Owner’s labour of love sees Galway holiday home crowned best in the country

One woman’s dream of buying back her grandparents’ old home and restoring it back into a picture postcard thatched cottage saw her this week acclaimed as the owner of the best holiday home in the country.

The Humble Daisy was Mary Rose Donnelly’s first home after she got the opportunity to buy back the idyllic thatched cottage, originally owned by her grandparents.

When she decided to turn it into a holiday let to earn some extra income outside of farming, Mary Rose took on the challenge of renovating the property and worked with local tradesmen to restore the Humble Daisy back to its full former glory.

The cottage now boasts a combination of modern and original features, such as exposed stone walls and an open fire.

And since being made available to holidaymakers eight years ago, the property has become a popular bolthole for those looking to explore the Galway countryside, with sights such as Lough Derg just a short stroll away.

That saw it this week crowned ‘Best in Ireland’ in a national travel awards programme run by Sykes Cottages, the UK’s largest independent operator of holiday rental properties in Britain and Ireland.

“Winning this award was a wonderful surprise as I know we were up against some strong competition in Ireland,” said a delighted Mary Rose.

“It proves that going the extra mile for your guests doesn’t go unnoticed. We also often get the children to help out when we are preparing for a new stay, so it shows them that their hard work pays off too!

“I hope the award means a wider audience of people get to hear about The Humble Daisy in the future and I can welcome even more guests through its doors,” she added.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.