About the Burke Family
A Little Bit Of History
Riverhaven Log Cabin is a family-run business owned and operated by father and son John and Martin Burke. The family have worked in the tourism industry for the in excess of 50 years, with John and his wife Martina having operated Riversdale House as a Bord Fáilte-approved farmhouse B&B from 1967 to 2003. In the year 2000, we built our first log cabin, and it was very popular and which in turn led to the birth of Riverhaven Log Cabin which was opened in 2009.
Our cabins are real authentic Scandinavian log cabins and are constructed in the most environmentally-friendly way possible using clay roof tiles, recycled paper insulation, eco-friendly heat pumps, etc. We have six eco-friendly log cabins situated on our family farm at Knockvicar, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. The farm is 55 acres and adjoins the eastern shoreline of Lough Key where the Boyle river exits the lake.
Since 2002, a research project and multiple archaeological excavations have taken place on Riversdale farm. The site is complex and Neolithic, Bronze Age and Medieval artefacts have been found here during excavations between 2002 and 2007. The site is primarily known as the ‘Bishops Seat’, and references to the area can be found on Ordinance Survey maps dating back as far as 1846. The site is considered to be of national importance and is categorised as a high-status medieval site.
Our family home, Riversdale House was once owned by the family of Maureen O’Sullivan, the Irish-American actress who played Jane in the Tarzan series during the Johnny Weissmuller era. When her father was called back up to army service Ms. O'Sullivan lived in the property for a number of years. Following her success in Hollywood she returned in 1988 to visit the property and plant a Monkey puzzle tree aside a plaque in her honour. Úna Burke, daughter of John Burke and sister of Martin, is also a member of the Burke family and grew up on the property. Úna is a leather work designer, manufacturing her own handcrafted fashion art pieces for sale privately and who stars like Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Madonna and Cindy Crawford have worn. Her pieces have also been featured in the Hunger Games movie series and more information can be found on www.unaburke.com
The area in which Riversdale House and Riverhaven Log Cabins are located in is a hidden gem of beauty, where the counties of Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim meet. The Riversdale farm and Riverhaven property have boundaries with both Lough Key itself and the Boyle river where it exits Lough Key on it's journey to join the Shannon. There are endless activities available to holidaymakers visiting the area, from historical attractions to looped walks, horse riding, adventure parks, fishing and much more. The area is surrounded by stunning lake views and is particularly popular with fishermen coming from England, France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Riverhaven Log Cabin is also a great destination for families due to the many activities in the area. The cabins are also close to each other, so multiple families can plan their stays together, and their kids can make friends. We pride ourselves on the personal attention we offer each and every one of our guests. When you arrive at our cabins, you will receive a care package with bread, butter, milk, logs for the stove, firelighters, dishwasher tablets, tea, sugar, and coffee. This allows you to settle in after your long journey and take in the local area!
