The Irish Cottages - News from Irish Cottages

Canadian Writer rates Irish Cottages as "Great Place to Visit"

October, 2012

If you are planning a visit to the lovely and tranquil lakeland of Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland, I strongly recommend that you look no further for accommodation than The Irish Cottages.www.theirishcottages.com

From the moment I inquired on line about these self-catering cottages I knew I was in good hands. All the administrative detail, from inquiry, to booking, to our arrival, was handled with the utmost care and efficiency by director John Lowry whose gracious mother, Noreen, was waiting for us as we pulled into the driveway. How very pleasant it was too, to be welcomed so warmly after a long day of travel, and Noreen made sure that we had all the wood and fragrant Irish peat we needed for the fires and that everything was to our liking.

What we found in the cottage exceeded our expectations. As we entered we found a welcome basket brimming with treats-(including delicious scones and a bottle of good red wine) perched on the counter of a spacious, fully equipped country kitchen with a lovely open hearth fireplace. The large reception room was tastefully decorated and comfortably furnished with a view across the farmyard of Lough Erne, its islands and the soft green hills beyond. There was also a flat-screen TV, stereo equipment, a pretty wood –burning stove and patio doors opening onto a deck with table and chairs. The three bedrooms upstairs and the downstairs double room with large ensuite were all exceptionally comfortable, well furnished and decorated. As we discovered during our stay, the Lowrys run an exceptionally tight ship with regards to quality assurance and upkeep: the kitchen cupboards held absolutely everything one might need when self-catering and everything, from the stem-ware to the cutlery, sparkled; the wood-burning stove and the kitchen fireplace provided cheerful blazes in the autumn evenings; we lacked for nothing.

Put all of this comfort and aesthetic appeal into the most tranquil, lush green lovely landscape one could imagine, where the only sounds that disturb the peace are the lowing of cattle in the fields or the co-co-co-rico of the wood pigeons in the surrounding Portagaria Wood, and you have the Irish Cottages.

Our family will most certainly return and will enthusiastically recommend it to friends and acquaintances. Over the years we have stayed in many self-catering accommodations both in Europe and in North America and The Irish Cottages surpassed them all.

Jane McCoy,

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Irish Cottages has given Katherine Johnson a luxury, five night break including flights and car hire. Katherine will be staying on the shores of Lough Erne in Fermanagh, in a character cottage with modern furnishings, stunning views and plenty to do nearby.

On hearing about her win, Katherine said, “I didn’t think I’d win, so the call from Irish Cottages was a lovely surprise! I’m absolutely thrilled about going to Northern Ireland – it’s beautiful.” Owner of Irish Cottages, John Lowry added, “Katherine has chosen to stay with us in September. We are looking forward to giving her and Stephen a very warm welcome and showing them just how much this area has to offer. Their break is just before their wedding, so a perfect chance for some peace and relaxation as their big day approaches.”

Terry & Christine Fitzpatrick from Hornsea are the lucky winners of a luxury 5-night self catering break at Irish Cottages, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.  They simply answered a question about Northern Ireland online – then the phone call came to tell them they’d won a five star break! John Lowry, owner of Irish Cottages said “I am absolutely delighted that Terry & Christine are returning for another relaxing break with us. I know they thoroughly enjoy the peace and quiet we have here.”

Terry said “we are over the moon with winning the break and we are really looking forward to it.  We’re delighted to be going back to Irish Cottages – the views from the cottages are amazing.  It’s one of our daughter Carmel’s favourite places and Carmel will be joining us.” 

Terry, Christine & Carmel have stayed a couple of times and entered the 2009 competition by answering a question about Ireland and supplying some contact information.

Michael & Esther Maguire from Dollingstown are the lucky winners of a luxury 3-night self catering break at Irish Cottages on Lower Lough Erne in Fermanagh.  They simply answered a question about Northern Ireland online – then the phone call came to tell them they’d won a five star break! John Lowry, owner of Irish Cottages said “I am absolutely delighted that Michael & Esther are returning for another relaxing break with us. I know they thoroughly enjoy the peace and quiet we have here.”

Esther said “winning is a lovely surprise and we are really looking forward to it.  We’re delighted to be going back to Irish Cottages – the views at Portagaria Wood are amazing.” 

Michael added “the mix of traditional Irish character with all the luxuries of modern life is perfect for us – especially with Lough Erne right on our doorstep”.  Michael & Esther have stayed several times.