Airbnb to fund some of Ireland’s historic homes, with some to be listed as accommodation

Airbnb has agreed to provide funding for the maintenance and restoration of some of Ireland’s most historic homes.

As a result, some of the previously off-limits homes could be listed as accommodation on the global rental website. Airbnb believe the partnership will help promote and secure the future of historic Irish homes, while also boosting tourism in rural areas.

The collaboration will see the launch of ‘Capacity Awards’, a fund available to members of Historic Houses of Ireland to support the development, maintenance and restoration of these properties. According to Airbnb, recipients will also receive expert guidance and workshops from the company to help them understand how to showcase and maximise their properties’ potential on the platform.

 

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Hannah Flynn of Roundwood House, an 18th Century Georgian estate in Mountrath, Co. Laois said it’s “really exciting to see Airbnb helping heritage homes”, adding that she hopes “many more sites similar to ours can access the support to restore and maintain their own properties, as well as drive tourism to their local areas.”

Hannah also noted the boost guests staying in homes like hers provides to the community – those staying are likely to spend local shops, bars and restaurants, and recent research from Oxford Economics indicates that in 2022,  Airbnb-related economic activity in counties Kerry and Cork was valued at over €110 million. In Dublin, the activity was valued at over €150 million.

Header image via Instagram/roundwood_house

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