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Serene doesn’t begin to describe the unspoiled and windswept plains of the Aran Islands, which are interrupted only by the wildflowers that dot its legendary cliffs. A visit to Inis Meáin, just 15 miles off the west coast of mainland Ireland via the Galway Bay, is like stepping back in time. With only 200 inhabitants, and spanning just 3 miles, this “middle” Aran Island has kept its rural traditions of farming, fishing, sports and music alive for centuries. The least visited of the three islands, the wild landscape, often covered in mist, is divided by hundreds of miles of rough stone. Leave behind your city stresses and spend some time among the surging seas and natural beauty of an island luxuriously off the grid.
An elemental experience awaits at these natural designer dens, private-hire holiday houses for small groups, where cashmere hugs, rock walls shield, and simplicity is elegant.
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A short drive northwards from the wild sandy beaches, the eco-design guesthouse lies secluded within the Horn Head peninsula. Created to blend seamlessly in with its surroundings of County Donegal’s mountainous yet green landscape.
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Characterized by mountains, glens, sea cliffs, moors, blue creeks and a history going back into the Neolithic Age, Donegal is in the beautiful Irish province of Ulster on the very northern edge of wonderful Éire. It is both rugged and ravishing.
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Inis Meáin Knitting Company is an international beacon of knitted design & simple luxe - perched on the ruggedly beautiful Aran Islands as a warm fashion must.
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One of Ireland’s last handloom weavers, Eddie Doherty. At the age of 16, he learned to weave by hand, and he’s been doing so ever since for the next 40 years – with two long stints at large Irish fabric companies in between.
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Muck’n’Muffins: a sisterly venture of handmade goods in Dunfanaghy Ireland which champion the crafts from ceramics, furniture, toys, vintage finds and serve great coffee.
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McNutt of Donegal weave tweed and Irish wool on handlooms and has evolved over the years to produce Irish linen, fabric and accessories including wool blankets, throws and scarfs as found at Breac.House.
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Anchored to specific genres of hotel design, The Aficionados print editions: Farmhouse Fabulous, Casa Gorgeous, Blueprint Beauts, Neu Heritage and Alchemists of Italy take the reader through the creation narratives. A sourcebook for hoteliers, travellers, style aficionados and those who appreciate design.
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Salmon, Wilderness, A Heritage Map, Seaweed Baths, Irish Atlantic Coast of Donegal and world's tallest Celtic Cross - experience the wild side of Ireland from the comfort of an eco-design hotel in Dunfanaghy.
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Brothers Tarla and Antoin MacGabhann are the creative talents behind some of Ireland's more modernist eco builds including the little design hotel Breac.House in Donegal.
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The story starts in 1921 with a boy from Belfast who saw an advert for a tailoring apprentice position. Cycling over 100 miles to Donegal, with a dream in his pocket.
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