Category: News

Our new group space An Scioból – The Haybarn Hub

An Scioból – The Haybarn Hub

For several years we have been hatching an idea that we could create a space where guests could gather in a shared space for social and business purposes.  In recent years we have also held workshops for entrepreneurs, thinkers and creatives and we  are now proud to announce that An Scioból – The Haybarn Hub, is complete and offers a fantastic space for group workshops, away days, festive gatherings etc.  Together with our cottages,  it allows us to build on our Rural Retreat philosophy that has been central to our business since its inception.  Situated close to the cottages, we can offer a unique and special place or venue for away days, think-ins or simply space for larger groups to chill and relax.

We have repurposed an old hay barn space and, thanks to local builders and craftspeople, we have turned it into a really cosy spot with hi-speed wifi, large screen Smart TV, flexible seating and tables and facilities for refreshments.  Guests can also access the sauna, use our bikes, enjoy our walks and immerse themselves in a rural space designed to encourage team building, creative thinking, brainstorming, replenishment and self development.  

As a professional trainer and coach, Niall Heenan Training  can design bespoke training and coaching  interventions designed for staff teams who wish to reconnect, engage and optimise performance.  Other trainers and coaches who may wish to use our facilities for their own events are also welcome.

We love our place and we hope you do too!

 

30 Years of Hospitality

Niall & Inez Heenan celebrating 30 Years in Tourism and Hospitality; 1992–2022

When we opened our new home to guests at Eastertime 1992, we did so full of the excitement of creating our own hospitality business offering guests the type of experience that we would like to receive ourselves.  With Tir na Fiuise Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast we set out to offer an opportunity to enjoy a ‘Real Rural Retreat’ where we provided the best of our own and local produce. We became renowned for our extensive breakfast menu and after a couple of seasons we began to feature in various guidebooks such as Karen Brown’s Guides to Ireland and John and Sally McKennas 100 Best Places to Stay in Ireland, and won awards such as ‘Ireland’s Best Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast in Munster. old B&B business card

 

Fuchsia Lane Farm Holiday Cottages, Terryglass, Co.Tipperary

In 1998 we changed our offering to providing self catering accommodation and that has grown to our current business Fuchsia Lane Farm Holiday Cottages.  Our core vision of offering a ‘Real Rural Retreat’ is still at the heart of what we do, and when guests are here we encourage them to enjoy the unique aspects that can be found here. 

 

Self-Catering Flexibilityour first self catering card

Over the years, our guests have enjoyed how our product has developed, and has found a wonderful niche in this beautiful part of rural Co. Tipperary in the centre of Ireland. Returning guests have enjoyed extended family celebrations, as we can cater for up to 20 guests with our 4 cottages; a ‘workation’ combining our accommodation with an idyllic workspace with internet access; a family holiday; a couple’s getaway; an action-packed exercise break with yoga!

‘Live like a local’ at Fuchsia Lane Farm

We have farm walks, a sauna, bikes to cycle on the country lanes, produce from our garden and the opportunity to ‘live like a local’ where you will meet our welcoming family and a friendly, local community in Terryglass village, local towns of Portumna, Borrisokane, Nenagh and Birr. You can swim, fish and kayak at Lough derg, hike in the Slieve Bloom and Silvermine Mountains; golf locally at Portumna, Nenagh, Roscrea and Birr.

Sustainable Rural Tourism

Connecting with this local community is an important element in any sustainable rural tourism enterprise and with this in mind we always encourage our guests to avail of the services and amenities that exist locally and beyond. Local pubs, restaurants, food businesses, attractions and amenities are all central to the visitor experience, where we can all enjoy. Our work in this area was acknowledged in our receiving a Gold Medal  award in the Irish Responsible Travel Awards in  2016.

So as we continue and evolve along why not  Come, stay and celebrate with us in 2022!   Niall & Inez

Revive & Thrive on Workation at Fuchsia Lane Farm

Technology now allows us to work from anywhere! Join the large number of guests who are choosing Fuchsia Lane Farm to work and holiday.

