arrendell

We are traveling to Ireland this summer for a wedding in Kildare and will then head for Donegal & Connaught and would appreciate any recommendations of places to stay and/or eat. Thanking you in advance!

beach_dweller

If you do a search of this forum you'll find lots of recommendations for Donegal, but use the search term Connemara instead of Connaught for that region.

Anyway, we loved Ard Na Breatha just outside of Donegal Town (a 3-5 minute drive, or a 15 or so minute walk). Great B&B with wonderful food (including probably the best dinners in town).

Here's a link:

http://www.ardnabreatha.com/

In Clifden we stayed at the Seamist House, another B&B. Here's a link:

http://www.connemara.net/seamist/

We loved that one perhaps even more than Ard Na Breatha. It's very close to the heart of town (the triangle). Be aware nearby construction was a little noisy in the morning, but that was last August; besides, you can't sleep in and miss that wonderful breakfast.

We found both Donegal Town and Clifden to be exactly the kind of small, relaxing towns we wanted as a base from which to do day trips.

Have a great time in two awesome regions!

CU

For certified accommodation have a look at www.townandcountry.ie and for that little bit extra treat www.premierguesthouses.com
For Donegal www.donegal.ie and click on 'tourism'
for Galway region www.galway1.ie and for Ireland in general www.goireland.ie
have agreat time and enjoy.

Bailey

Just outside Donegal is a great old manor house......a wonderful little inn & terrific place for dinner....Coxtown Manor.
Don't forget to check out Slieve League.....an incredible cliff drive.

Bailey

www.coxtownmanor.com

tower

Visit and perhaps stay in Westport...we favor The Olde Railway Hotel...excellent, full of history and old world charm..reasonable, too. In Clifden, I hope Destry Rides Again is still there..a delightful nouveau cafe for lunch (the owners are fans of jummy Stewart movies..and the old timers on this board will recognize Destry as one of the better ones...also in Donegal, you may want to drive out to Killybegs, a fishing village on the shores of the Atlantic...and it you want the flavor of little Donegal, stay right smack in town at the venerable Abbey Hotel...full of the "night life" of isolated Donegal..although The Coach House pub is also a very lively place right in the center of town..great music, friendlyfolks..filled with smoke when I last visited in '02..hard to imagine it smoke free now!

Stu T.

wojazz3

Near Killybegs is the Credo House which is on the east side of town and Ocean View which is on the west side of town. I've stayed at Credo House and as long as Frank still owns the place, it's wonderful. It's no longer listed on Michele Erdwig's site and I haven't asked her about it. Ocean View is listed on her site. She is very particular so a rec from her is usally very good. I've heard many good things about Ocean View.

Bill

hopingtotravel

If you go as far out as Slieve League, which is a wonderful experience, try one step further. I think the little town back in the mountains is named Adara. Wonderful prices on handknit sweaters there that you'll never find in the U.S.

geordias

We found a wonderful Inn on St. John's Point, Dunkineely, just to the west of Donegal town. It was the Castle Murray House located on a lovely peninsula that juts out onto Donegal Bay. (There are Castle ruins right across the street). The rooms were lovely and the restaurant was very good, too. (Phone #: 073 37022; Fax#: 073 37330).

We found this place in a guide book called something like Best Little Inns in Ireland. I think it is also in Karen Brown's recommendations, too.


We also loved the Slieve League Cliffs right near a little town named Tealin by the Trabane Strand. (Heading west from Donegal on the coast road R263) We found this place in one of the NorthWest Ireland tour books as part of a driving tour.

Have fun, you will love Ireland.

geordias

wojazz3

If you go to Slieve League, follow the signs to the Bunglass Cliffs. That is the road that takes you to the the parking area and has a fabulous view on a clear day. This is one of the smaller and perhaps most terrifying roads in Ireland, or at least in thick fog. So worth the effort though.

Bill