One sunny afternoon in the summer of 1995 we drove out of our driveway, headed up a by-road and within 7 minutes were transposed to a wonderland we never knew existed. The sense of amazement we experienced at that moment remains with us to this day.

Standing on the hilltop surrounded by almost 200 acres of spectacular landscape - Atlantic blanket bogland, river, lake, mountains in the distance; a magnificent view of Galway bay and the ruins of stone cottages - we knew at the moment that this place had it all. Our search was over!

We purchased the farm from a member of the Hehir family who had inhabited the hillside for over three centuries. On moving here with our three young daughters we set to work, gathering a team of dedicated, skilled artisans to help us realise our dream. Furniture and fittings were hand-crafted, drystone walls and pathways repaired, ruins of centuries-old cottages rebuilt and reimagined - with emerging new technologies installed. A fusion of the old and the new - with sustainability and sensitivity at its core.

Years on, our dream of creating a place of culture, creativity, nature and learning, in the Conamara Gaeltacht, has become a reality. Cnoc Suain has gained both national and international acclaim through numerous prestigious awards and reviews.

For an indepth look into the story, aspirations and challenges behind Cnoc Suain, follow the link below to the chapter, ‘A Place in the Heart’, from “The Irish Edge” book (2013), by Finbarr D. Bradley and James J. Kennelly.