Our woodland Zen Zone is an ideal place to begin, or end, your day. Enjoy our bikes to cycle to the village or join us on our regular morning swims in Lough Derg. Our Sauna leaves you feeling invigorated and ready to embrace the day’s work.

We have learned some things that help our ‘workationers’ to have that ideal mix of work and play!  Workstation at Fuchsia Lane Farm

  • Put a structure in place for work, relaxation and fun.  
  • Focus on work for a period in the morning and then put away the laptop when completed.  
  • If you have a second device such as a tablet or iPad, use that for your entertainment and personal needs and leave the work laptop for work.  
  • Before you start work, take some time for exercise, yoga or focused breathwork etc.  

A good workspace helps to  focus, and with our quiet areas and peaceful fields you can revive and thrive.  We can supply you with a good chair for longer periods at your desk. Very good WiFi to allow you to make those Zoom calls is a must, and we have all you need in that regard.

workationSo if you would like a ‘Workation’ – a creative space to work on that novel or business plan, either on your own, with a partner or family, who can enjoy their holiday too, Fuchsia Lane farm is the place for you. The local village has great gastropubs, coffee, music and yoga classes if you wish to ‘live like a local’.  If you are thinking of travelling from overseas then you can still keep an eye on the bottom line while you have your rural vacation in our ‘Real Rural Retreat’.  Your chance to Revive and Thrive in 2022!

#discoverloughderg  #visitipp #irelandshiddenheartlands #workandholiday #digitalnomad

Award for Birr Castle

30 mins drive from Fuchsia Lane Farm!

As you all know we are big fans of Birr Castle and Demesne here at Fuchsia  Lane Farm Self Catering.  We were delighted to read the good news that it was recently awarded as one of the Best Visitor Attractions in the country in the Irish Independent Reader Travel Awards 2022. Being placed 4th in a list of amazing places to visit is a great achievement  and well done to everyone involved.

Birr Castle is just 30 mins drive from our cottages and is the perfect location for a great family day with walks, nature, science and acres of space awaiting you.  The town of Birr has great coffe shops and eateries and you will be spoiled for choice.  So put it on your list of one of your things to do here!

During 2022 there are a range of family activities and events planned, including over St Patrick’s Weekend March 17 – 20, the famous Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday and Monday April 17 and 18

Booking for the Castle grounds can be made online at https://birrcastle.com/buy-tickets/

This short video will give you a flavour of what you can experience there

 

 

Beautiful Lough Derg on the Shannon

We recently came across this video showing some of the beauty of Lough Derg and the surrounding villages, including Terryglass. It features Cedric Charpentier who is a fishing guide and an expert on finding great pike fishing spots!  We hope you enjoy it and even if you never fish on the lake, it will make you want to get out on a boat there

 

Tipperary – Best Holiday Destination 2022

Visitors to Ireland should spend more time in Co Tipperary, according to the prestigious travel publication Condé Nast Traveller. In its recent list of 22 destinations to visit in 2022, Tipperary is a stand out entry for anyone with an interests in food, a passion for the outdoors and sustainable community tourism.

Here at Fuchsia Lane Farm we particularly loved the reference in the guide to “Walk it all off along the blustery shoreline of Lough Derg, where you’ll be joined by kayakers, paddleboarders and cyclists whizzing alongside acres of cheerful wildflower meadows”

So why not get ahead of the curve and make your plans for 2022 to visit Tipperary and meet local people, artisan food producers and experience the outdoors ranging from mountain walks and trekking to lakeside activities such as paddle boarding and sailing.

If you wish to read the full article you will find it here

 

#CondeNastTraveller #Tipperary #LoughDerg #FoodieHolidays

Looking forward to a brighter future!

As vaccinations roll out across the country and among the countries where all our lovely guests come from, we look forward to the day when, once more, there will be the wonderful sounds of laughter and the activity of guests around the place. Our walks, woodland meditation zone and open spaces all await you and we will have your cottage all cosy and snug for your restful stay.  So keep Fuchsia Lane Farm in your hearts and we will all meet again soon!

As a little teaser of some of the beautiful sounds and calming environment to be found on our farm or down at the quayside in Terryglass, we are sharing this little clip!

