FAMILY LEGACY: THE STORY OF BAYFIELD HOUSE
Bayfield isn’t just a house—it’s a living piece of our family’s past and present, tucked into the heart of the Burren and overlooking the ever-changing waters of Galway Bay. Built almost 200 years ago by our great-great-grandparents using local limestone, it’s stood through storms, stories, and generations. You can still see the age of the house in the thick stone walls—some nearly two metres wide— and in the character that fills every room.
A family place
Bayfield was originally a working farm, and though it’s no longer full of animals, you’ll often see cows grazing in the front field. Over the years, the house has seen family come and go. Like many Irish families, some of ours moved to Britain throughout the last century, while others remained in Ireland—some in the Burren, others in Connemara. Fittingly, the two sides met in the middle at the Galway Races, where our grandparents first crossed paths.
During World War II, our mother and her sister Valerie lived in Bayfield while our grandmother brought them back from London to escape the bombings. Our grandfather, meanwhile, was skippering merchant ships across the Atlantic. Those wartime years left strong memories—both of the house and the surrounding landscape—and we grew up on those stories.
When our mum took over the house in the 1980s, it had fallen into serious disrepair. The thatched roof had collapsed, cows wandered in and out through the front door, and we used to scramble over the ruins like it was a giant climbing frame. The orchard was wild and overgrown, and we’d push through the long grass to play under the old apple trees. We lived in the back studio, cooking on open fires and washing in the sea. It was very simple, and very magical.
Restoring Bayfield always felt like a dream—an impossible one. But slowly, bit by bit, Mum Moya started the work. The roof went on first (we’d have loved to keep it thatched, but finances said otherwise), and then the rest of the house followed. Every penny Bayfield has earned since has gone back into it. We’ve tried to preserve as much of the original feel as we can while also making it a warm, relaxed space to stay. Michael the builder has been an incredible driving force in returing Bayfied to its former glory.
From Ruin to Restoration
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An early view of the 1900
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Painting of Bayfield House by Edward Hynes
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Bayfield before the renovation works
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Bayfield before the renovation works
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Roof construction begins
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A young Maxx during the renovation works in the 80s
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The roof is almost completed
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Moya and John Kenna surrounded by their five children (from lest Louis, Rowena, Armorel, Rupert and Maxwell)
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A young Mike har at work in Bayfield House
Uncle Edward and His Art
We can’t talk about Bayfield without mentioning our great uncle Edward, who lived here until the early 1980s. He was a wonderful and fairly well-known artist—if you look around the house, you’ll spot some of his prints and paintings (yes, we’ve mostly got the leftovers, since he sold all the good ones!). The "Studio Room" is named after him—it’s where he painted. If you’d like to see more of his work, head to Durty Nelly’s Pub by Bunratty Castle. You’ll find loads of his paintings there, signed "Hynes." Here below a small selection of his artwork.
Who we are
We’re Max and Beatrice, with our two daughters Aurelia and Azzurra. We live in South London but spend as much time as we can at Bayfield. Beatrice is from Rome, Maxx is from London, and we divide our holidays between Italy and Ireland. We’re both sailors (we met racing around the Isle of Wight!) and have competed in regattas all over the world—but some of our favourite sailing has been right here in Galway Bay, racing between villages or around the Aran Islands.
When we’re at Bayfield, we’re usually out walking—especially the coastal loop walk, which we never get tired of. We dabble in gardening and do our best to keep things beautiful in a low-maintenance sort of way. Carmel and Darren now help us keep everything ticking over, and we’re incredibly lucky to have them continuing the care and attention that Michael (who sadly passed away in May 2025) gave for so many years.
We feel incredibly lucky to be the current caretakers of Bayfield. It’s been a part of our family for generations, and now we’re delighted to share this magic place with others. We hope you feel right at home here, just like we always have.
Thanks for being part of the story.
