Became a member in: 2019
Renewal Date: 29/Apr/2020
Please note our home is not available from 14-31 May 2-14 and from August 2020, due to committed exchanges.
Dominic is a Civil Engineer and Elizabeth works in Local Government. We have 3 adult sons who no longer travel with us. We have been exchanging since 2001 (first with Intervac and now with Homelink) with occasional gaps due to family life! When we exchanged as a family we used our main home in Dublin but since 2015 have been using our second home in Donegal (which is really a home as its where Elizabeth grew up and we're up at least once a month) because two of our sons still live at home. In a few years time (fingers crossed) we might be able to offer both - but we're not there just yet!
Elizabeth works with schools so our preference is to exchange fully or partly during school holidays. Our best options then are around Easter, July/August, and the end of October. Ideally we'd like to get away 3 times a year with our summer holiday not being somewhere too hot (we're Irish after all - freckled and white!). We've no hard and fast destinations for 2020. Our only restriction is that we have a non-simultaneous exchange partners coming to Donegal in February and for the first two weeks or so of August. Hope to talk to some of you soon!
Additional languages spoken
German
Profession
Public Servant
Non-simultaneous Home Exchange
Simultaneous Home Exchange
Smoking Not Allowed
Children Welcome
Use of Personal Car is preferred
| Open to all dates | Open to all destinations |
| Open to all dates | Germany |
| Open to all dates | Poland |
| Open to all dates | Slovakia |
Description of the home we are offering for exchange
This is our holiday home - we live in Dublin. It's Elizabeth's original family home and as we are up nearly every month to visit family it's really a fully equipped second family home! It is a 2 storey house with a big garden which has been improved in the summer of 2018 and a vehicular entrance off-street to the side. On the ground floor there are 3 double bedrooms, a bathroom and utility area. Upstairs there is a large kitchen-diner, a bathroom, 1 double bedroom and a large family sitting-room. The house was originally built in 1908 but has recently been fully refurbished. It is located on the main street of a small town, Ballybofey, within walking distance of all the town's services and amenities. It is an ideal location from which to visit and tour Donegal, the north/west of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way. We are able to exchange for up to 3 weeks. We can do a car exchange but only with simultaneous exchanges.
As we use the property to get away from it all, we do not use internet when we are there, however we have a dongle for internet which we will top up with credit (this is limited to 7Gb at a time but can be topped up when the 7Gb runs out) there is also internet available locally in cafes. The house has TV, DVD player and satellite channels.
Type
House - 2 or more floors/ Second home
Amenities
Entertainment
Extras
Setting
Description of our neighbourhood and surrounding area
Our house in an area ideal for visiting the North-West of Ireland and areas of Northern Ireland. If you love the outdoors then Donegal is the place for you. Less than 2.5km from the house there is a golf course (www.ballybofeyandstranorlargolfclub.ie) and tennis courts ( www.butthalltennis.com). There is also a 25m swimming pool with a gymnasium in the local athletics club 1.5km away (www.finnvalleycentre.com) The river Finn flows nearby which divides 2 towns known as the Twin Towns into Ballybofey and Stranorlar. This is a great river for salmon and trout fishing as well as beautiful walks in a small forested area that lies beside the river.
The town lies on the route of the Wild Atlantic Way (www.wildatlanticway.com). Donegal is a beautiful county (National Geographic voted it the coolest place on the planet to visit in 2017), it is amazing for hill-walking, we have incredible sandy beaches and the highest sea cliffs in Europe at Slieve League (www.govisitdonegal.com)
Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland is less than 100km with the City of Derry in Northern Ireland (UK) being about half that distance. The Giant's Causeway is approximately 115km and Belfast is 157km away (www.visit-belfast.com)
As we are located in the town, we have all the convenience of supermarkets, banks etc on our doorstep. Beaches are located from approximately 30km away although our favourite one at Rossnowlagh is slightly further at 45km which is great for surfing.
If you like Culture, the Balor Theatre holds various productions throughout the year as does An Griannan theatre in nearby Letterkenny
Horse riding can be arranged at Gallaghers Equestrian Centre (www.gallaghersequestriancentre.com).
Glenveagh National Park and castle with it's Golden eagles and red deer is 40km (www.glenveaghnationalpark.com).
Outdoor Activities
Leisure
Cultural Activities
Transport Nearby
Neighbourhood Services
Our home exchange - places to go and things to do while staying in our home
Our house in an area ideal for visiting the North-West of Ireland and areas of Northern Ireland. If you love the outdoors then Donegal is the place for you. Less than 2.5km from the house there is a golf course (www.ballybofeyandstranorlargolfclub.ie) further afield is Ballyliffin Golf course which hosted the Irish Open tournamaent in 2018 (77km) and tennis courts ( www.butthalltennis.com). There is also a 25m swimming pool with a gymnasium in the local athletics club 1.5km away (www.finnvalleycentre.com) The river Finn flows nearby which divides 2 towns known as the Twin Towns into Ballybofey and Stranorlar. This is a great river for salmon and trout fishing as well as beautiful walks in a small forested area that lies beside the river.
The town lies on the route of the Wild Atlantic Way (www.wildatlanticway.com). Donegal is a beautiful county (National Geographic voted it the coolest place on the planet to visit in 2017), it is amazing for hill-walking, we have incredible sandy beaches and the highest sea cliffs in Europe at Slieve League (www.govisitdonegal.com)
Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland is less than 100km with the City of Derry in Northern Ireland being about half that distance. The Giant's Causeway is approximately 115km and Belfast is 157km away (www.visit-belfast.com)
As we are located in the town, we have all the convenience of supermarkets, banks etc on our doorstep. Beaches are located from approximately 30km away although our favourite one at Rossnowlagh is slightly further at 45km which is great for surfing.
If you like Culture, the Balor Theatre holds various productions throughout the year as does An Griannan theatre in nearby Letterkenny
Horse riding can be arranged at Gallaghers Equestrian Centre (www.gallaghersequestriancentre.com).
Glenveagh National Park and castle with it's Golden eagles and red deer is 40km (www.glenveaghnationalpark.com).
Our home exchange - here are our Preferences and House Rules
Only concern is Dominic is allergic (badly to cats) so would prefer no cats to be in house!!!
Apart from that as long as you are good neighbours to those living beside us we don't have any rules!
Conditions
Use of Personal Car
Home Exchange Type
Over 70 years of home exchange experience
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