Best small hotel in Ireland is run by a Cooley woman!

By Tamara O’Connell

A GueSThOuSe owned by a Cooley woman and her husband has been given the number one spot for Best Small hotel in Ireland in the Trip Advisor 2023 Traveller Awards.

Castlewood h ouse Dingle, run by helen and Brian heaton, was also ranked No 14 in the World in the 2023 Awards.

“I’m from Riverstown; my Mum and Dad had a farm there. I went to school in Mullaghbuoy NS where all my nieces and nephews go today,” said helen.

“I went to secondary school in St Michael’s in Omeath and then I went on to Cathal Brugha Street to study hotel and catering.

“Brian and I met while working in Ashford Castle in Co Mayo. he’s from Limerick and we got married in 2000.” helen added: “We built Castlewood house Dingle in 2005. We did face challenges. There was the financial crash in 2008, then there was the ash cloud and of course Covid-19.

“You just have to adapt and get through it. What