History of Buttermilk Lodge
Your hosts at Buttermilk Lodge are Cathriona and Patrick O’Toole.
Patrick is “Connemara born and reared”. Pat grew up and still farms 3 miles from Clifden at Taobh a Locha, Streamstown. Patrick has been a keen farmer since childhood, with a great love of the land and sheep farming instilled in him by his Mom.
Cathriona is originally from Ballinasloe, where the famous Horse Fair is held each October. She came to Clifden on her first work-placement from her Hotel Management course in Galway. Cathriona is a keen Connemara Pony enthusiast and was most happy to re-introduce Connemara Ponies to the O’Toole farm!
They saw this site advertised in October 1995, while living in London, where they met. Cathriona was working as a hotel manager in Mayfair and Patrick had a construction company. They completed the site’s purchase in May 1996 and in September began building under the guidance of Pat’s Dad, Martin. In January 1997 they moved home for good and a busy few months followed, including a short break from building to get married, and opened Buttermilk Lodge in July 1997!
In 2024, after 26 years of early mornings etc. they changed the accommodation into one and two bedroom self-catering apartments. The apartments are fully furnished to hotel standards and retain all the personal touches Buttermilk Lodge has become so well known for! While no longer serving breakfasts guests can still enjoy Cathriona's home baking along with tea/ coffee, cereals , condiments and essentials left for guests to help them settle in.
Buttermilk Lodge opened to guests on 12 July 1997. The name Buttermilk Lodge was chosen from Lough Ime (Buttermilk Lake), which is over the hill behind the house. The lake names continue on the apartments.
Contact
Address
Westport Road,
Clifden,
Connemara,
Galway
H71 VF25
Phone
095 21951
