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Welcome to Avril and Patrick’s home ☺️
Interesting and engaging family that is very much looking forward to hosting!
First and foremost, I just wish to advise where our availability is …
For June and July we can host over 18’s only as I work Monday- Thursday. Evenings there is lots to do locally and Friday - Sunday we can go on trips.
The second week of August onwards over 18’s and under 18’s are welcome.
From September - Christmas we have a 16 year old Spanish student staying with us who studying in a local school and we are committed to not having anyone with the same language.
At present have a lovely Italian Au Pair (24) until August. She arrived through an agency and has been vetted by that agency. She has a degree in economics and plans to go back to Italy for further studies and work.
At the end of August a lovely Australian Au Pair Ruby (age 18) is coming to stay with us for 5 months and she will be vetted in order to get her visa for Ireland. This will be good for anyone arriving to have someone closer to their age and an opportunity to learn different types of English and indeed, an additional culture 😊 Ruby is a trained swimming instructor and also plans on regularly going horse riding as she grew up Horseriding at home. While our children are super fun and engaging, I appreciate a peer is also important too.
We have a son Pearse (5), daughter Scarlett (4) and a son Arthur (1.5) and who is turning 2 in October. At the moment they enjoy swimming lessons and soccer and are super engaging and fun to be with.
I Avril (Mum) works as a Solicitor (Lawyer) and my husband, Patrick (Dad) is an Architect and director of a large Architecture firm. We are a very friendly family with lots of humility. We are successful but we worked hard to get where we are.
We live in a modern newly renovated 7 bedroom town centre house which is 2 minute walk to Tennis Courts, Swimming Pools, running clubs, cycling clubs, squash, youth clubs, scouts, golf, public, several gyms with classes such as yoga, Pilates, spin. The Horseriding school is a short drive away. I can teach how to ride a racing bicycle. Our home is attached to the GAA pitch which frequently has native Irish Gaelic matches to watch. The theatre is also a 2 minute walk from our home.
There are many activities within walking distance from our home which allows independence to meet and get to know local peers but of course I will be checking in.
Travelling to different places will also happen such as Westport - beautiful to visit, see beaches, climb Croagh Patrick and indeed zip lining at Wesport House or visiting the house.
There is also Moorhall and other local cultural sites to visit such as Turlough house which is a local museum.
Why not visit the grounds of Ashford Castle and sign up for a boat trip.
Eniscrone has a blue flag beach and seaweed baths.
I know an Art instructor Sean who I could reach out to also for private classes which are charged for by him.
When a family reaches out - we can make a plan for different interests and so anything specific such as classes can be organised in advance. While here, think it is great to try something new if minded enough to give it a try.
Dynamically, my mum might call in from time to time or my sister.
I am a very good cook, so as a family we eat together a lot and I love spending time with young people.
The extra bedrooms (two in total) are within our home. In total we have four (x 4) bathrooms, three (x3) have showers but we have plumbing left to add another shower in the other toilet if required. There is a remote work/study area. Our home has super fast fiber broadband. We have two (x2) washing machines and two (x 2 tumble dryers) so we are amply equipped for hosting.
Public transport is a 2 minute walk from our home. Knock Airport is a 30 minute drive.
If anyone wishes to share a room/bring a friend we could explore that. Although each room has a double bed, but we do understand how having a friend might be important. Speaking English only in our home though is the rule.
There is an Italian Au Pair staying with us until August.
There is an Australian Au Pair (18) staying with us from September.
There is a Spanish student staying with us from September - Christmas.
Local amateur radio station. I could also look into whether the Horseriding schools have availability for volunteers.
We are welcoming and used to sharing who we are and our culture.
Generally, we all get up around 8am and breakfast is around then. Weekdays it is a continental breakfast, but I do make an amazing granola with fresh fruit and lemon compote if popular. Weekends we cook Irish breakfast and pick up fresh croissants from our local bakery. We also might make buttermilk pancakes or scrambled eggs; we do enjoy making a good breakfast and a nice coffee.
We have school drops in the morning and collections in the afternoon, which my husband and I share.
Cleaners come on Fridays.
The afternoon and activities can be tailored for guests.
For short or longer stays, I would plan a trip to Westport, Ashford Castle, or Galway for certain days which have been set out earlier. In the evenings, there are many activities to choose from, but there is the local theatre, Claremorris Town Theatre, where there are shows on frequently.
We have a lovely back garden, so we of course love spending time with the children. As little TV as possible is what we strive for, but if the weather is very bad, it may go on for an hour.
We are also interested in having students for the academic year also and register them in a local school.
Dinner is broad and I love cooking food from different countries. Happy to teach how to cook meals if anyone wants to learn, or a typical Irish dinner if you care to join me.
Weekends and on Sundays, we usually have a traditional roast dinner cooked by Patrick. If the weather is good, we go to the beach with a picnic (1-hour drive for the best beach, but worth it). It has paddle boards and an outdoor sauna for that cold swim.
There are local parks near our home (x2) to walk in the evenings.
We put the children to bed in the evening at 7pm.
Some evenings I sometimes go to art classes or hot yoga when on; always happy to have a guest join me. There are classes in the local gyms (closest is a 2-minute walk).
We turn the TV off/no TV/phone policy in the evenings and sit with our guests/Au Pair and chat about our day.
From 630 € / week
+33 7 49 08 56 74