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For accommodations, the Southwest has some of the great country houses, including Adare Manor in County Limerick; Kenmare's unique duo of the magnificent Sheen Falls Lodge and the stately Park Hotel; the Cahernane House, which recalls Killarney's Victorian heyday; and finally the rambling landmark resort, the Parknasilla Resort in Sneem, a great place for a family break. At the other end of the spectrum is the uniquely Irish experience of a farmhouse bed-and-breakfast, such as Lakelands Farm Guesthouse in Waterville, with rowboats bobbing on Lough Currane at the bottom of the garden. In between is a range of excellent family-owned and -run traditional hotels, such as the Brook Lane Hotel in Kenmare, the Butler Arms in Waterville, and the secluded Carrig Country House at Glenbeigh near Killorglin.
More like a modern boutique hotel than a B&B, the combination of comfort and elegance in the lobby sets the tone, as do the wonderful views of the town and harbor. Family-run since 1977, guest rooms are spacious, with well-appointed bathrooms; beige carpets blend in with pale oak country furniture and crisp white bed linen, and there are sofas and armchairs angled to enjoy the spectacular sunset over Dingle Harbor.
This is the small country hotel of your dreams: a Victorian yellow-stucco jewel set atop a small hill overlooking Ballingarry, a village that time forgot, deep in rural Ireland, yet only 13 km (8 miles) southwest of Adare. And if you take the trouble of getting off the beaten tourist trail here, you'll be rewarded by being pampered. What was once the parish priest's imposing house has been decorated with flair and wit, placing Chinese inlaid lacquer cabinets and Georgian satinwood wardrobes in the beautifully furnished bedrooms. But for all its finery, this is a fun, down-to-earth place. Much of the food served in the restaurant is produced in the 7 acres of gardens, so the kids can have fun collecting eggs for tomorrow's breakfast.
Charlie Chaplin loved it here—the connection is now commemorated by a mini film festival here in late August—and a whole host of families return year after year to this rambling old-world landmark, with its white-castellated-corner tower. The hotel has been in the same family for four generations and its loyal clientele come to enjoy the excellent fishing and golf nearby and the proximity of long, sandy, windswept beaches. Many regulars like the smallish rooms in the old part of the hotel, which are neither smart nor chic, but more spacious rooms, with streamlined interiors and sensational sea views, can be had in a newer wing. Young or old, everyone enjoys the rambling old lounges with open turf fires.
Three restored self-catering cottages offer the magical opportunity to overnight on this wild and remote island. 100,000 people applied to be the on-island caretakers for the 2022 season! Running water, a gas cooker, and wood-burning stoves are included but there's no electricity on the island, so your evenings will be lit by candles and atmospheric lanterns. Guests can avail of Péig's Breakfast, (€10 each) named after the island's most famous inhabitant, Peig Sayers, known to every Irish child as her autobiography was required reading in Irish schools. The cottages' caretakers also run Europe's most westerly coffeeshop, serving hot beverages, drinks and snacks. A 20-minute ferry ride for overnight guests costs €35 each.
On the Slea Head edge of Dingle Town, but just a short walk to the center, this traditional-style yellow house is right on the water's edge. The spacious lobby has a gas fire and large couches looking out to sea through the bay windows. All guest rooms are individually styled, with marble bathrooms, reproduction classic French-style antique furniture, plush carpets, flat-screen TVs, and waffle robes. Junior suites and deluxe rooms have extra space, and the best sea views. Breakfast is a major event here, with an extensive buffet preceding the traditional fry.
One of Limerick's finest Georgian houses—a tall redbrick structure with classical cut-stone portico, overlooking leafy People's Park—has been converted into a sumptuous boutique hotel with a reputation for attentive service. The four largest bedrooms are furnished in keeping with the period, and the rest, while still spacious, have a more contemporary feel, with restful color schemes in neutral grays and cream. Tall Georgian windows illuminate the ground floor Long Room bar, with its welcoming atmosphere and all day menu of light dishes. Afternoon tea (book in advance) can be taken in the airy first-floor, period-style drawing room, or head up to the second floor to eat in the informal Sash restaurant. The spa in the vaulted basement is a popular urban retreat with candlelit treatment rooms.
The Strand, a seven-story cube of glass, has become a city landmark since its construction during the Celtic Tiger economic boom. With one of the best locations and the best leisure facilities in town---which includes a 20-meter pool---it's a safe bet for families and weekend visitors. Located on the west bank of the Shannon (the panoramic views of the city from its glass elevator across the river are legendary), the major attractions are at the other side of Sarsfield Bridge. Rooms are modern, with all the facilities you'd expect from a quality city center property, and there are good in-house dining options.
