Friendly accomodation in Ireland. Any tips?

Posted by: Jean-Christophe on 10 December 2005

Hi,
We have recently been 3 times to Ireland, during spring holidays and we love it!
Each time, we've rented a self-catered cottage, but next time, we'd like to find a closer-to-the-local-people way of staying there.
We 'd like to find an alternative solution to classical B&B, for example, accomodation in a farm or house renting but allowing contact with the owners, with possibility to my 2 sons (11 &14) to meet irish kids of their age...
any good tips?

Jean-Christophe - from brittany - France
Posted on: 10 December 2005 by Nime
A tip? When you're in an Irish pub and they make a collection... don't tell them you gave at the office. Smile
Posted on: 13 December 2005 by Ioniser
Jean-Christophe,

I went to Ireland a few years ago with Kerry Holidays, and they provided a list of farmhouses / b & b's etc. so you can tailor your stay as you wish, e.g one base only or a different place each night. Cheap and very cheerful - highly recommended.

Top tips: - Try and get round as much as possible, but hire a car rather than wreck your own. Some of the roads in the wilder bits are a tad rough, but good fun to drive hard.

Avoid Ennistymon.

Good luck,

Grahame.
Posted on: 13 December 2005 by Rich Conroy
Jean-Christophe;
Nice to hear you enjoyed it!!!! As I'm Irish it's nice to see a tourist enjoying themselves. I'm from Belfast and have lived in SE England for 15 years. My advice is:- if you want scenery then think west coast. The South-west (Cork, Kerry), the West (Connemara) and the North West (Donegal). Connemara and Cork/Kerry will be tourist ridden. Northerners tend to go to Donegal on holiday which is not as spectacular but has a great coastline with lots of traditional cottages to rent.
If you want "people" interactions then I would reccommend Northern Ireland. It's not just that I come from there, but the people are glad to see tourists. We have a poor reputation internationally but that's all over now. You could try the Mourne mountains, the Glens of Antrim, Bushmills distillery and the Giant's causeway. So scenery -West, people -North. Post any more questions.
Rich.
Posted on: 13 December 2005 by PatG
The local news is that there are so many 3* hotels being built that the B&B owners are struggling to fill theor rooms, hence there should be plenty available for the tourist.

Also Irish people now seem to take short breaks in European Capitals so this business is also going elsewhere.

Generally areas such as the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry are a good bet.

Regards P