The Heart of Kerry Hospitality

Toni and Danny Sheehan, owners of Larkinley Lodge, exemplify the welcoming spirit of Kerry. With 25 years of experience, they have embraced Airbnb as a thriving platform to connect with guests from around the world. We absolutely love it. We thrive on it. It’s a very positive platform, Toni Sheehan said, highlighting their triumphant nine-year journey with Airbnb.

The Sheehans, like many in Kerry, have found that Airbnb guests are fabulous, they’re respectful.They come in on time, they leave on time. Their experience reflects a broader trend in the region, where tourism is deeply ingrained in the local culture. As Toni Sheehan noted, Killarney embraces tourism in any shape or form. It’s in our nature.People just put their hands around people when they come to Kerry.

The Rise of Airbnb in Kerry

Fáilte Ireland’s figures indicate a significant increase in online short-term lets across Ireland, rising from 26,000 in 2022 to approximately 32,000 by November of last year. Kerry accounts for about 3,600 of these listings, underscoring the platform’s growing presence in the county.

According to Inside Airbnb, Kerry lists 3,004 units, with two-thirds comprising entire houses or apartments. This popularity has not gone unnoticed by local politicians, who are now grappling with the implications of short-term rentals on the region’s housing market.

Political Perspectives and Policy Debates

The surge in Airbnb listings has prompted government intervention, with new short-term letting legislation aimed at easing the housing crisis by transferring properties from short-term to long-term rentals. Though, this legislation has faced pushback from Kerry TDs (Teachta Dála, members of the Irish Parliament) such as Norma Foley and Michael Healy-Rae, who are concerned about the impact on the local tourism economy.

Michael Healy-Rae stated, without hyperbole, that Killarney is the tourism capital of Europe. He emphasized the importance of protecting Kerry’s hospitality sector, suggesting a grandfathering approach to the new rules. This would mean that only new entrants into the short-term letting space would face additional restrictions, while existing landlords would remain unaffected. Healy-Rae expressed skepticism that the proposed legislation would significantly increase housing supply but remained open to considering opposing viewpoints, stating, The political answer to this is compromise. He also argued for the necessity of short-term rentals to accommodate visitors, saying, But if you and your family come to Kerry this weekend, I mean God damn it, if you don’t want to stay in a hotel, and if you want to stay in a short-term letting, surely be to goodness, we have to be able to provide that.

The Host’s Perspective: Máiréad De Staic

Máiréad De Staic,who runs the Brian De Staic jewelry brand with her husband,rents out six places in Dingle and two flats in Killarney via Airbnb. She finds the platform highly efficient, stating, I find it very efficient to be perfectly honest. I’ve it down to a fine art now. I check my calendar frist thing in the morning. I send it to my housekeeper and the laundry people – and that’s it like.

de Staic is confident in the platform’s growth and increasing trust between guests and hosts. She is even expanding her short-term rental offerings by constructing another 10 apartments, designed in a Georgian style, with the expectation of completing them by the end of June. Because it’s a Georgian building, it’s going to be like a Georgian street, and they’ll all have different coloured doors, she explained.

The Housing Supply Debate

Airbnb hosts acknowledge the need for increased long-term rental supply but also understand why more property owners are choosing the short-term rental platform.Danny Sheehan observed, There’s no stock of housing left because there’s more to be gained from the Airbnb platform than renting full-time. He noted the prevalence of Airbnbs in Killarney, estimating that every second house is doing it in Killarney, and in the suburbs, too.

The Sheehans have noticed an increase in young travelers arriving with suitcases, a telltale sign of Airbnb guests. Toni Sheehan humorously remarked, You just know they’re Airbnb [guests]. It’s like a priest, you will always know a priest. You just know instinctively.

Conclusion

As Kerry navigates the balance between its thriving tourism industry and the pressing need for housing, the debate over Airbnb’s role continues. The voices of local hosts, the concerns of politicians, and the data on rental trends all contribute to a complex narrative. The challenge lies in finding a compromise that preserves the region’s renowned hospitality while addressing the housing needs of its residents.