DUBLIN, Ireland, February 17, 2016 – Ireland is a top destination for the 50 million Americans of Irish descent, and in 2016 it's the not-to-be-missed trip of a lifetime when the Emerald Isle celebrates not only St. Patrick's Day on March 17 but also the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising starting March 27. The Centennial festivities begin in Dublin with a military parade, Aer Corps flyover and 21-gun salute, projected on screens around the city. The next six days will buzz with walking tours, talks, music, dance, street art, food and family fun at historic Dublin locales. But that's not all. Celebrations commemorating the Easter Rising will run the entire year from Dublin to Galway and from Cork to Kerry.

With most hotels filling up fast, what's a late booker to do? Dublin-based Homestay.com is just the ticket. Founded in 2013, Homestay.com is the leading online marketplace for hosted accommodations with 50,000 listings in more than 150 countries, and Dublin holds second place for the city with the most hosts. More affordable than hotels and more personal than empty rentals, hosted home stays are an appealing alternative for travelers keen on experiencing Ireland in this jubilee year. Ireland's homestay hosts are just as eager to welcome American visitors and share the excitement. This combination assures visitors a more profoundly personal experience than staying in a hotel or empty rental.

Homestay.com makes it easy to find and match with the right hosts, locales and dates in Ireland by filtering search results by amenities, pets and hobbies. To book, guests contact hosts via the messaging system, and when the host confirms availability, a 15% deposit is paid through Homestay.com. Guests pay the balance to the host during the stay. In Ireland, prices range from $25 to $110 per room per night; a light breakfast is always included, and additional meals can often be arranged. Amenities include the usual modern conveniences and are detailed on each host's page.

“The best part, of course, is engaging with the Homestay Heroes – our hosts,” says Alan Clarke, CEO of Homestay.com. “Especially this year, when spirits are running high with Centennial pride. The Irish are always friendly, and hosts will be delighted to share the inside scoop on where to experience the celebrations, how to master transportation systems, where to find the best restaurants and pubs. They'll probably even stand a round or two of beer! Indeed, lasting friendships are always a possibility.”

A sampling of the many Homestay Heroes in Dublin include the following:

Eileen is the proud owner of a beautiful house in the heritage town of Dalkey in South Dublin. She offers an en suite double bedroom, a single bedroom and a twin-bedded room, from $31.

Warm and artsy Bridget offers two beautiful double bedrooms, one with a spectacular view of the sea ($23 and $30) in a detached house in the nearby fishing village of Howth.

Tara, Anthony, her two children and dogs, who live a Georgian home by a mill pond, offer accommodation in their coach house (from $56) minutes from Durrow and Abbeyliex.

These are just a few of the hundreds of Homestay.com hosts waiting with smiling Irish eyes.

Hi-res images of host properties are available upon request. Interviews with Homestay Heroes can also be arranged.

About Homestay.com                                                                                                                                   
Homestay.com is an accommodation marketplace dedicated to the homestay travel experience, where the host is present for every stay. With more than 50,000 hosts offering places to stay across some 150 countries, Homestay.com enables travelers to stay in the home of a local resident while they are there. Focused as much on people as it is on places, Homestay.com puts hosts at the heart of amazing travel experiences. The company was founded in 2013 by Tom Kennedy, co-founder of HostelWorld.com, and Debbie Flynn, a veteran of the education travel industry. Homestay.com is funded by Delta Partners Ltd.

###

Contact: Spring O'Brien
Lauren Kaufman: (212) 402-1611 / laurenk@spring-obrien.com
Jil Krusemann: (212) 402-1675 / jilk@spring-obrien.com