sdillon

Looking for recommendations on B&B's to stay at while in Ireland. We will be using vouchers.
1) The first two nights my wife and I will be staying somewhere south of Dublin (Wexford/Wicklow)?
2) We will then be going back to Dublin for two nights. We will be picking up my brother and his wife at the airport for the second night.
3) We are planning to drive down to County Cork but will be leaving a night open to stop somewhere along the way.
4) We will then continue on to Cork for two nights.
5) We will then be heading to Clare for our final two nights.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

mr_go

Topping for sdillon and the 100% improved topic headline. ;-)

wojazz3

Hi sdillon:

You may have a difficult time finding a B&B in the city that takes vouchers. The only place I've used a B&B near Dublin is in Skerries. It is not real convenient to the city, but pretty convenient to the airport.

Between Dublin and Co. Cork you could stay in Cahir and easily see the Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle. We stayed at Scaragh House in Cahir which was very nice, right across the road from the Swiss Cottage and the owner is hysterical. We had a great time with her at breakfast.

It would probably help to decide what towns you intend to stay in Co. Cork and Co. Clare. It's a little hard to narrow down B&B choices with just the county. I would choose my location by area that you want to visit, not by B&B. The country is loaded with great B&Bs.

Bill

IrishEyes

Scaragh House in Cahir is closed as a B&B. Patricia had a baby and when I was by there a few months ago her sign was still down. Perhaps she will re-open sometime in the future. But for now it is closed. Too bad, it was a great B&B.

wojazz3

Well, I guess we should congratulate her on the birth, but it's a darn shame she is not open. She is a great hostess!

Bill

IrishEyes

Things change rapidly in the B&B biz. Let's hope that when the baby gets a bit older Patricia opens her B&B again. Meanwhile, there is always Carrigeen Castle. Cashel is not far either.

Ann41

Tudor Lodge in Laragh (in the Wicklows) is one of the best B&Bs at which I've stayed. Big, airy rooms; menu for breakfast; lovely location.

Just do a google search and it comes up.

wojazz3

Thanks for the reccomendation Ann. Filed it away for the future.

Bill

sdillon

Thanks for the recommendation Ann. I just sent an email to Tudor Lodge about availablity.
Still looking for B&B around Dublin.

Wojazz3. Thanks, I will check the out Cahir. As for Cork, we are open to suggestions. Would like to see go to Kinsale, Cohb, drive along the southern coast and see Blarney Castle.

We are looking at the area of Ennis or Bunratty for the final two days (Leaning towards Ennis. Or maybe newmarket-fergus.

SiobhanP

sdillon, for Dublin try www.ireland.com This will liest B&B's in Various areas of Dublin. I would stay Northside if you are picking up someone at the airpost. Clontarf would be good as there is parking and you can get a bus or Dart to the city easily and it's not far from the airport.

javachik

Hi, not sure if you've already taken your trip yet--as you don't have dates posted. I am visiting Ireland now and having the time of my life. I wanted to say that I stayed at a WONDERFUL b&b in the lovely town of Clonikilty (sp?) called the Riverside B&B. Beautifully decorated home, which was purpose built to be a B&B. Rooms are clean and spacious, the hosts are warm and friendly. A small note: hostess Virge is due a son in December and they have a 1 year old (well-behaved) son. Also, a very sweet jack russell terrier. Normally baby and dog aren't in the "guest" area but since I was the only guest that night, I got to hold the baby and play with the dog. Helped quell my first night's home-sickness. Anyway, it was such a great experience that I am sad to say it may have ruined me for b&bs. The two I've stayed in since haven't been nearly as nice, but I hear that it's because I've used Killarney as my base for touring the Dingle and the park, and the b&bs around here are just mediocre. Next trip I will definitely do more research on the b&bs, as the tourist offices have a different idea of what constitutes a "nice" b&b. And since I am a single traveler, I pay €42 on average.

I can't accurately put in words how much I loved the long and leisurely coastal drives - the peninsulas are extraordinary. I'll do a complete report when I return home in 2.5 weeks. I leave for London tomorrow for a week, and then on to who knows where for a week.

Flutist

We were in UK/Ireland for 3 weeks in August, and spent our last 2 nights in Ennis (Old Ground Hotel.) This was a big splurge for us but was worth it because of the central location and the rooms are top notch. Ennis is a real town with decent shops, pubs, and restaurants. It is an easy drive to Shannon airport (20 minutes or so) and the Burren.

We drove from Dublin to Cashel (2.5 hour drive) and spent two nights there. We saw the Rock and Cahir Castle in one day. We moved on to visit a friend in Cork (1.25 hours from Cashel) which was an easy drive.

davidjay

I would recommend Carrigeen Castle, where I have been staying every so often since it opened to guests in the mid-1970s. It is spacious, with cozy rooms, hearty breakfasts, and a careful owner who has a spotlessly clean B&B home. Great history and chats in the lounge - separate reading room with menus of downtown restaurants. HUGE breakfast room, 30' by 20', with vegetarian alternative. Great touring base, and the MOST COMFORTABLE BEDS!

davidjay

In case more of you would like to hear of my travel knowledge in Ireland, so you shall...

Another place I stayed in our May holiday was Blenheim House, Bleinheim Heights, Waterford. A Georgian house painted pink (!) and full of antiques. The house was quiet, and the owner's daughter brought us to out room. But another family member sat in the lounge watching TV (we knew this as the other sibling called her out once), but never made any effort to speak to us. Nor were we offered refreshments on arrival. The breakfast was adequate, as was the room, but the proprietor, Mrs. Fitzmaurice, issued a lame excuse (without prompting) about being very busy the previous evening and meaning to meet with us and offer us tea....hmmm, I wonder?

Anyway, a more agreeable stay was with Mrs. Anne Sunderland of Hillview House, Gorey, Co. Wexford, whose house we had stayed in during the late 1980s on half-board terms (including sumptuous evening meal). This time, her house was even more resplendent, with several new rooms added, and she treated us like old friends returning!

Another pleasant night earlier in the trip was spent with Noreen and Pat O'Sullivan of Lios na Manach farmhouse near Killarney (Old Mill Road). She was a character, and the farmhouse baking was superior.

A final B&B that stands out - Mrs. Patricia Gyves in Blessington, Co. Wicklow, for her wonderful tray-bakes on arrival and general advice on sightseeing in the area.