Connemara and the Neighbouring Spots of Beauty and Interest

This is a lovely publication by J. Harris Stone who claims to "like exceedingly the country I write about, and also its inhabitants..... The West of Ireland, as I experienced myself at first, is rather a puzzling part of Ireland to find one's way about in, so I have introduced one or two sketch maps, which, if consulted, will, I think, make the way plain"  - Some might say it can be difficult to navigate today also!

You can download a PDF version of the Chapter about Renvyle by clicking >>HERE

"Connemara and the Neighbouring Spots of Beauty and Interest" by J. Harris Stone, Health Resort Publishing Company Limited, London, 1906 (first edition copy)

(scanning quality is not the best, apologies.  But it can be viewed quite well if you enlarge it close to 200%)

1969 Brochure

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This brochure, now 43 years old, has some photographs of people you may recognise.  If so, please let us know who they may be as we're most interested.  The Tariff Sheet is in pounds, shillings and pence and it when the hotel had bathrooms that perpahs two bedrooms may have shared with an extra charge for a 'private bath'.

To view or download the PDF version please Click >> HERE

Murray’s Handbook Ireland

A beautiful guide from 1906 in the Hotel's private collection which features wonderful information of the island of Ireland.  With beautifully illustrated maps of the various regions and maps of the cities and larger towns.

Renvyle House features in this guide and reference to our golf course is also mentioned in it, they also comment upon the "perfectly shaped pebbles" on the beach.  "Mrs. Blake with spirited enterprise opened the house as a hotel in 1883.  The spot is singularly attractive.  In addition to being close to the finest scenery in Connemara, it has good bathing, sea and trout fishing.........Golf Links have also recently been laid out"

You can view the review by clicking >> HERE

Murray's Handbook For Travellers in Ireland
London, Edward Stanford, 1906

Black’s Guide to Ireland 1912

Renvyle House features in Black's Guide to Ireland in 1912 and it gives a lovely description of what the house was like back then.  The review commences with " Mrs. Blake's Hotel, Renvyle House (£3 per week), is most homely and comfortable, beside being unique; for its walls, wthin, retain their antique elm and oak wainscotting, and it lies as snuggly embowered as some old English 'grange'".

You can view the review by clicking >> HERE

Black's Guide to Ireland
Twenty Fifth Edition
Publisher, Adam and Charles Black, London, 1912

1970’s Brochure

A recent guest brought with her a brochure of Renvyle House Hotel from the 1970's, at least we think it is from then trying to gauge from the telephone numbers; Renvyle 3 or 18 and the fact that we also had a Telex machine (very switz-swoo back then)

The breakfasts are a more leisurely affair nowadays, being served until 11:00am.  Back then they finished at 9.45am, a very precise time!  But the rest of the brochure would reflect that it was as relaxing a holiday as it is today.

You can view the brochure by clicking >>HERE

Old World meets Old World Charm

A beautiful collection of Vintage Cars were at Renvyle House during the week.  Their lovely drivers and passengers, staying at Renvyle House, were on a 14 day driving tour of Ireland from the UK.

Beautifully maintained cars were also able to avail of the on site 'garage' to tweak any engine requirements.

We hope to have a list of the cars with more of their details to have on this.  Their years, where they are from and hopefully get some more information for you all.  We're keen to know more too.

The Gathering 2013

We've heard some talk of a great reunion of Irish people from all around the world taking place in Ireland in 2013. 

This year long celebration is called 'The Gathering 2013'.  With 70 million Irish descendents worldwide this should make a great party!

The National Archives provide a great online service for you to check your lineage from the 1901 census and the 1911 census, this is free for your use - all you need is some time.  There are also geneology services which will be able to delve deeper into your family tree should you wish to find out more.

On the National Archives website there are features written on aspects of life in Galway and Connemara in the early 20th Century.  If you scroll down that link you will see information convering the Galway to Clifden Railway line which was built in 1895.  It also features information on the Marconi wireless and telegraph company which established the first commercial transatlantic telegraph service, connecting Clifden to Glace Bay in Nova Scotia in 1907.

Some of the families from the 1901 census on the Renvyle Peninsula include Blake, Connely, Coyne, De Morgan, Flaherty, Hare, Loughlin, Rane, Ribbon, Salmon, Kilcoyne, Heanue, Conneely, Faherty, Malley, Connolly, King, Cannon and Connis.

'House 1' in Rusheenduff was Renvyle House Hotel and there are details of all who were in the house the night the 1901 census was taken, their ages and their titles.

The 1901 Census Page for Renvyle House Hotel  Click >> HERE

There is also a very interesting book on line for the Renvyle Blakes (1600 to 1700) - for any Blakes doing research.  Click >> HERE

We will be doing more research in the coming weeks but if you have time, enjoy looking into your family background in the meantime.

Renvyle House Fireplaces

Renvyle House Hotel Connemara, Arts & Crafts Fireplaces

This post is to explain somewhat, the architecture and design of the old house at Renvyle House. It is a country house, a low lying Lutynesque style which suits it rural coastal location (it is not a country manor as most of us might imagine). The house was rebuilt in the Arts and Crafts style after it had been burned down in the Irish Civil of the 1920′s. There are over 20 different orifinal fireplaces throughout the house which have been recorded in the Album below. You will also see from our old Brochures, one from the 1930′s (on this Blog) that the present owners have maintained the ethos of this building as much as possible.

Wikipedia describe the Arts & Crafts Movement as, (and here is where I get lazy, as I would not be able to put it much better!): "an international design movement that originated in England and flourished between 1880 and 1910, continuing its influence up to the 1930s. Instigated by the artist and writer William Morris (1834–1896) in the 1860s and inspired by the writings of John Ruskin (1819–1900), it had its earliest and fullest development in the British Isles but spread to Europe and North America as a reaction against the impoverished state of the decorative arts and the conditions under which they were produced.

The movement advocated truth to materials and traditional craftsmanship using simple forms and often medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration. It also proposed economic and social reform and has been seen as essentially anti-industrial."

There's plenty more information, but I think I might try to write it myself.

In the meantime, here are some of the many Arts and Crafts fireplaces in the public areas and bedrooms in the hotel (not all mind you). They are each unique, with a unique design, in fact fairly unique architecturally in Ireland.

Renvyle House 1950’s Brochure

Renvyle House Brochure 1950's

We had a guest with us last week, who is a regular at Renvyle House. This lady spent part of her honeymoon in Renvyle House in 1957 (although I found that difficult to believe as I would have placed her as a decade or two younger). This lovely lady had been spring-cleaning at home and came across a brochure from Renvyle House from the late 1950′s while on honeymoon and gifted it to us.

We're gathering quite a collection of memorabilia now, which is very interesting. The photos in this brochure are similar to those in the 1930′s brochure with one or two changes. The content is also slightly different. One particular photo that took my interest was the last one in the brochure, where there were individual garages for guests cars where the family apartments are now.

Click Here to view the 1950′s Brochure in PDF format Renvyle House Hotel 1950′s Brochure

Fishing in Connemara in the 1960’s