A place
to arrive.
The Place
A farm that has been
worked for generations.
Houndswood sits in a fold of land at the edge of Connacht. Stone walls running up into the hill, a field that changes colour with the season, and a sky that does whatever it likes. Two buildings were restored here: the thatched cottage is the family home; guests stay in The Stables, next door.
The Stay
Rebuilt with care, made for staying.
One of the most loved homes on Airbnb, according to guests.
The Stables is the guest accommodation: a converted stone outbuilding beside the family's thatched cottage, which is their private home. Two bedrooms, one double and one that works as twins or a double. One bathroom, open-plan kitchen and living space with a wood-burning stove. Private garden and patio outside.
“Simply amazing. Stunning, comfortable, peaceful. Lovely, welcoming people.”
Top Features
- Valley views
- Free parking
- Private patio
Life on the Farm
A working farm.
Present, not performed.
The animals have their own rhythms. They are not here for guests, but guests find themselves pausing near the gate anyway.
Our Story
How it came to be.
Built by this family. Standing here for over a century. We didn't build it. We just tried to give it another hundred years.
What We Found
Sound in its bones but needing everything done. We spent the first months understanding what we had before we changed anything.
Taking It Back
Stripped to the stone and rebuilt slowly. Every decision made for the next fifty years, not the next five.
The Work
Two years of building, plastering, and finishing. Always with the same question: what would this place want to become?
How It Stands Now
Warm in winter, full of light in summer, and honest about what it is. Nothing performed. Just a place that earns its rest.
Farm History
A place with a long memory.
- 1785
The First Ryan
Patrick Ryan is the first of the family known to work this land. The record begins here, though the place itself is older.
- 1826
Brothers
John Ryan is born, the next generation. He and his brother Denis work the land alongside their father. Three men, one stretch of ground.
- 1857
On the Record
The Griffith valuation records Patrick, John and Denis Ryan farming twenty-six acres. The land is assessed, taxed, and accounted for. They keep working it.
- 1865
Michael Ryan
Michael Ryan is born at Houndswood on the 20th of March. He marries Kate Duffy. Together they have nine children.
- 1902
The Cottage is Built
The family lays the foundation stones of a new cottage. Built by their own hands, for their own people. Large enough for what they had made here.
- 1935
Thomas Ryan
Thomas Ryan takes over. A stonemason as much as a farmer. He marries Annie O'Brien and raises eight children on this land.
- 1965
John Joe and Aggie
John Joe and his wife Aggie take the reins. They clear the land, build new sheds, and shape the farm into the working place it is today.
- 2021
A New Chapter
Mark and his wife Louise are the sixth generation to work this ground. The old cottage comes back to life, one wall at a time.
- 2022
Restoration Begins
Stripped back to stone and rebuilt slowly. Two years of work, one wall at a time.
- 2025
The Cottage is Finished
The thatched cottage, the family home, is fully restored. The farm is lived in again.
- 2026
The Stables Open
The restored outbuilding opens as a place to stay. The farm welcomes its first guests.
Words from Guests
What guests said
“Simply amazing. Stunning, comfortable, peaceful. Lovely, welcoming people. We'd honestly come back every week if we could! Special mention for children, especially if they like animals — it's a farm with sheep, horses, cats, dogs and even a pet pig!”
“Louise and Marc's accommodation was simply outstanding. You felt completely comfortable and welcome right from the start: fresh bread, eggs, butter, jam, and flowers on the table. Furnished with so much attention to detail that there is really nothing missing.”
Mark · May 2026 “The place was stunning. Comfy beds, a lovely garden, a cosy log fire. The animals made the stay really special. We really didn't want to leave.”
Noah · June 2026
The Stables
When you're ready.
No pressure, no packages, no special offers. Just a farmhouse in the west of Ireland, available when the time is right.
Stay in touch
Be the first to know.
Occasional updates on what's growing here: new experiences, the farm calendar, and when dates open up.