Molly Gallivan's Cottage & Traditional Farm

Molly Gallivan's Cottage and Farm is a renowned visitor centre that once functioned as a farm. Here, you can fully immerse yourself in Irish traditions, culture, and history by experiencing the simple country lifestyle before the days of electricity and modern conveniences. Besides, you are free to explore the local area on a hike. The experience is family-friendly, with farm animals to mingle with and feed. At the Molly’s Tea Shop you will taste traditionally cooked and baked food.

Special attractions

The Cottage includes 14 separate places of interest, for example, Molly’s cottage, the farmland, Famine Ruin and Poitin Still. The chief attraction is the Neolithic Stone Row, which dates back to 2000 BC. This very unique site holds the clue to the rituals and religious beliefs of our early ancestors. It consists of two large flagstones that are arranged to align with the sunrise position on the Summer Solstice (21st June). Smaller attractions, such as the duck pond, the garden, and the well, are also worth a visit. If you are visiting with younger children, they will enjoy meeting the large variety of farm animals on site. The pond with white ducks is very popular with younger guests. Feeding the animals proved a popular attraction for visitors to the farm.

If you are interested in the history of the potato famine, visiting the Famine Ruin will reveal a lot to you. Depending on your age, you can attend a variety of different tours and demonstrations. Visitors who are eager for an activity can try baking Molly’s famous soda bread. Whiskey lovers can join the ‘Whiskey Making and Tasting’ experience. Other great attractions are ancient relic machinery and a Druid statue. The figure represents the first settlers who came to the Sheen Valley more than 6000 years ago. By joining the ‘Ancient Relics and Ruins’ tour, you can learn about them and their advanced knowledge of astronomy.

Traditional evening
If you are travelling to Ireland for the first time, and wish to fully experience the culture and customs of those who live here, Molly Gallivan’s traditional Irish evening is a must. The event is full of music, storytelling, and dancing. You will be offered traditional Irish food and drink while listening to the fascinating legends and stories shared by local people. Invited actors, singers, musicians, and dancers offer a wide variety of entertainment to make you engage during the whole event. The most important parts of the evening are the “American Wake” and “The Home Coming” presentations. The evening completes with an Irish coffee-making demonstration and, of course, a complimentary Irish coffee for everyone in the audience.

After a long day of exploring everything Molly Gallivans has to offer, why not settle down in the Old Tea Rooms? The place offers a variety of traditional Irish dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. You cannot beat one of these home-cooked traditional meals. Please keep in mind that booking is essential if you are hoping to eat at Molly’s 200-year-old cottage for an evening meal.

You cannot skip visiting The Craft Shop and purchasing a keepsake. Originally, Molly Gallivan offered her famous moonshine and hand-spun woollens there. Do not hesitate to choose a gift for your loved ones from a wide variety of locally made products in this lovely gift shop. We recommend purchasing Aran sweaters, locally made pottery, hats, or scarves.

Hiking trails

Whilst you are in the stunning County Kerry, you should take as many opportunities as possible to get outside and enjoy the gorgeous landscapes. During your stay at Molly Gallivan’s, you can take a variety of hiking trails. There are three main loops in this area: Druids Loop, Fionn MacCool Loop, and Cailleach Beara Loop.

The shortest of the three is Druids Loop. It will take you through traditional Irish farmlands and across the magnificent iron bridge over Esk Stream. This trail has plenty of surfaced pathways, which is ideal for beginners. If you are looking for a route slightly bigger than the first one, then the Fionn MacCool Loop will be the right one. This route overlaps with the Druid’s Loop, but you will adventure down to Crows Nest. You will get to cross the fascinating Esk Stream.

If you want to dedicate an entire day to hiking, you should go on the Cailleach Beara Loop. With 12km long it is by far the longest one and will take you approximately 4 to 5 hours to complete. Along with the previously mentioned loops, it encompasses the majority of brand-new areas. Hillsides, cross-country, copper mines, and woodland trails await you on the way. This trail is perfect for tourists who want to truly explore the local area. Please book in advance if you want a guided tour.

Gllivan’s story

At Molly Gallivan, you will step back in time in rural Ireland. You can wander around the cottage and see how Molly lived all those years ago. Her farm is full of animals, fowl, and traditional farm machinery. Part of the cottage still remains untouched. There has been little change since the last renovation in 1990. The only energy source that provided hot water, heat, and cooking facilities was the large open hearth.

In the early 1840s, a new mountain pass was built between Glengarriff and Kenmare, linking West Cork and South Kerry. Rich English tourists loved to enjoy the spectacular scenery during horse-drawn coach tours. Molly Gallivan’s soon became a welcome stop for weary travellers.

Molly Gallivan was widowed with seven small children. She supplemented her income by selling farm produce on the local market. She also sold her illicit homemade Poitin (whiskey) locally known as ‘Molly’s Mountain Dew’’ right in her ‘’sibheen’’ (illegal pub). One of Molly’s descendants lived in the house until 1997. After his death, the cottage was uninhabited until it was purchased in 1999. New owners re-opened Molly’s old Tea Rooms and re-established her Cottage Industry. The vision & dream was to preserve the old Cottage and Farm as it was in Molly’s time.