 

 

Great outdoor activities

Some suggestions for great outdoor activities with children  #MakeABreakForIt

Learn to kayak with Lough Derg Watersports, Kilgarvan Quay, Ballinderry.  Great instructors and lots of fun for adults too!  Contact Becky on 086 4114822

https://www.facebook.com/LoughDergWaterSports/videos/690409727961404/

Take a cruise on Lough Derg with James and Aoife, this trip is highly rated on TripAdvisor and our guests always love it. Book online and social distancing measures are in place.  While in Killaloe visit the Wooden Spoon Cafe or Scoops Ice Cream Parlour

http://www.killaloerivercruises.com/     086 814 0559

Portumna Forest Park and Castle Garden. Great for walks, cycles and picnics. Safe swimming area also in Portumna, signposted in town

https://youtu.be/aK3G_0yI0fA

Birr Castle, Playground, Cafe and miles and miles of wonderful walks!  Book online at https://birrcastle.com/

Climb the Devils Bit! https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/devils-bit-loop

Closer to your cottage is the Beech Trail in Cloughjordan Knockanacree Woods. This covers 41 hectares of land. It is teeming with wildlife, from sparrowhawks and red squirrel to foxes and badgers. Details here https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/knockanacree-beech-trail

Lough Boora Discovery Park https://www.loughboora.com/   40 mins drive from your cottage. Walks, Sculpture Park, Cafe, Bike Hire.  Great for families, bring a picnic. You could combine this with a visit to Birr

 

The New Normal

Your holiday with us during this ‘new normal’

In accordance with the guidelines we are implementing some changes to our procedures in order to ensure the best welcome and experience here at our cottages.  We are committed to the best in terms of welfare and cleanliness and we hope you understand our desire to have things right for you!  The following outlines the key steps we are taking

Arrival to your cottage

In advance of your arrival we will email you directions to your cottage, which will be open and ready for you at an agreed time, after 6pm.  This allows our cleaning team more time to follow the agreed guidelines with regard to cleanliness and safety for you, our guests.

Contactless and online payments and email receipts are the preferred option. We can also facilitate EFT payments in advance of your arrival. Payment by card will follow social distancing guidelines

In your cottage

A thorough and comprehensive cleaning and sanitising program is in place in preparation for your arrival with specific extra attention and antibacterial solutions being applied to all touch points throughout.

All non essential items, such as books, throws, etc will be removed from the cottage so we can focus on the highest levels of cleanliness. We have also been advised to remove salt and pepper condiments, etc.

If you prefer to bring your own towels (and/or bed linens), please feel free to do so. Rest assured that any linens and towels that we supply will have been laundered to the correct standard.

Hand sanitiser will be located in each cottage, as well as the usual soaps. All dispensers will be cleaned in advance of your arrival

Departing your cottage

Check out time is 9:30, this allows our cleaning team the necessary time to have the cottage ready for our next guests.  We are aware that this is earlier than we would all like, however for the moment we have to allow as much time as possible to ensure our cleaners can do their work to the required standard.  We will ask you to remove bedlinen, including valance sheets,  before your departure and place in the plastic bag we will supply. Please use a separate bag for towels.

Please load any crockery etc in the dishwasher and wash at minimum 60 degrees, if the dishwasher is still running when you are leaving, that is ok. It will help speed up cleaning procedures

Before you leave, please text or call us and we will be there to say goodbye!

General

Signage will be in place in  public areas to remind our guests to observe social distancing and handwashing and other appropriate etiquette.

Our meet and greet when you arrive will occur outdoors, outside your cottage. This will allow for Social Distancing.  Health guidelines around the wearing of masks etc will be followed by us if we are in close contact with you. Please be assured that we will still have our usual smile, you just might not see it behind the mask!  We will be observing strict handwashing throughout all our contact with you and your cottage

 

If you have any questions before, during or after your stay. Please contact us on 087 2445547 or by email at hello@fuchsialanefarm.ie

 

Thank you for staying with us and we hope you enjoy our Rural Retreat as much as we have enjoyed creating it!

 

Niall, Inez and family