Dunowen House is let to one party at a time for intimate weddings, elopements, milestone celebrations and private group stays. The estate can host events for up to 30 guests and sleep 20 overnight in nine bedrooms. It is a restored 18th-century farmhouse on four acres of private grounds beside the Atlantic, about ten minutes by car from Clonakilty in West Cork.
Seminars and company events
The official site does not offer seminars or meeting packages, and this is not a conference venue. The property is let as a whole to a private group, and the hosts also describe it as suited to special events. A small company retreat, a leadership weekend or a client dinner for a group within the numbers below would need to be agreed directly with the hosts. Ask what is possible before you plan an agenda.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings are the main events offer. The hosts, Kela and Stephen Hodgins, specialize in small, relaxed weddings and elopements. Because the whole estate is yours for the stay, nobody else is on site during the celebration. Ceremonies can take place under a 200-year-old sycamore tree in the gardens, followed by a drinks reception on the landscaped terrace or in the drawing room. The walled garden and a quiet cove at the bottom of the lane are used for photographs. A wedding brochure can be downloaded from the site, and the hosts offer personal viewings to discuss dates and options.
Rooms and capacities
The main house has six en suite bedrooms. Orchard Cottage on the same grounds adds three more bedrooms, for nine in total. Events can host up to 30 people, and the properties can sleep up to 20 guests overnight. The estate can be rented in full, or the main house and the cottage can be booked separately depending on the size of the group. The hosts do not rent nightly or by the room. The house has several reception rooms, including a drawing room and sitting rooms with wood-burning stoves, plus a terrace and walled garden for outdoor moments.
Accommodation
Everyone sleeps on site. The six main-house suites and the three cottage bedrooms cover a group of 20, so a wedding party or a family gathering can stay together for the whole weekend. Stays are booked as exclusive hire for the group rather than room by room.
Catering
All wedding catering is provided on site. The kitchen works with the couple to build a menu using home-grown and local West Cork ingredients, with extensive vegetarian and vegan options. For other stays the hosts offer private chef services, dine-at-home dinner parties, buffet lunches, grazing platters and desserts, and they serve and clear away. Menus and details are available on request.
History and setting
Dunowen House has a recorded history of almost 250 years, and the hosts keep memorabilia from it in the house. It stands on the Wild Atlantic Way with sea views, gardens and nearby coves within walking distance. It is a member of Ireland's Blue Book.
Getting there
The estate is about ten minutes by car from Clonakilty, on the south coast of County Cork. Clonakilty has shops, restaurants and markets, which guests use for meals out during longer stays.
