The town of Cahersiveen is situated midway around the Ring of Kerry on the N70. The Capital of the Iveragh Peninsula, Cahersiveen nestles at the foot of Beentee mountains and overlooks the sea. Based here, one is poised to explore a very rich and colourful environment.

The attraction of this part of Kerry was first recognised many millennia ago, if its rich legacy of archaeological monuments is anything to go by. For it was here that successive waves of prehistoric colonists landed and settled, bringing with them their distinctive cultures and customs. The many well preserved remnants of those ancient civilisations has made the town a veritable mecca for archaeologists and those interested in confronting the mysteries of the past.

Carhan House, beside The Final Furlong, is the birthplace of the Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, born there in 1775 – he secured catholic emancipation for the Irish. His pacifism and democratic political views identify him as a fore-runner of Ghandi and Luther King. The church in our town is the only catholic church in Ireland named after a lay person, in his honour, The O’Connell Memorial Church.

On our working farm, we have the ruins of the Old Union Workhouse at Bahaghs. The original building, Bahaghs House, was erected in 1833 by Charles O’Connell on his marriage to Kate O’Connell, favourite daughter of The Liberator, Daniel O’Connell. It was eventually sold to The Poor Law Commissioners and was extended and converted to a Workhouse opening its doors to inmates in 1846.

This was famine time in Ireland – the land, due to potato blight, failed to produce and people starved to death. Ireland ended up with more of her people living abroad than at home. The Irish diaspora was born. A detailed history of the Workhouse is available to guests.