West Donegal holiday let scoops gold in national awards

Local holiday homeowners Marina Doherty and Brian Roche are celebrating after picking up an award for their property in Termon, Maghery, just outside of Dungloe.

The husband and wife team picked up gold in the Best in Ireland category for their three-bedroom property, Ocean Sail House.

The awards programme by staycation specialist Sykes Holiday Cottages saw a significant number of entries from across the UK and Ireland – with Ocean Sail House beating off tough competition to take home the trophy.

Marina and Brian built and designed the property in 2007, but in 2020 they decided to leave Ireland for a change of lifestyle, moving to Wyoming, America. The pair converted the property into a holiday let to drive an additional income, with Marina’s sister, Irene stepping in to help with changeovers and any guest requirements.

The property is situated just five minutes from the beach and a ten-minute stroll to the local pub, boasting large glass windows that look out onto the ocean and evening sunsets. The open plan nature of the kitchen-dining area is perfect for larger groups or families, while the master bedroom’s ocean view bath tub is always popular with guests.

Since the property became available to holidaymakers, the couple have reaped the rewards of a surge in staycations to Ireland, with the calendar already busy for the remainder of 2023 and booking up for 2024.

The Sykes Gems Awards first launched in 2017 and aim to celebrate the best people and properties in the UK and Ireland’s holiday let sector - judged by a panel of industry experts including Sykes’ CEO Graham Donoghue and COO Bev Dumbleton, as well as The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski.

Another local property, House Crohy Head, in Dungloe, also won Bronze in the Best in Ireland Category. Properties were judged using owner entries and guest feedback, alongside details like photos, occupancy figures and property amenities.

The judging panel were impressed by the style and facilities on offer at Ocean Sail House and House Crohy Head, along with guest feedback on cleanliness, comfort and value for money.

“We’re so glad we decided to rent out our home as a holiday let when we moved to Wyoming,” Marina Doherty, owner of Ocean Sail House said. “It was one of the best decisions we made, and we’ve been able to fulfil our dreams of travelling the US.

“This award means so much to us as we put so much love and hard work into designing the property and it’s built on the most beautiful site overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. We love receiving feedback from guests and are so grateful to have companies like Sykes Holiday Cottages to help us keep this process simple, even from afar!”