Melissa5

We're spending 3 nights in Westport next July 2006. First family trip to Ireland with hubby and 2 young adult daughters.

I chose Westport as our base for County Mayo because my daughters will enjoy staying someplace that is lively at night; and I love trad music. We want to use Wesport as a base and take day-trips to Achill Island and Killary Harbor.

I would appreciate suggestions for accomodations in town, walking distance to fun Westport pubs with trad music, yet in location Quiet enough to sleep at night? (I'm a light sleeper.) We prefer family-run B&Bs but will consider hotels or guesthouses.

Also while we're on the subject of Westport, recommendations for restaurants and interesting shops are appreciated.

We only have 3 nights in County Mayo. Anybody want to share their favorite sites to visit in County Mayo?

I have selected Killary Harbor, Achill Island, and Westport in order to please biologist hubby, 2 young adult daughters, and myself...variety of interests. But I am open to other suggestions in County Mayo.

Maybe I should mentioned more about our itinerary. This is it:
1 night: near Shannon airport
3 nights: Dingle Peninsula
3 nights: County Clare
3 nights: County Mayo
2 nights: Belfast area
3 nights: Dublin
fly home from dublin.

Many thanks!

NEDSIRELAND

Westport is good! On your way there from Co. Clare you might want to visit Croagh Patrick or Cong (where the movie 'Quiet Man' was filmed). I like Ballina (on the Moy) as a stopover on your way to Donegal/Belfast. Crocket's on the Quay has Trad music Mondays. I don't know if she is still in business, but Marjorie at BrigOwen B&B is just about 50m from Crocket's. You may prefer Knock Shrine: about an hour south of Ballina.

3-nights in Dublin is 'overkill!' You might consider Glendaloch or another nearby spot and just stay in Dublin the night before your return flight

SiobhanP

Melissa - I go to Westport a few times a year. Click on my name and find my last report from August about Westport. Fot total wuiet maybe you want to stay off the main strip. I would reccommend Hotel Westport as its a 5 minute walk to the village and on very quiet grounds at the end of a cul de sac. They also have a spa and leisure centre where you can use the pool. For slightly cheaper you could stay at the central hotel but ask for a room on the highest floor (You take the lift to the top floor and walk up another level about 6 steps. We stay on this floor as its quieter and in the back.

Both of these places are walking distance to the main street where you will find good music and rtestaurants. For trad Matt Molloys is great especially in the back room at the weekends and the Porter house beside it which is a smaller cosier pub. I listed several restaurants in my report as well that should keep you going!

Let me know if you need any further info.

waffle18

Melissa,

Oh I'm so jealous that you will be spending 3 days in Westport as it is someplace I have always wanted to visit a good bit but have yet to make! Guess you'll have tons to tell me once you get back.

One of my favorite places to visit in Mayo is the Ceide Fields.
http://www.museumsofmayo.com/ceide.htm
We stopped by this place several years ago and went in but it was raining so hard that they cancelled the outside tour. I still enjoyed the museum bit (and the small cafe) and was determined to get back to it. I did finally make it this last May - had to drive 4 hours from Clifden in Galway passing such tempations as Kylemore Abbey and Croagh Patrick but I kept on and made it. And finally, FINALLY got a gorgeous, sun filled day in which to take the tour. IMO, it was well worth it.

I wish I could help you more on your Westport questions but I'm sure you will get many good opinions regarding that fine place - and already have. Siobhan's advice for that top floor room sounds spot on! I do, however, love your itinerary, even with Cashel being skipped. It is do able and very "you" and the family. You guys will enjoy and, I suspect, be back to see some of those skipped places a lot sooner than you may think! Hee.

Cheers,

Wendy

wojazz3

The only time I stayed "IN" Westport, I stayed at the St. Anthony's B&B which is a nice old building, noise was not an issue, but the woman running it was a bit odd. I think she was not the regular and in fact, I think her husband runs it because she "couldn't figure out" the credit card machine. She also forced us to sit at the same table with two other poeple (though many wer available) presuambly to keep from having to clean others. Though a community table is nice, it was a bit cramped and they didn't speak English and we didn't speak German.

The breakfast was good and with a group of four, you would ceratinly have your own seating. There are probably others though.

Bill

CU

Howde Mellissa.
Me again like an ould penny.
All you want to know go to www.mayo-ireland.ie
Stayed in Wesport myself for a holiday. Travelled to Achill some years ago. Nice place.

