Our family of 3 (husband, wife, 12 year old boy) will be in Ireland for 3 weeks. We'd like to find a self-catering place for a week in either Clifden or Westport. We plan to hike, tour, visit islands and go to pubs. Our son loves bookstores. Which town do people prefer?

Also - we're considering a base for a second week in Donegal of Rathmelton or somewhere on the Inishowen Peninsula. Thoughts?

Both Clifden and Westport are great towns. Westport is larger and busier. Clifden is smaller and more laid back. You can do your activities from either base.

I would think that Rathmelton would be a better base for touring more of Donegal since it is not too far from Letterkenny. The Inishowen Peninsula is more remote.

What time of year are you going? It might make a big difference choosing where to stay.

I am a regular in both places. We go to Clifden to chill out and have a quieter weekend and drive around.

Westport we have friend that own a house and I know there are a few self catering places near the town. With your son I would think Westport has more to do and you can still visit islands. I love Clare Island. It's so tiny but has a nice long walk/bike ride to the light house. Also I think there i a better choice of opubs and food in Westport as it's a larger town. If you want to do a bit of shopping head to Castlebar about a 20-30 minute drive away and there is a larger choice of shopping and a cinema. ALso if you are up for it do a hike of Croake(SP?) Patrick.

I'm also a regular in both places!! I must say that I much prefer Westport. More pubs and restaurants, and shops. And, in my opinion, just a more pleasant town! I cant help you with rentals as I stay in hotels, sorry. If you need help with restaurants, please let me know, as there isnt a restaurant in Westport I have not eaten in!!!.

Angela

The harbour Mill has self catering apartments check out http://www.tourismresources.ie/cht/harbour.htm

Also on the road out to here there is a large houseing estate that does rentals. Try checking some Westport websites to find them. The more I think about it the more I think as a kid I would prefer Westport.

Check these out as well:

http://westport.mayo-ireland.ie/WPself.htm

http://mayo.goireland.com/Accommodat...ing_Page_1.htm

http://westport.mayo-ireland.ie/obrien.htm

Enjoy!"http://westport.mayo-ireland.ie/obrien.htm

Enjoy!

Yeah, I forgot that I have actually stayed in the Harbour Mill apartments, and I would highly recommment them.

Proper website: http://www.theharbourmill.com/

This is all so helpful! We'll be there in August (not my favorite month to travel but we're bound to the school holiday.) I think we'll go ahead and stay in Westport. I'll take any favorite restaurant suggestions with me. I'm glad to hear Clare Island is lovely - we'll go there as well.

The beaches at either Rathmelton and Rathmullen look lovely and we're hoping to do some touring in N. Ireland from there.

Thanks everyone!

Also, the Harbour Mill Apartments have free use of their pool, etc, which your son would like. Also a sauna, etc, for you and your husband.

Angela

McShane

I am from N Ireland, so I hope I can help you with that too!!

Angela

In Westport the Creel The Harbour The Quay Westport next to the Harbour Mill apartments always has great soups and a large selection of hot food to dsuoit most tastes. this is nore a lunch place not sure if they are open late very casual.

The Lemon Peel is nice (The Octagon Westport (098) 26929 )with seafood and steaks. Friends eat here a lot.

We ate at a great Italian place and I think it is this one -Torrinos 10 Market lane (Obivously down a laneway off the main street) great pasta and Pizza's best meal we had last time visiting.

Also there was a place along the river in the town centre that was a converted church and had "italian" food and was fun. The food was great for some dishes and OK for others. It is a cool interior inside.

Drinks:
Matt Molloy's is the hopping pub and always has music. Beware the 2 dodgy local guys who every time I go there are trying to chat up the tourists. It is hilarious. Good live music mnost nights.

Also there is a pub across the road that is a grocery store in the front and a pub in the back. You sit on kegs in the frint beside the newspapers and cornflakes. Mad place. I think it's where they filmed the latest Guinness ad showing where they throw out the TV from the pub.

Oh by the Harbour mill apts is the tower pub. Good for afternoon food and sitting in the beer garden on a nice day. The road to Croake Patrick leads from here.

Have a great time you will love it.

I can highly recommend Donegal Cottages in Rathmullen: http://www.rathmullancottages.com/

If you get good weather be sure to take a trip out to Achill Island.

Thanks everyone! I sent an inquiry about the Harbour Mill and I'll see if there's one available the week of Aug 6th. There's a different apt my husband likes in Westport: http://www.irelandwestholidayhomes.c...301&C=Mayo
Has anyone stayed there before?

We're in Rathmullan the week of Aug 13 and the Rathmullan cottages look great but are fully booked. I saw several still available at Donegalcottageholidays.com - the Abbeyview, the Sea Breeze and the Rathmullan Woods (I like the furniture in the photo.) We also saw some new apartments - the Red Door Apartments - that my son thinks look splended (they have DVD players.)

Angela - we will have several days in N Ireland as well so soon I'll ask you for recommendations. My husband's family left for Pittsburgh from Dungannon in 1810 so that's on our list.

Thanks much!

McShane

The apartments that your husband likes are basically just around the corner from the Harbour Mill ones! To be honest they are both quite similiar, but Harbour Mill has the pool, etc. Also, if you request a Sea View room in Harbour Mill you are facing the sea, the ones your husband likes are sideways to the water and you cant really see it. This would sway me, but other people I'm sure wouldn't care!!

Just so you know, there is the main Westport town, and about 1 mile away is Westport Quays. Both these apartments are in Westport Quays. Both Westport and the Quays have plenty of pubs and restuarants, but the main town has much more shops. It is of course easy to walk (or taxi if you are lazy like me) from one to the other. I just mention this so that you are aware of this fact and aren't surprised when you get there! Westport Quays is actually where I prefer to stay.

I am pleased you are visiting N Ireland too. I live in Armagh which is 10/15 miles from Dungannon!

Angela

Either apartment would be good and yes it's a walk to the main village but doable and there are always taxi's for a couple euro if you don't want to walk.

Hi McShane:

We were in Westport for three nights in May. Matt Malloys will require and early seat to hear the music. Next door is the Porterhouse. They had Keven and (can't think of the tin whistle players name) playing about three nights a week. Kevin's sense of rhythm is amazing and ordinary reels take on a whole new life with him. I had a great time a Kevin and I had a fine chat during and after. Tell him Bill the French Horn player says hi. He has most certainly forgotten.

Bill

Thanks Bill, will do.

Have you posted a report on your recent trip yet? I seem to recall that you were staying for a week in the Cruit Island cottages - how did you like them?

Lisa