Our Story

Situated at the gateway to West Cork, The Retreat is a classic Georgian house that boasts a rich connection to Irish history.

Previously part of the estate of the Duke of Devonshire, The Retreat’s story dates back to the early to mid 1800s. The prior owners of The Retreat, were the Sullivan family of Bandon. Thomas Kingston Sullivan, a solicitor located on South Main Street, Bandon first married Jane Tresilian with whom he had 4 children. Thomas moved his family to The Retreat in 1850, purchasing the house and surrounding grounds from the Duke of Devonshire. Tragedy struck in 1857 when Jane passed away. In 1860, Thomas married for a second time to Mary Aphrasia Elizabeth Langford Sullivan, with whom he had 10 further children. This property remained within the Sullivan Family for approximately 70 years and was notably once home to Anne Winifred Grosvenor (née Sullivan), the Duchess of Westminster (1915 - 2003). The Duchess was most renowned as owner of the legendary Irish racehorse Arkle (1957-1970) winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In 1919, local solicitor P.J. O’Driscoll Senior purchased The Retreat. He later married Agnes O’Driscoll (née Collins) with whom he had 5 children. Coincidentally, the O’Driscoll family shares the same passion for horses and legal pursuits. An illustration of this shared enthusiasm was Kathleen O’Driscoll's (daughter-in-law of P.J. O’Driscoll Snr) ownership of the racehorse Whyso Mayo, who won the Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase of 2006. This triumphant horse was trained in West Cork.

The Retreat has remained in the O’Driscoll family for over a 100 years and was last home to the late P.J. O'Driscoll Jnr, his wife Miriam and their four children who represent the 4th generation. Miriam O'Driscoll established The Retreat Country House business in 2022 with the help of her daughter, Valerie and son, Edward.