Melissa5

Thanks so much, you all are great! SiobhanP, looked at Hotel Westport, thank you, I'm considering that, although I'm concerned about staying in large hotels because that could mean wedding parties and other group-celebrating events, which can mean noisy guests (lots of them, big hotel) returning to their rooms at night. Unless they are built like a Marriott with thick walls and quiet sections which some USA hotels have, don't know about Ireland.

Otherwise, it looks great! It's one of my top choices right now.

I prefer smaller family-run B&Bs but there doesn't seem much info on them for Westport in town.

The Olde Railway hotel looks well-located and properly atmospheric, though the creeks in the old building could interfere with sleep. Although loud drunken guests walking around at night and forgeting people are sleeping would be worse than creeking buildings.

CU, I'm going to take a look at the web-site you provided, have to get off the computer right now.

I cannot find out much info on B&Bs in Westport. Sometimes a B&B might be quieter, since there are fewer people (unless they have thin walls.)

There are a lot of very intriguing places out in the contryside of County Mayo, but I know my daughters will appreciate being in town.

Apparently the quay area of Westport is a mile from the town centre? Which part do I want or does it not matter? Matt Malloys is in town centre part?

I do a lot of research on accomodations until usually one will just fit right into place as being right for us...it's not quite clear yet for Westport.

Thanks everybody for listening and for your input!

Itallian_Chauffer

Matt Malloy's IS in town center. I must recommend a 'treat' for you and your husband, either enroute to Westport, or as a 'day trip' while there -- Drive through the Doo Lough Valley, from Lenane to Louisberg, via Delphi, along Ireland's "Trail Of Tears". Reknown scenery, but tragically moving, as well.
The horse-race scene from "The Quiet Man" were filmed at Lenane. Also, I believe the movie, "The Field" was also filmed there about, as well.
Just a few miles north of Ballina is the seldom visited town of Killalla, home to a fine, Round Tower, and site of the "French Invasion" during the Rebellion of 1798. Not much else to see there, so dunno if it's worth a detour, but if you ARE passing nearby ...
Bob

Melissa5

BOB: Thanks for the suggestions. Just saw the movie, The Field. Wow, depressing. Well-done, though. Hubby fell asleep after they threw the donkey into the water. He asked me if he should finish it the next day. I said, no, you'll fall asleep again, it's too slow for you! I watched the whole thing.

Melissa5

Anybody have comments about these Westport accomodations:

The Boulevard Guesthouse
South Mall, Westport
(around the corner from Bridge Street and close to the bus stops and the train station) owners: Sadie & John Moran

Knockranny House Hotel
Knockranny, Westport

The Olde Railway Hotel
The Quay, Westport

Hotel Westport
Newport Road

Clew Bay Hotel
James Street

Or other suggestions? Hoping for a quiet sleep at night, and walking distance to restaurants and fun music pubs with good trad.

We will have a car but don't like the idea of leaving the pubs in the dark and trying to find isolated B&B out in the countryside. thought staying in town was better though I'm a light sleeper.

Thanks! some suggestions have already been made, appreciate it.

Melissa5

Also, does anyone know anything about this place:

Ardmore House Hotel
The Quay, Westport
family-run hotel: Pat & Noreen Hoban
"quietly located in gardens near Westport Harbor"

If you know this hotel, is the location good for walking to Westport town centre?

Thanks!

Angela

Hi Melissa

I am from Armagh in Northern Ireland and I have spent MANY weekends in Westport!

I hope I can answer some of your questions.

Knockranny House Hotel - this is my absolute favourite hotel in Westport, even more so now with the recently opened spa. I don't think it would suit you, however, as it is not in the town centre, and not easy walking distance to all the pubs!

The Olde Railway Hotel - this hotel is lovely also. A bit olde worlde, very pleasant staff, and in the centre of town (although across the bridge which might make it a bit quieter than other in the very centre).

Hotel Westport - to me this hotel is always full of millions of kids and huge wedding parties!! That said, it does have a leisure centre. It's not in the VERY centre of town, about a 4/5 minute walk away.

Clew Bay Hotel - never stayed in this hotel. It is very central though, but I think would be a bit more run down than the others.

My favourite hotel in the centre of Westport is the Wyatt Hotel (http://www.wyatthotel.com/). It is small, nice rooms, centrally located, reasonably priced, and I dont think should be too noisy at night.

I cant help you much with B&B's as I mostly stay in hotels.

The Quays is about a mile away from Westport town, and is a pleasant walk or a taxi ride for a few euro. The Quays is a town in itself, with a nice hotel (http://www.atlanticcoasthotel.com/hotels_mayo), several restaurants and pubs. The main town is just on a bigger scale. I think you'd be better staying in the main town, but definitely take time to go to the Quays for lunch/dinner/drinks some night. The Quays has a lovely restaurant called 'Quay Cottage' (http://www.quaycottage.com/index2.html), and a great pub - The Towers, and The Asgard, and a few others, which serve great pub food.

