Meet Ray
Creative, Open minded, Friendly
Our accommodation (for Homestay guests) has its own entrance so guests can have privacy. I am very easy going and flexible.
On a typical day...
I won’t be home a lot.
When I host guests...
I can answer questions but let my guests do their own thing.
Hosting guests since
2008
Response Rate
100%
Response Time
Within one hour
About the Homestay
- Welcomes
- Males
- Females
- Couples
- Families
- Students
Located in the Midlands of Southern Ireland, our home and holistic centre provides a peaceful and welcoming environment. You are invited to come and stay, whether you wish to use the accommodation as a retreat or for a holiday setting or a stop over whilst travelling etc.
We offer a tranquil setting where you can escape from the distractions of modern day life. Our aim is to provide a calm and quiet environment, suitable for relaxation and retreat.
ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATION:
We have a choice of guest accommodation:
We have five bedrooms and a self contained apartment available. These consist of:
~ a family bedroom with a double bed and a set of bunk beds (sleeps up to 4 people)
~ a bedroom with a double bed and a single bed (sleeps up to 3 people)
~ two twin bedded rooms
~ a single bedroom
all located in the main centre
- plus a self contained apartment next to the house that sleeps up to 4 people.
AMENITIES:
Kitchenette available for making snacks & drinks.
Local Gym 5 minute drive away.
There are no local amenities (e.g. shops etc) or public transport in the village. You need your own transport to travel anywhere.
The centre is designed to create a tranquil peaceful setting and is ideal for personal retreat. For this reason there is no TV, radio, WiFi etc.
ABOUT THE AREA & LOCATION:
Set in a rural environment it is an ideal location for a relaxing break, a retreat, a walking holiday or as a stop-over whilst exploring Ireland. We are a short walk from Donamon Castle (built in the 12th Century and one of the oldest inhabited castles in Europe). The river Suck is also a short walk away (making it an attractive location for a fishing holiday).
FACILITIES AVAILABLE:
Guests have use of the facilities including:
~ our holistic centre with a comfortable relaxation lounge area (not available when workshops, courses or other events are being held there).
~ kitchenette area with kettle, toaster, microwave, where guests can make themselves hot & cold drinks, snacks etc.
~ a wide selection of self-help, well-being and motivational books from our library
There is also a garden with seating and our 'silent space' cabin for relaxation, meditation and reflection which guests are welcome to use.
Please note that the self-contained apartment is heated by a solid fuel stove and the kitchen has a gas cooker that uses bottled gas. We provide a 'starter pack' of fuel. Guests using this accommodation are responsible for purchasing replacement gas bottles and solid fuel or we can provide this (additional charge applies).
The communal areas in the main building are also heated by a solid fuel stove. We provide a 'starter pack' of fuel. Guests using this accommodation are responsible for purchasing replacement fuel or we can provide this (additional charge applies).
Although we are situated in a tranquil, rural location we are a short drive from Roscommon town (approx 15km) and a number of tourist attractions such as Rathcroghan Heritage Centre, Castlecoote House, Elphin Windmill and museum, Strokestown Famine Museum, Athlone (where you can take a boat trip down the River Shannon, take in a show at the Deane Theatre and avail of the shopping in the town centre).
As our aim is to create a peaceful and quiet setting, there are no radios, TV's in the rooms.
We ask guests to remove their shoes when entering, so please bring slippers / indoor footwear with you.
Additional Info
Parking is available at the property. As we are located in a rural setting there is no local public transport services. We are happy to collect guests from Roscommon Railway Station, Athlone Coach / Railway Station or Knock Airport (by prior arrangement).
House Facilities
- Parking
- Non Smoking
- Allow Smoking
Bedrooms available for booking
About the Area
We are located in the rural village of Donamon, which is approximately 15kms from Roscommon town centre. There is no public transport to the village and you will need a car or other form of transport to get around. The nearest shop is approximately 5km away.
Local Area Facilities
- Park
- Gym
- Swimming
- Cinema
- Library
- Museum
- Shopping Centre
- Fishing
- Restaurant
- Hospital
Meals
Hosts can offer a complimentary light breakfast at their discretion. All other meals, including a full breakfast, might incur an additional cost, if offered. Meals and any additional payment should be arranged directly with your host.
Included in the stay
- Complimentary Light Breakfast
- Use of Kitchen
House Rules
You are free to come and go as you please and to use the communal facilities in our holistic centre at your leisure providing they are not being used for other purposes. Please note that we may ask that you vacate your rooms during the day between 11am and 4pm for 'housekeeping' purposes. We ask that you clean up any crockery etc. that you may use in the kitchenette located in the main hall / relaxation area and leave all areas in a clean and tidy state after use.
