Doonreagan – a haven in the heart of Connemara

Doonreagan is an historic country retreat, situated right in the heart of Connemara on Ireland’s west coast, at the foot of Cashel Hill and overlooking a sheltered bay of the Atlantic Ocean. The estate is surrounded by 60 acres of gardens and landscaped grounds with walkways, spectacular views of sea and mountain, an ornamental lake,…

The history of DOONREAGAN goes all the way back to pre-historic times. The land, stretching from the sea shore to the top of Cashel Hill 300m above sea level, hasn’t changed much in the past two thousand years: it has ruins of houses pre-dating any known records.

The main house at Doonreagan was built in the eighteenth century by a Thomas Hazell, who had come from Scotland to supervise the precious seaweed trade along this coast, worth no less than £10,000 in the year 1800. Hazell is also responsible for building adjacent Cashel House, now a hotel of international renown. In the early 20th century, Cashel was chosen by Marconi as the site for some of his early experiments with Morse signals.

During the Troubles in the 1920s, DOONREAGAN lived through a vicious attack by the Black and Tans regiment; the then owner saved himself, escaping across Cashel Hill.

Over the years many artists have spent time in Cashel: from Lucian Freud, Paul Newman and Claire Bloom to Bono and The Edge. Former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes is on record saying that it was whilst living at Doonreagan in the 1960s that he made his “big breakthrough – in his writing and in everything to do with himself”.

Having changed hands a number of times, the property was bought in the late 1960s by Robert Jocelyn, tenth Earl of Roden, who made it his family home.

The historic main house at Doonreagan occupies an elevated  position overlooking the sheltered Cashel Bay. With four elegant reception rooms, conservatory, and five spacious double bedrooms, it offers style and comfort to discerning visitors. 

Connemara Adventures:  Scroll down and browse the extensive holiday attractions that makes Connemara so special. Video Gallery: Click Here to view a local regatta with Galway hookers. WALKS The area has good walks, on many roads and tracks free of traffic, through an unspoilt landscape that has changed little over the years. A number of…

The Doonreagan Library: For holiday reading, choose among more than four thousand books available to visitors in the Doonreagan Reading Room, which also doubles as a games room with a pool table, table tennis, chess, backgammon and other board games, as well as a puppet theatre. Click here for Contact & Directions Click here to…