Woodford entrepreneur Mary Rose Donnelly is celebrating after her holiday cottage scooped gold in a national travel awards scheme by Sykes Cottages, the UK’s largest independent operator of UK holiday rental properties.
Taking the top spot in the Best in Ireland category, The Humble Daisy was Donnelly’s first home after she got the opportunity to buy back the idyllic thatched cottage, originally owned by her grandparents.
When she decided to turn it into a holiday let to earn some extra income outside of farming, she took on the challenge of renovating the property and worked with local tradesmen to restore The Humble Daisy to its full glory.
The holiday home now boasts a combination of modern and original features, including exposed stone walls and an open fire. Since being made available to holidaymakers eight years ago, the property has become a popular bolt-hole for those looking to explore the County Galway countryside, with sights such as Lough Derg just a short stroll away.
The Sykes Gem Awards celebrate excellence in holiday cottage accommodation and saw thousands of entries from across the UK and Ireland. Judged by a panel of leading travel industry experts, The Humble Daisy was assessed on its style, suitability, and facilities, as well as its occupancy rate and customer feedback on cleanliness, comfort, location, and value for money.
“Winning this award was a wonderful surprise as I know we were up against some strong competition in Ireland,” Donnelly said. “It proves that going the extra mile for your guests doesn’t go unnoticed. We also often get the children to help out when we are preparing for a new stay, so it shows them that their hard work pays off too.
“I hope the award means a wider audience of people get to hear about The Humble Daisy in the future and I can welcome even more guests through its doors.”
To view all Sykes Gem Award winners, see www.sykescottages.co.uk/letyourcottage/sykes-gems-winners-2017