If you wish to bring a pet, please contact us beforehand.
We ask that you respect the privacy of any other guests and that if you are coming or going between the hours of 10pm - 8am that you avoid making any noise that would unduly disturb others.
As our aim is to create a peaceful and quiet setting, there are no radios, TV's or WiFi. Some guests may be on 'personal retreat' and we ask that you do not make undue noise.
We ask guests to remove their shoes when entering, so please bring slippers / indoor footwear with you.
Payment:
Once you have confirmed your booking through the Homestay site, we email an invoice that you can use to pay online with a debit / credit card.
We ask that guests initially pay a 25% deposit to secure their booking and the full balance for their stay by no later than 7 working days prior to the commencement date of the booking.
Cancellation policy:
Full refund (excluding the Homestay booking fee) if you cancel giving at least 7 clear days notice prior to the commencement date of your booking.
No refund if you cancel giving less than 7 days notice.
Smoking is allowed outdoors only.
8 Reviews
October 2022
He is kindest person who I have ever met.
Host reply
Thanks for your lovely review Minbyoung, it is very kind of you and much appreciated
August 2022
Our stay at Ray's homestay was a very enjoyable experience, Ray was very welcoming and added a few little personal touches which was lovely, his little oasis is very relaxing and comfortable We couldn't have asked for better, Thank you Ray, from Julie, Sonia and Ava Rose
Host reply
Thank you Julie. It was a pleasure to meet Sonia, Ava Rose and yourself and thank you once again for choosing to stay here.
June 2022
I enjoyed the stay and its very quiet
Host reply
Thank you for your kind review Velina Dube. It was a pleasure to meet you and I am pleased that you enjoyed your stay.
May 2018
We were very happy to discuss with Ray and very well received.
Un très bon accueil authentique en Irlande !
Thanks Ray very much.Host reply
Thank you once again for choosing to come and stay at our homestay. It was a great pleasure to meet your family and to be host to you.
August 2017
Ray nous a fait un accueil chaleureux et authentique
La chambre était propre et confortable
le repas était délicieux
il faut y aller !Host reply
Thank you for your lovely review Christelle. It was great to meet you and your family and a real joy to have you here. Thank you for choosing to stay with us, it was a great pleasure to be your host.
June 2017
Au coeur de l'Irlande rurale, Ray soigne l'accueil et donne à son domicile d'être un havre de paix. En peu de temps, nous avons appris sur l'histoire locale récente et ancienne. Accueil simple, généreux, profondément humain.
Host reply
Thank you for your kind review François. It was an honour to be of service to your group and a great pleasure to meet you all. Thank you for choosing to stay with us and I am happy that you enjoyed your stay
August 2016
Appartement gigantesque avec tout ce qu'il faut dedans.
Host reply
Homestay has finally enabled hosts to respond to reviews, so I am delighted to be able to finally thank you for your lovely review that you left for me after your stay. I hope that all of you are doing well and you are most welcome back at anytime
July 2016
Ray was sweet and very welcoming! We instantly became friends. His place is beautiful, peaceful, clean, and relaxing. The only downside was that we only had one night to stay...we wish we could have extended our time there longer. Ray was accommodating and took plenty of time to share information about Ireland and things to do in the area. I cannot recommend this place enough. If you like peace and a quiet getaway, this is definitely the place to book for a lovely vacation! Can't wait to visit again! Thanks RAY :)
Host reply
Homestay has finally enabled hosts to respond to reviews, so I am delighted to be able to thank you Victoria for your kind and lovely review that you left for me after your stay. I hope that all of you are doing well and you are most welcome back at anytime
How do I book?
Contact the host to check their availability and ask them any questions you have about staying with them. Once the host confirms they’re available for your dates, you can complete your booking.
When do I pay?
Once a host confirms they're available, you can go ahead and pay the 15% booking fee (maximum of 250 $£€ for longer term bookings) using a choice of payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, Laser, JCB & PayPal (not available in certain countries). You then pay your host on arrival or as stated by your host on their profile and agreed by you on booking. Please be cautious if a host requests advance payment if its not included on their profile. Our hosts have been advised that if they wish to request advance payment they must make this explicit in their profile. We do not recommend the use of Money gram or Western Union.
When can I share my contact details?
Host and Guest email address, phone number and home address will be exchanged in a confirmation email sent to both immediately after a booking is completed. It's against our policy for Guests and Hosts to exchange direct contact details via our messaging system.