We love a ramble through the halls of a historic house.

Now one such property in Doneraile, North Cork, will be welcoming guests once again, thanks to a funding boost from Airbnb.

The Gate House in North Cork has been run by Eileen Magner Smith’s family since the 1920s, and it is currently in its final stages of necessary renovations ahead of reopening for visitors in the coming months.

The property is one of the winners of the 2024 Capacity Awards, granting three historic Irish property owners €5,000 to aid vital renovation works.

In partnership with Historic Houses of Ireland, the funding from Airbnb is to help prepare the houses to welcome guests in a bid to conserve local heritage and boost rural tourism in Cork, Limerick and Kilkenny.

Charm restored 

The Gate House has already seen tourists visit from across the world, and Eileen hopes the funding will keep the house alive and running at its best. The €5,000 in funding will help to complete the roof and gate restorations that are required before the property can be ready to host guests.

“We cannot wait to greet our guests and let them experience the rich history that The Gate House has to offer,” said Eileen, who is continuing a decades-long restoration of the building.

“Thanks to this award we will be able to finish this passion project to the highest standard whilst ensuring it keeps its charm.”

The other two winners of the Airbnb Capacity Awards were Mountrothe House in Kilkenny and Castlegarde in Limerick.