Hi Guys,

We're driving in from Westport on the 29th of March and need a place to stay near Shannon airport. Our flight is leaving @ 1:00 pm on the 30th.

Thanks Guys!

Are you looking for a hotel or B&B? The village of Bunratty would probably be ideal as it is only 10 minutes to the airport. Do you want to be in the village or a mile away in a quieter area?

Hello IrishEyes,

A village would be preferred possibly with a nice pub and trad music to end our trip.

Thanks,

Ennis. No contest.

May be a little farther than you are looking for, but we stayed in Galway our final night. I can't recall the actual drive time, but I think it was something around an hour.

Tracy

We have stayed at the Great Southern Hotel at Shannon and also at Dromoland Castle. The hotel was nice and the castle was wonderful.

A second recommendation for Ennis.

I agree -- Ennis is a good choice. Nice town and a quick ride to the airport.

Ennis or Bunratty would be good. Try the Courtyard in Bunratty village. It is walking distance to the castle & folk park, a few pubs, restaurants and shopping. You could even consider a castle banquet or trad in the corn barn.

Cruise's Restaurant & Pub in Ennis, on Abbey Street adjacent to the Queens Hotel has Trad Irish music every night beginning at 10:00 PM. I can't recommend the Hotel - too noisy. They'll advise you of that when you are checking in.

The Temple Gate Hotel on the Square is nicer and has better parking and easy in-out to get on the road to Shannon airport. It's about a 10-min walk down Abbey St. to Cruise's

Ennis may not qualify as a "village", but is a really nice small town with many pubs, and also stores for maybe some last-minute souvenir shopping. Easy access to Shannon airport from the 4-lane N 18, when heading back towards Limerick.

I say Ennis too but I am Biased and really like the place. You can have a nice evening beforre you go, get a good meal and hear some Music. Bunratty is a bit closer and I am sure would be fun as well.

Dixiechick.

Another nice village option is Quin village, very close to Shannon town (and airport).

The abbey tavern has frequent traditional music sessions in the abbey tavern, which also has a restaurant and accomodation (think of typical inn/pub combination).

Another nice option is Ardsollus B&B between Dromoland & Quin.

Roads are very much country roads, so although about 10 miles from the airport, leave driving time to the airport at least half an hour.

Quin abbey dominates the village (in a nice way , and is particularly attractive when flood lit in the evening.

You're a bit early to access some of the main attractions in the Shannon/Bunratty/Quin area, as Craggaunowen and Knappogue, Quin abbey etc wont open for visitors until April.

Bunratty castle and folk park however will be, and as mentioned, and Bunratty village has a good range of B&Bs, restaurants and pubs.

It's only 10 minutes from Shannon.

Ennis would not qualify as a village (at least in an Irish conext) with a population in excess of 20,000, and being county Clare's largest town (shannon town being the second largest), but it is convenient to the airport, and very nice - and about the same distance as Limerick city.

Shannon town, despite being on the crest of a major redevelopment, offers little in the line of tourist attractions - it's quite an industrial town, but obviously the closest option for the airport.


Hope that this helps.

We stayed in Bunratty three years ago. This May we will stay in Ennis at Grey Gables. Ennis is a 'real' town. I have no desire to return to Bunratty but, if you have kids, it may be a good choice.

carolsc

Carol, we stayed at Grey Gables two years ago and liked it very much.

My friend and I stayed at the Park House B&B in Bunratty http://homepage.eircom.net/~parkhouse/
The owners are wonderful, so friendly and helpful. The castle and village are close by, if you're not castled out by then! As mentioned, Shannon is also close. Have a great trip!

Another big vote for Ennis.