I just read some pretty interesting (interesting in a bad way!) reviews about Ashgrove House, which was in my top 3 list of places to stay in Bunratty. Apparently some people think that the owners have written their own reviews to boost their B&B to the #1 spot! I'll cross that one off the list.

So the other two places I had narrowed it down to - due to cost and availability - are Bunratty Grove and Bunratty Woods. Has anyone been to either of these B&Bs? Can't find many reviews on them, but both of their websites look nice. We will just be staying for one night, but it is our last night in Ireland, so it better be a good one!

All I know is we enjoyed our first night in Ireland at Bunratty Lodge. I just posted a review of it on tripadvisor.com and it will appear in a few days. Meanwhile I also have comments about Bunratty Lodge in my trip report, which starts with the title: "100 KISSES At Matt Malloys Pub...... etc. Our trip was recent, July 2006.

Good luck!

You might look at Dunaree, as well. Beautiful, clean, comfortable, and a delicious breakfast. Close to Shannon airport, and castle. Penny was a wonderul hostess - we'll definitely stay again.....

I saw that discussion on Trip Advisor's Ireland forum. There have been a few B&B owners caught doing that. It has happened on this forum too! Look for similar descriptions, same words used repeatedly, expressions that don't fit the supposed location of the reviewer, using Irish spellings when the poster says they are from Canada or the US, writing style and things like that.

I have stayed at Bunratty Lodge and Headley Court. Both are very nice, clean, good breakfast, etc. If you want to be close to the castle The Courtyard is also nice.

We spent a night at Bunratty Woods in late June-- our first night in Ireland. We paid 20 euro to get from Shannon to Bunratty by cab-- a flat rate. We didn't have a car, as we were picked up the next morning by a shuttle for a walking tour on the Ring of Kerry.

Bunratty Woods has 15 rooms-- more of a small hotel than many B&Bs. We were able to check into our room at 8:30 am, which I thought was wonderful. The room was very clean and neat. The breakfast the next morning was extensive, and included rolled-up homemade pancakes. We spent eight nights in Ireland on this trip, and this was the best breakfast we had.

Bunratty Woods is out in the country, about a ten minutes walk down the road to Bunratty Castle and the folk park. Both are well worth a visit. We ate a late lunch at Durty Nelly's next to the castle.

Kathy

We also stayed at Bunratty Woods at the end of June.

Easy, pleasant 10 min. stroll to the castle...just watch for traffic, which isn't that bad.

Nice rooms, nothing special, small bathrooms, comfy sitting room. They have a coffee/tea/cookie station off the main entrance which is nice. Most of the other places we stayed had coffee/tea maker in rooms.

They were very nice and made us feel welcome to hang around after check out and called us taxis to get to the airport. Very homey sitting room. Nice gardens in front of the B&B with sitting areas and lawn...nephew had room to play around with his new hurling stick.

The did have a big buffet style breakfast, but quality not up to par with other places we stayed.

Our first choice was the Bunratty Castle Hotel because of its great location...but booked. We were blessed with great weather, so the walk to the castle and to the Blarney Woolen Mills the next morning for shopping was very nice.

We all enjoyed the folk park and the castle and the bunratty banquet was a fun way to end the trip...a last trip to Mac's Pub in the park was nice too.

If you stay there...I would request a ground floor room for convenience.

We were at the end of a tour with private driver and we decided to end services the night before we left, since would just be going to airport the next day...so being within walking distance was on our priority list.

If returned to Bunratty would probably try to get into Bunratty Castle Hotel or if we had a car...check out other B&B's.

I promise I am not in the B & B business. I do live in Ireland and have stayed in Bunratty. I stayed on two different occasions at a B & B called "The Courtyard" which was really top class.
I think they are on line. They had really nice lounge/relaxaton space for guests.

I just found their web page
http://www.bunrattycourtyard.com/cou...ection.asp?s=1

Well, just to stick up a little bit for Ashgrove House, my wife and I stayed there in May of 2004. While I can't speak to the supposed "review tampering", I can say that we found it to be a perfectly fine place to stay. Sheila was nice, and made some awesome brown bread

Maybe not the best B&B we stayed at over a 2 week period (that honor goes to Whitepark House in NI), but certainly not the worst.

