Ǯ ‡ƒ† ‹Ž‡ ƒ‹Ž–‡ǯ ‹• ƒ ’Š”ƒ•‡ ™Š‹…Š –Š‡
naturally hospitable Irish use often, and it
means ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’. It
follows that accommodation is invariably
friendly, personalised and genuinely
warm. This is certainly one place where
the smile you get has no relationship
with the price you pay or the tip you
leave. Your family is their family. From
the heart.
—•– ƒ• –Š‡ ”‹†‡ ‹• ƒ• „‡ƒ—–‹ˆ—Ž ƒ• –Š‡
destination, the places you stay in add
to the experience of your Irish holiday,
making it as cosy and comforting as a
goose-down quilt. Uniquely, most Irish
hotels are family owned, and the
proprietor and his wife are on hand to
welcome you into their home. The
capital cities will have international
brands, but there are also Irish chains,
naturally with the native stamp of
genuine hospitality.
Not just that. Staying in one of these
places automatically plugs you into the
larger community of that town because
in many places, these hotels are also
social centres, with a range of offerings
for leisure and business. You will get
the opportunity of running into the
local people, see how they socialise.
They, as much your ‘host’, will give you
that one special bit of insider informa-
tion which could well turn out to be the
highlight of your trip.
Check out the websites provided at the
end of this section for a list of the
different types of guidebooks to differ-
ent types of accommodation published
by Failte Ireland and the Northern
”‡Žƒ† ‘—”‹•–
‘ƒ”†Ǥ Š‡› Šƒ˜‡ „‘–Š
‹–”‘†—…‡† …Žƒ••‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘ …”‹–‡”‹ƒǡ ƒ†
all those listed in their guides have
–Š‡‹” •–ƒ’ ‘ˆ ƒ’’”‘˜ƒŽ ƒ† ƒ ‘ˆϐ‹…‹ƒŽ
avenue of redress should you still have
ƒ› …‘’Žƒ‹–Ǥ
‡”–‹ϐ‹‡† Š‘–‡Ž• †‹•’Žƒ›
the symbol of the shamrock which is
also the quintessential Irish icon.
The Irish Hotels Federation has a
…‘’”‡Š‡•‹˜‡ ‰—‹†‡ǡ
‡ —”
—‡•–ǡ
featuring over 1,000 hotels and guest-
houses in the different regions of both
parts of Ireland. Another worthwhile
Šƒ†„‘‘ ‹• Š‡
‡ϐ‹‹–‹˜‡ ”‹•Š
‡† Ƭ
”‡ƒˆƒ•– Ƭ ‡ŽˆǦ ƒ–‡”‹‰
—‹†‡ ™Š‹…Š
features Town, Country and Farm
Houses. Do also check out Ireland’s
Ž—‡
‘‘ ™Š‹…Š ‹• ‘‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‘Ž†‡•–
ƒ† †‡ϐ‹‹–‹˜‡ ‰—‹†‡• –‘ ƒ……‘‘†ƒ-
tion in the most gracious and historical
country manor houses and castles, and
also covers gourmet restaurants. All its
member properties have a high
standard of hospitality and are known
worldwide as an attractive alternative
–‘ –Š‡ —•—ƒŽ ϐ‹˜‡ •–ƒ” Š‘–‡Ž•Ǥ
Ireland offers accommodation for every
taste and budget, of course the frills
differ widely, but what is common
across the range is friendliness,
…‘ˆ‘”– ƒ† …Ž‡ƒŽ‹‡••Ǥ
‡ ƒ†˜‡–—”-
ous, and choose a type you have never
tried before. This is one country where
you can safely experiment.
Knight for a Night
Ireland’s rich history has left behind
fascinating, fairytale castles (with
modern plumbing, and no extra charge
ˆ‘” –Š‡ ‰Š‘•–ȌǤ
ƒŽŽ›‰ƒŽŽ› ƒ•–Ž‡ ‘–‡Ž ‹
Northern Ireland is an excellent
overnight stop when you are exploring
the Antrim Coast and its World Heritage
Site, the Giant’s Causeway. In the Repub-
lic, there is the Ashford Castle, a huge
Gothic structure which looks on the
shores of Lough Corrib in the West of
Ireland, or Drumoland Castle in Co.
Žƒ”‡ ‘”
†ƒ”‡ ƒ‘”
‘Ǥ ‹‡”‹… –‘
name but a few.
Grand Country Houses also fall into this
luxurious category. There’s nothing
quite like dining in a stately room hung
with thick, velvet drapes and sparkling
chandeliers. Even the most restless child
will miraculously turn into a little lady
or lord. If your children are ready for
this, this truly memorable option is
available through an organisation called
Hidden Ireland. You actually stay and
dine with the family, so obviously
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