Cork Airbnb Costs €10,000 Monthly

Why this is here: Three restaurants have closed in Kilrush since the writer’s arrival, with the Shannon Dolphin Centre citing a lack of staff accommodation as a reason for its closure.

A writer recently evicted from a home in Cork, Ireland, found it listed as an Airbnb for nearly €10,000 per month. She reflects on a visit to the Museum of Irish Rural Life in Kilrush, Co Clare, noting its collection of tools and artifacts that represent disappearing rural traditions. The museum also displayed a battering ram—a tool once used for evictions—prompting the writer to draw a parallel to modern short-term rentals.

The writer notes that in her county, short-term lets outnumber long-term rentals by roughly 28 to 1, making finding housing difficult. She argues regulations are needed to return an estimated 12,000 homes to long-term use, as these properties offer more sustained economic benefit to local communities than tourism alone.

She and her partner contribute to the local economy by supporting businesses and volunteering, emphasizing the vital role residents play in maintaining the fabric of rural Ireland. While acknowledging short-term lets have a place in tourism, the writer stresses the need to prioritize the people who live and work in these communities.