In the main town my favourite restaurant is The Lemon Peel (http://www.lemonpeel.ie/index.html), but there are also lots of pubs and Italian restaurants.

I hope this has been a help, and hasnt confused you even more.

Angela

Angela

Ardmore House Hotel is on the opposite side of the Quays from the main town. 2 minutes walk from the Quays. Lovely place, EXCELLENT food, and very quiet I would imagine.

Angela

MaggieOB

We stayed at the Old Railway Hotel two years ago and enjoyed it. My negative comments would be that the lighting in the room was terrible and it was certainly impossible to read at night. And our room, although large and with a four-poster bed and a great view, did not have a renovated bathroom. I saw some other rooms with much better bath accomodations and if I returned I would request one of those.

The location is fabulous, they have parking and in the morning they offered me a little something "strong" in my porridge to start the day!! The staff were lovely and very helpful. Westport is a great little town and I think you and your family will enjoy it.

Melissa5

ANGELA: Great info, thanks so much! Will you kindly answer a few more questions:

KNOCKRANNY House Hotel:
Looks very nice and it's your favorite so I am still considering it. Not walking distance to any pubs, not in town centre, you say. So, if we stay here, with a car, what is the best way to get to town for a night at the pubs? Taxi ride? Drive car into town? How much time does it take to drive from Knockranny into Westport town centre? Is parking difficult in town? Is it an easy or a difficult drive in the dark (easy to get lost?)

The OLDE RAILWAY HOTEL: sounds nice and atmospheric though a bit creaky from what you say and what I've read. Did you actually stay there, or are you familiar with it from passing by?

WYATT HOTEL: Thanks for the suggestion, I will look this one up. Do you have a favorite floor/room/section there?

ATLANTIC COAST HOTEL, The Quays: Thanks for the suggestion. Did you have a chance to stay there, or just passing by and like it?

I really appreciate all your suggestions, for accomodations and restaurants! This helps a lot.

Melissa5

MaggieOB: Thanks for sharing about your stay at the Olde Railway Hotel. You have given a nice overview of the pros and cons of staying there.

Melissa5

ANGELA: Another question, please. Since the ARDMORE HOUSE HOTEL is a 2-minute walk to the Quays, I am assuming that if we stayed there, we would either have a long walk into Westport town centre and back, or else we would walk 2 minuts to the Quays, then get a taxi into Westport town center?

And what about visiting the pubs and then returning to the Ardmore in the dark? Would it be safe to take a taxi from Westport town centre to the Quays, then walk the 2-minutes from the Quays to the Ardmore in the dark? Or would we take the taxi all the way from Westport town centre to the Ardmore hotel? Are taxis in Westport expensive? Thanks, Angela! (do you think the Armore is a convenient enough location?)

Melissa5

ANGELA and other travellers familiar with Westport:

I found some more B&Bs. Any info on these:

ALTAMONT HOUSE
Altamont St, Ballinrobe Rd., Westport.
Owners: The Sheridan family
A farmhouse within a 5-minute walk into town centre. Does this mean it's a 5-minute walk into Westport town centre (with the pubs like Matt Malloys)? Would this be a safe and easy walk in the dark around 11:30 pm? Any other info on this B&B?

MOHER HOUSE:
Liscarney, Westport, County Mayo
Owner: Marian O'Malley
How far outside of Westport is this B&B? It's apparently across the road from Moher lake. Is it an easy or difficult drive in the dark (after visiting Westport pubs)? Info in my book says "Transport to the pub in the evening is offered" but it doesn't say which pub...I"m assuming they must mean a pub in Liscarney. We are mainly interested in Westport, don't know much about Liscarney, as a base. but this place sounds nice.

Thanks in advance for any info on these B&Bs/hotels!

mom1emac

Another possibility for Westport is the Westport Inn on Mill Street(not the Westport Hotel). We stayed there last November. It's right around the corner from all the restaurants, pubs, and shops--walking distance to everthing. The breakfast was lovely and we had dinner once there also. The rooms were great. Also, if you can get to Clifden, we enjoyed some really great local music there

chatham

Melissa5, I'm letting you do some research for me. If I get back to Ireland for the 9th time, I plan to go up to Westport. Like you I like to stay walking distance of Pubs and all. I had thought of Old Railway or Wyatt, but I just looked at the hotel Mom1 mentioned and it looks great. After July what trips are you going to be planning? I'll miss reading about your plans. Regards, Joan