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Welcome to Avril and Patrick’s home ☺️
Interesting and engaging family that is very much looking forward to hosting! We have 3 adorable children (ages 1.5 - 5 years old) and we always have an Au Pair (ages 18-21 years). Mum is home from the start of August and we will be doing lots of activities in that month.
We have 2 guest bedrooms as described later and an Au Pair bedroom.
For August, we have a 15-year-old French female student from August 3-24. Therefore, from around August 22, we could consider hosting another French student. I think the company can be very good for the students, even for a few days of overlap to help them settle in, so I do ask parents to consider this aspect too for excursions. Any other nationality is welcome without limitations.
From August 27 to Christmas, we have a 16-year-old Spanish student staying with us who is studying in a local school, and we are committed to not having anyone with the same language.
Therefore, we have a free place for a non-Spanish academic student from the end of August.
Public transport is within walking distance from our home (only a 2-minute walk to the train or bus), so easy access to places around Ireland. Nearby is a riding school (5-minute drive) https://hanleyshorses.com/ and a golf course. Within walking distance are swimming pools, tennis courts, a handball alley, squash courts, and a youth club (non-name club). There are scouts here and lots of gym classes again within walking distance such as Pilates and yoga. There is an awful lot to do, so it is super easy to adapt to each person who arrives.
In August, our Au Pair is Italian (19), and in September, South Australian (18 who loves horse riding and swimming). 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 (Australian) is a trained swimming instructor and also plans on regularly going horse riding as she grew up horse riding at home. While our children are super fun and engaging, I appreciate a peer is also important.
We have a son Pearse (5), daughter Scarlett (4), and a son Arthur (1.5) 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), work 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.
The horse riding 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 that allow independence to meet and get to know local peers, but of course, I will be checking in.
Traveling to different places will also happen such as Westport - beautiful to visit, see beaches, climb Croagh Patrick, and indeed zip lining at Westport House or visiting the house. The train station is within walking distance from our home to travel to Westport, or we will plan a family excursion there.
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?
I also take students to hot yoga on either Monday or Wednesday evenings.
Eniscrone has a blue flag beach and seaweed baths.
I know an Art instructor named Sean who I could reach out to for private classes which are charged by him. Or indeed we have a weighted piano if you wish for me to put you in touch with a piano tutor within walking distance.
When a family reaches out, we can make a plan for different interests, and anything specific such as classes can be organized in advance. While here, I think it is great to try something new if you are minded enough to give it a try.
I am a very good cook, so as a family, we eat together a lot, and I love spending time with young people and teaching them to prepare their favorite meals and kitchen safety/food storage.
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. In July, Jessica is 25. In August, Matilde, who is 18, is taking her place for 1 month.
There is an Australian Au Pair (18) staying with us from September.
There is a Spanish student staying with us in July (13) and a French girl (18) joining us at the end of July, but she is independent and planning on being away a lot.
There is a Spanish student staying with us from September to 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