Meet Your Host | Julia Bird

 Julia Bird - Carbery Cottage, Bantry, Co. Cork      

What are the hidden gems close to your home?

We are on the Wild Atlantic Way and the 70' Sheep's Head Walking Route in a "hidden" part of Ireland with a great community that welcomes visitors allowing friendly interaction between locals and visotors. We have a great choice of award winning restaurants including Blair's Cove, Good Things Cafe, O' Connors Seafood Restaurant, great traditional pubs serving food and music and of course the craic!

What is your favourite guest story?

The first Bank Holiday after we opened as a pet friendly B&B we had 7 guest dogs booked in all arrived at the same time we thought we'd built a nightmare! Once everything had settled down it was great and we have never had a dog related problem in 10yrs of being pet friendly.

What is your signature dish/food?

Seafood Platter would be my favourite All the seafood is caught and supplied by the local fisherman from Dunmanus Bay and it is a real event...

Is there anything about your home that is quirky?

We are pet friendly so in addition to are own dogs, we have 2 ponies, a dancing goose, 10 ducks 20+ chickens and a cat all of whom love to meet the guests.

Have you ever had any famous guests?

We've looked after many famous musicians (we used to operate a recording studio on site) and one or two politicians but we try to avoid naming names...

What is your favourite thing about the area you live in?

In our mind The Sheep's Head peninsula is a hidden gem with amazing mountain/hill walks overlooking Bantry and Dunmanus Bay. We fell in love with the area in the early 90's and spent the next 10 years trying to live here. 14yrs ago we took the jump and are now "living the sheep's head way" and loving it!

When you are not looking after your guests what is your favourite thing to do?

Our favourite day trip would be taking the dogs out to Barley Cove beach and lunch at O' Sullivans in Crookhaven with fresh crab sandwiches and their Seafood Chowder (probably the best in Ireland!). Secondly, we are involved with a Charter Yacht ( Carbery Sailing) so it's great to get out on the water and sail around the Islands of Roaring Water Bay and Bantry bay.

What are your top three attractions in this country?

The Mizen Peninsula, The Sheep's head Peninsula and the Beara Peninsula have so much to offer it would be impossible to pick three.

We'd like to thank Julia for taking part in the interview. For more information on her home you can go to Carbery Cottage.

Posted: 28 Nov 2014 by Karen O'Connor | with 0 comments