would like to spend their time, but Ciara offers a service that allows guests to book a range of daily excursions, such as forest bathing, Ballyhoura mountain biking, tours of Mitchelstown Cave, River Blackwater fishing, and River Suir kayaking - a service that is especially useful to guests (whether individuals or groups) who are unfamiliar with the area.
Barnahown B&B has only been in the making since 2023, so it is still a work on progress - with outbuildings awaiting conversion, for example, to provide more rooms, gardens gradually maturing and signage still to come. But it is already a little gem and - as Ciara wanted it to be be - it is a true Irish B&B, where you’ll get a warm reception from the owner on arrival and she’ll share the story of the place along with tips to make the most of your stay.
*** The latest series of ‘At Your Service’ with John and Francis Brennan will feature Barnahown's journey from concept through to launch when it airs on RTE this autumn.