We also stayed at Dunaree and found it to be lovely. The house was beautiful, and immaculate- our room was huge, and the breakfast selection was lovely. We will definitely stay with the O'Connors again!

I second the suggestion to stay at Dunaree. We stayed there too on our last night in Ireland and it was perfect. Lovely rooms, friendly hostess, hearty breakfasts, clean, within walking distance of Bunratty Castle. And it's very reasonably priced.

Wow, this strange! I'm actually leaving on the 1st of September to get married in Ireland! I live in London, Ont Canada. We are flying into Shannon and staying 2 nights in Bunratty first off. I have been to Ireland before and stayed at a B&B in Limerick, unfortunately it has since closed. When first planning our arrangements, I contacted Ashgrove and Sheila was very nice, said if we needed anything in regards to wedding preparation they would be more then willing to assist us, and just to let them know. I responded to their email stating it was great of them to offer and to confirm our 2 nights required, it took quite a few days for a reply when it was quite fast the first time to which she then said they couldnt accommodate us, which I thought odd. Anywhos, we have found accommodation with Bunratty Villa, looks lovely, and Jackie is really nice! My great Uncle Pat who travels to Ireland quite frequently talks very highly of Cecilia Lodge in Bunratty, says the breakfasts are lovely and highly recommends it, rates are very reasonable as well. He gave me their card, but I had already booked with Bunratty Villa but if interested its http://homepage.eircom.net/~cecilialodge

I think londonlass is advertising.

I've read a few reviews about Ashgrove house that were part of trip reports so unlikely they were fake. The reviews were pretty strong. As I remember, Frank is hooked up with the trad music scene and knows where to go in the area. I'm not sure I would write them off.

Bill

Author: Budman
Date: 08/21/2006, 09:13 am
I think londonlass is advertising

Just me wedding!! I wish someone could advise on if they had stayed at Bunratty Villa at all, give me the heads up!!

Londonlass, congratulations on your forthcoming marriage. My friend and I are too leaving on Sept. 1 and will stay in Bunratty for the first two nights at Bunratty Lodge. But we may be on the same flight, as I live in Tillsonburg, ON. Does your flight leave from TO at 11:35pm? Funny about Ashgrove House. I had emailed them about staying there as well to which I received a favourable reply. When I called to confirm(which I got to admit I didn't do till way later) Frank said they were booked due to a family wedding. So that is probably why you couldn't book there either. Anyways, wouldn't that be cool to be on the same plane?

crazeecat..oh my I think we are on the same flight!!! We fly out of Toronto on the 1st at 11:35pm, Air Transat, how crazy is that? Are you park n fly, or other means, we were going to take robert q airbus but would cost 100.00 for there and back, so with 4 of us, it works out better park n fly because it would only be around 100.00 to drive ourselves. I cant believe were on the same flight. I guess you know who I'll be as I will probably be the only one with a wedding dress as carryon

Hey Londonlass we are taking the Robert Q from Woodstock at 6:00pm Sept 1. Sounds like we will be on the same flight..this is way too cool. We will have to arrange to meet!

Oh no way that is way to freaky we are on the same flight!!! Well if you want here's my email [email protected], I can give you some tips not sure how old you are, but when I first went over I was 20 and had a blast. Some quick words of advice, if you happen to go to the store to buy alcohol, do not, and I repeat LOL do not ask for a Mickie of anything I asked the guy for a Mickie of Paddy's and he went red, and my cousin who lives in Limerick started to giggle which I couldnt figure out why, so asked again the poor guy finally gave me the bottle and when we got out of the store and my cousin finally stopped laughing at me said, do you know what a mickie is here, its a boys' thing, ohhh man was I embarressed!! So thats the first advice I would give. Where abouts are you travelling to? My fave pub when I was there was in Killarney, the DannyMann so many cute bartenders, just all very nice. One of them was actually from Peterborogh, got the job for a few months, ohhh you gals are going to have so much fun!!

Thanks for your advice Londonlass! I'll be sure not to ask for any mickie's...LOL. I'll send you an email depicting our itinerary. That is just way too cool that you will be on the same plane!!! I can't wait to tell my girlfriend that I'm going with. I'm married, she's not, so she will appreciate the Killarney pub advice as we will be in that area for 3 days(as a matter of fact..I appreciate it too! I like eye candy as well as any red-blooded female!!!)