Cnoc Suain - Restfull Hill
Set on the edge of the Connemara Bog on a hillside with stunning views of Galway Bay, Cnoc Suain is a residential retreat centre dedicated to the study of Irish culture and landscape, set among various restored cottages that once comprised a prefamine villiage dating back to 1691.
Opened in late 2006, Cnoc Suain has already created quite a stir on the Irish tourism industry, for providing authentic, much needed heritage site. Though new to the scene, Cnoc Suain certainly didn't happen overnight, but it was the product of years of work by Dearbhaill Stand�n and Charlie Troy, who bought the land and its various buildings some ten years ago and have been slowly but persistently realizing their vision. That Cnoc Suain stands today, poised for greatness, is a strong testament to the powers of perseverance.
Structurally speaking Cnoc Suain consists of a cluster of cottages built along a hillside that once comprised a pre-famine village. Each of the thatched and slated stone cottages has been painstakingly restored, some of them with thatched rooves, all of them using traditional materials and workmanship. Some of the cottages date as far back as 1691.
Workshops comprise an eclectic mix of topics falling broadly under the umbrella of cultural and natural history. Teachings draw of course draw heavily from the sublime Connemara landscape that surrounds Cnoc Suain, as well as Dearbhaill and Charlie's respective disciplines. Offerings include: Crafts and Traditional practices, Traditional Herbal Cures and Recipes, Natural History of the Bog, Irish Traditional Music, Gaelic (Irish) Language, Celtic Traditions such as cutting rushes, and Traditional Cooking of brown bread and other recipes, to name a few.
Cnoc Suain provides guests with a unique place to stay and learn about the Irish tradition, history and culture in an atmosphere of peace and relaxation. Being from the locality, Charlie and Dearbhaill are certainly passionate about their mission and strive to ensure their guests are duly moved and inspired by the place. They also draw heavily from a stable of local experts and musicians who add to the mix.
