Best Places to Stay in Ireland: Lodging Advice for Your Vacation
Expert advice for finding the best places to stay in Ireland that fit your vacation dreams, budget, and itinerary.
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Ashford Castle Experiences
One of Ireland’s most popular luxury escapes, Ashford Castle in Mayo, has added new experiences that take you off the estate and introduce you to the taste, history, and culture of Connemara. Hoping to add a stay at Ashford (or any other castle) to your Ireland itinerary? It’s possible – with a little planning! The…
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Ashford Castle – 80 Years of Hospitality
Jody welcomes returning guest Paula Carroll, Director of Sales and Marketing for Ashford Castle. Celebrating 80 years of hospitality! Welcom to Ashford Castle This article is based on a podcast episode featuring Paula Carroll, the Director of Sales and Marketing for Ashford Castle. If you prefer to listen to the podcast, you can find the…
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Choose Knockranny House Hotel for a Luxury Stay in Westport
Atop a hill overlooking the charming town of Westport in County Mayo, Knockranny House Hotel is a perfect accommodation for travelers looking for affordable luxury along the Wild Atlantic Way. Knockranny House Hotel in Westport After a week in Dublin for Temple Bar Trad Fest we were more than ready to slow down and relax…
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Celebrating Halloween in the West of Ireland
The end of October may not seem like the ideal time to visit Ireland. The days are getting shorter, the air a bit cooler, the pubs a wee bit quieter. But if Halloween is your favorite holiday, I would encourage you to visit Ireland as Samhain (SOW-een) draws near. As the final harvest approaches and…
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Revisiting Doolin with Anthony Moloney of Doolin Inn & Hostel
The last time I stayed at Doolin Hostel was in 2016. I found it much the same as I had during our stay in 2014: clean, comfortable, welcoming. The only noticeable change was that we didn’t have to wash our own dishes after enjoying the light continental breakfast. It’s obviously time for me to return because…
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Learning About the Sport of Falconry in Ireland at Adare Manor with Adare Country Pursuits
Trying your hand at falconry in Ireland ranks high on the list of activities in many Ireland vacation itineraries. And there are quite a few amazing places to try falconry in Ireland. But one of the most unique experiences we had took place at Adare Manor in County Limerick with Willie Forde, owner of Adare…
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Welcome to the Lodge at Ashford Castle
Jody is speaking with Paula Carroll, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Thomas Bruin, Activities Manager, for The Lodge at Ashford Castle. Discover how you can enjoy a luxury stay on a castle estate without the huge price! This article is based on a podcast episode. If you prefer to listen to the podcast, you…
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I is for Ireland: 26 Tips for Family Travel in Ireland
Yes! Family travel in Ireland is possible! No land is more filled with magic than Ireland. Even if you’re past the age of believing in fairies (though I don’t think you should ever stop believing in fairies) the moment your flight touches down on Irish soil a feeling of possibility washes over you. You just don’t…
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Pod Páirc Camping in West Cork
This article is based on a podcast episode featuring David and Elizabeth Ross, owners of the Top of Rock Pod Páirc & Walking Centre in West Cork If you prefer to listen to the podcast, you can find the player at the bottom of the page. West Cork and the Top of the Rock Pod…
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Get off the Tourist Trail at Yeats Country Hotel in Sligo
The protected peninsula of Rosses Point, reaching from Sligo like a small hand between Sligo Harbour and Drumcliff Bay, is a well known local holiday spot. The sandy beach, ocean-side golf course, and marina, draw families searching for an active, yet relaxing, break. Yeats Country Hotel, the only hotel at the end of the quiet peninsula, is…
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Using AirBnB in Ireland + a few of our favorite AirBnB lodgings
AirBnB in Ireland is a wonderful hybrid of cottages and private rooms for rent with a smattering of bed & breakfasts and hostels including their accommodations for additional business exposure. The options are nearly endless… depending on where in Ireland you search your options can include private castles, thatch-roofed cottages, and city center apartments. But not…
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Behind the Scenes at Knappogue Castle
Knappogue Castle, owned and managed by Shannon Heritage, was once open for public tours. Though the walled garden is still available to visitors, there are only two ways into the castle: the nightly Medieval Banquet from April – October or via castle rental, for an event or lodging. During our 3 night stay at Knappogue…
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A Royal Stay at Knappogue Castle
Ireland is a land where magic shimmers over each hill, just ahead – if you could only catch it. It pulls you forward, off the quick motorways and onto the slower, narrower roads lined with stone walls and hedgerows. It’s an unhurried pace Ireland draws you to, and you’re well to heed it, as rushing only leads…
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Hawk Walk at Mount Falcon Estate
A falconry experience in Ireland is not to be missed. During our stay at Mount Falcon we had the opportunity to join Jason Deasey, the owner of the Falconry at Mount Falcon, and his adorable Hungarian Vizsla, Chili, on a hawk walk. The mews at Mount Falcon are located in the circle of Woodland Lodges in…
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Luxury Self Catering at Mount Falcon Estate in County Mayo
If the owners of Mount Falcon Estate would let me live in one of their Woodland Lodges I would move in tomorrow. My family arrived after a day spent in the tight quarters of our rental car. From Westport we drove Mayo’s untamed portion of the Wild Atlantic Way, wind and rain alternating their battering of us as we drove…
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A Magical Halloween Stay at Ashford Castle
It’s a splurge, to be sure, but if your Ireland vacation won’t be complete without an Ireland castle hotel on the itinerary you can’t beat a stay at Ashford Castle. While I was planning our fall 2014 trip to Ireland, our dates happened to coincide with Halloween. It was only a few days prior that I…
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Doolin Hostel : Affordable Family Friendly Lodging in Western Ireland
Please note: The original Doolin Hostel is now the Doolin Inn. Read my Doolin Inn review here. The Doolin Hostel is now in the building across the road and while still a very nice hostel which features dorm & private rooms and a complimentary continental breakfast each morning, the information in this article is not…
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Ireland Travel Tip : Mix and Match Your Lodging for Great Experiences and Variety
When planning your Ireland family vacation it’s very easy to fall into what I call a ‘lodging rut’. To put it simply, a ‘lodging rut’ is when you think that your trip can have only one type of lodging, be it hotel, B&B, or self catering cottage. Depending on the length of your trip, your…
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Welcome Home to Woodview Farmhouse near Dublin Airport
There are some places you just return to again and again. For my family, one of those places is Woodview Farmhouse. It certainly helps that this B&B is only 15 minutes from Dublin Airport, but there are quite a few B&Bs which are just as close. So what brings us back to Woodview Farmhouse again…
