The Merchant’s House
The house is entered from The Market Square into a Victorian tiled hallway, which leads up a flight of stairs to the first floor landing. Off the first floor landing to the front is the drawing room with its impressive 14ft ceiling giving this room a sense of grandeur. Two beautiful sash windows surrounded by shutters overlooking The Market Square fill this room with light and air.
The rooms are furnished with antique furniture and fittings. The drawing room was where Catherine Ryan performed her mini-concerts. It was a little used room, kept usually for state occasions and important guests. Today we invite you, as our special guests, to rest and unwind and enjoy this unique room.
The kitchen and dining room is the second room at this level. Originally a bedroom, then a bathroom, it is now a modern kitchen with a dining area. Off the kitchen is a pantry tucked into the corner under the stairs. The kitchen is full of bric a brac giving it character and a sense of home.
Rising from the middle landing to the top landing you reach the second floor where the two restful bedrooms of The Merchant’s House are to be found. To the front is the spacious master bedroom, The Merchant’s Bedroom, similar in size to the drawing room below with two beautiful windows overlooking The Market Square. It is the highest point in the house with views over the rooftop of the Town Hall and town beyond. This is a wonderful place to sit in the window, with its original sashes and shutters, and watch the world going by. Adjoining this room is an en-suite shower room with a sink salvaged from a local house.
The second bedroom – The Opera bedroom – is located to the rear, with slopping ceilings and panelled walls, this room has character all of its own. A four foot bed, salvaged from the shed, has been restored to provide you with a restfully night. (Mattress is new!)
However, my favourite room is the bathroom which was converted from a bedroom. The house’s original Victorian roll top bath was relocated to this room. The view from the bath as you relax is of the roof tops and chimneys of Kilrush town.
Highlights
Drawing Room – solid fuel stove Kitchen – Washer/dryer, Dishwasher, Hob, Cooker, Microwave Merchant’s Bedroom – 4’ 6’ bed En-suite shower room – Electric Power shower Opera Bedroom- 4’ bed Bathroom with original to the house Victorian roll top bath and immersion hot water system