Ireland’s most exclusive Airbnb is an island just a hopand a skip away
Though just 4km off Dublin, to most Lambay Island, with its famous wallaby
IT is, arguably, Ireland’s most exclusive Airbnb. You may have spotted it as you fly into Dublin Airport, but the chances are you’ve never set foot on it.
Four kilometres off the north Dublin coast, Lambay Island is the largest privately owned island in northwest Europe. And the only way the general public can experience this mysterious isle of curios – its colony of red-necked wallabies being one – is through an expensive weekend retreat or a specially arranged tour.
Its history of habitation goes back at least two millennia, and its 2.5 square kilometres are still an important haven for wildlife. Along with the island’s significant breeding seabird colony, one of the largest in Ireland, is the east coast’s largest breeding colony of grey seals. And in the 1950s, a troupe of wallabies was introduced to Lambay that has since thrived.
As vegetarians, they cause no annoyance to the island’s native fauna, though an occasional cull is required to keep numbers stable.
It isn’t hard to spot the marsupials on the island, according to Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland, who is one of the few to have visited Lambay.
‘They’re quite common,’ he said. ‘You’d see them through the bracken walking around the island. You’d see their heads over the vegetation bouncing along, so it’s quite comical.’
Of the island, he told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s a lot bigger than it might seem when you’re actually on it – it’s quite big and quite hilly.
‘One of the most interesting things about it is the view back towards the mainland. It’s really spectacular. You have a unique perspective of Ireland.’
In 2017 Mr Hatch was assigned to accompany Princess Takamado of Japan to observe the island’s puffin population – a species the honorary president of BirdLife International was eager to see for the first time.
‘She was absolutely enthralled by them,’ Mr Hatch said.
Lambay is also home to one of just two real tennis courts in Ireland, and one of the only outdoor ones left in the world.
Real tennis is a precursor to the modern game. Its quirky rules allow you to win points by striking the ball through openings on the side wall of the court.
Lambay is the family seat of the Revelstoke branch of the Baring family, an aristocratic family of bankers and merchants who purchased the island in 1904.
Prior to the Barings’ acquisition of Lambay, it was rented from religious orders by a string of British aristocrats and politicians, often with strategic intentions.
A castle was built in the mid-16th century, and during the Williamite War in Ireland in the late 17th century the island was used as an internment camp for Irish soldiers. Before British occupation, St Columba is believed to have established a monastic settlement on Lambay in the sixth century, which was raided by Vikings in 795.
Today, daily operations are managed by Alexander Rupert Baring, 7th Baron Revelstoke. A decade ago, the Barings had to initiate a new strategy to keep Lambay in the family’s hands.
The castle, accommodation and energy system were upgraded and several commercial projects were devised, including the exclusive Lambay Club, launched in 2015.
The club describes itself as ‘a supportive network for bold, creative and free thinkers who don’t always take enough time for themselves and their own well
being’, who ‘seek to reduce the problems surrounding humanity’s impact on the planet and our own societies by learning, leading and implementing’.
Basic members – ‘patrons’ – pay at least €1,000 a year (€500 for under-30s) to support operations on the island and get ‘the highest level of access and freedom to enjoy Lambay as a friend of the island’.
The next level up is to become a ‘facilitator’, who must run a weekend course or retreat on the island. Some of the retreat options available are cooking courses, yoga weeks and outdoor art classes, and most cost around €1,000 per person.
These are limited in availability but are open to the public.
Above that are the ‘ambassadors’, selected by invitation. The island’s website says: ‘They keep an eye out for potential patrons and facilitators and co-host weekends on Lambay.’
The ambassadors largely come from abroad, mainly London, according to the 23 profiles on the club website.
Finally, a Lambay ‘angel’ can ‘be celebrated at our annual events and invited to speak about their own businesses or projects’ by spending a minimum of €25,000 on one of Lambay’s projects, such as improving the renewable energy system or renovating gardens and cottages.
Other perks for ‘angels’ include fullisland rental for family and friends or a stake in the island’s drinks company – another recent commercial venture that saw the launch of Lambay Island Whiskey in 2018. The whiskey is produced on the mainland using water from Lambay’s natural spring.
‘You see them bouncing along, quite comical’