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sleep here
Sleep Here: A tranquil treehouse for two that's only five minutes from Cork city centre
Sit on the balcony and soak up the panoramic city views.
THERE AREN’T TOO many places in Ireland where you can get a bird’s eye view over a whole city, let alone from the vantage point of where an actual bird might nest!
Owner Richard Kelly let us in on the story behind Urban Tranquilatree, a seemingly isolated treehouse that’s still close to city life – in fact you can get to Patrick St on foot in minutes.
The treehouse, which sleeps two in a double bed, was originally built as the Kelly kids’ treehouse in a wooded area of their garden. And getting it up to snuff for renting out was no small feat.
Kelly wanted to capitalise on the views over Cork city, but had to involve a structural engineer to ensure the spot would be safe for guests, before he opened it up for business in May 2017. And since then, it has only been free 15 nights — it’s a popular spot altogether.
Kelly says he believes people enjoy it so much because it reminds them of a childhood desire to sleep in a treehouse
This is a real treehouse supported by real trees designed to sway in the wind. It is also loved due to the cosy sound of the rain dancing on the roof.
What the original Airbnb listing doesn’t mention, adds Kelly, is “the two birds’ nests up there with you, one under the under the deck, and the other in the crown of the monkey puzzle tree over the roof.”
Recommendations from a local are important for enjoying a spot like the Tranquilatree, and Kelly suggests nearby pub Sin É, as well as Tara’s Tea Rooms for lunch or a sweet treat.
For more sightseeing around Cork City, you can visit St. Anne’s Church and play a tune in the belfry before climbing through the mechanics of the church clock, up to a turret that offers a panoramic view of the city.”
And of course, for all things culinary, visit the English Market, Europe’s largest covered market, famously visited by Queen Elizabeth during her visit to the county in 2011. “If it’s good enough for Queen Liz, it’s good enough for the rest of us!” says Kelly.
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