Plan Your Trip
The warmth of Irish lodging.
It’s right up there with the warmth of Irish whiskey.
Visiting fly anglers can choose from a wide array of lodging, from luxurious river- and lakeside fishing lodges, to comfortable hotels and country guesthouses, to economical beds & breakfasts, to self-catering cottages.
Pricing:
Lodging rates in Ireland are quoted in one of two ways: 1). on a per-person basis with the assumption that two people will occupy the room, or 2). on a per-room basis, also assuming two people will occupy the room. So, a quote of 50 euros per night PPS ("Per Person, Sharing") will cost 50 x 2 = 100 euros for the room, or around $135. If you are a solo traveller, you should pay attention to the "single supplement", which is an upcharge for single-person occupancy.
If the lodging establishment charges by the room with the assumption that two people will occupy it, they will also list a lower price for "singles", or solo-occupancy. In either case, almost all lodging establishments include a free breakfast with your lodging – except for large hotels, which do not.
Never hesitate to ask if you can earn a reduced price for staying an additional night or two because it's not uncommon for lodging proprietors to offer discounts of 10% - 15% for stays of three days or more.
With all this in mind, make absolutely sure you understand how the lodging establishment charges for their rooms – and whether breakfast is included – before finalizing your reservation.
Bathrooms:
The most frequent questions most visitors ask is whether there is a bathroom connected to their room (known as "ensuite") or whether they must run down the hall to use a shared bathroom. Americans seem to worry more about this than Europeans, but if you want to save more than a few easy euros each night, pack a bathrobe and opt for the bathroom down the hall.
Planning Resources:
When planning any overseas trip it's tempting to purchase one or more travel guides to help with lodging, sightseeing and understanding the local culture and customs. Unfortunately, most guides are written for tourists, and do not provide the kind of in formation required by serious fly anglers. But, when it comes to evaluating hotels and guesthouses, our favorite is Alistair Sawday's "Special Places to Stay – Ireland" which is available from most well-stocked bookstores. Sawday is a trusted travel authority and the guides are updated every year. At least 80% of the places we've stayed in Ireland over the years were recommended by Sawday, and we liked every place, without exception. Most were reasonably priced, too – and a few were downright bargains. Here's their website: www.sawdays.co.uk
Another respected source is Georgina Campbell's "Ireland", which is also available from most major bookstores. To learn more, visit: www.ireland-guide.com
We also use www.tripadvisor.com to select and research hotels, but their recommendations will very often overlook smaller establishments that cater to visitors from Great Britain and Europe. Because most Americans traveling in Ireland are tourists and not anglers, you should also take that into account when reading any online reviews.
For a complete list of travel and accommodation guide books – along with our opinions about each – check out the "Recommended Reading" section on the website.
Booking Tips:
We recommend booking your lodging well in advance – and directly with the place you want to stay. Online booking services and travel agencies like Expedia are helpful while exploring and identifying places to research, and will usually provide reasonably accurate pricing information, but you will always better off booking direct once you've made up your mind. You'll not only get the best price, but they won't have to pay a travel agent's commission. Plus, you can ask questions about their facility, things to see and do in the area, and generally establish a friendly rapport before you arrive.
Most hotels and country houses will require a deposit, which you can pay with a credit card. However, because it's a little risky to send credit card information in an email (you never know who might intercept it), we list fax numbers whenever possible. Most B&Bs do not accept credit cards due to the extra fees banks charge for processing, but they also do not require a deposit to secure a booking. But don't worry, they will always confirm your booking by email or fax.
Once you arrive in Ireland, it's always smart to call (or email) the proprietors of all places you'll be staying to reconfirm your reservation and let them know when you will arrive, especially if you might show up later than planned. This is more than a matter of simple courtesy because "no shows" really hit small establishments hard in the pocketbook.
Plans change, and you might have to cancel a reservation after you've confirmed it. Cancellation policies differ from place to place, so make sure you understand it before you send your deposit.
Hotels, B&Bs and Castle Hotels
Located within Walking Distance to City Centers.
Irish hotels must meet certain requirements in order to call themselves a hotel, and offer all the normal services any international traveller would expect from a hotel: in-room telephones, televisions, a full-service restaurant, a bar and a staffed front desk. Listed here are hotels that are located within walking distance to city centers and villages. 
They vary from basic, affordable accommodations to the luxurious - but all are located a short walk from pubs, restaurants and shopping.
Clifden:
Abbey Glen Castle Hotel
Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95
Fax: +353 (0)95
Email: info@abbeyglen.ie
www.abbeyglen.ie
Alcock & Brown Hotel
Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95 21880
Fax: +353 (0)95 21883
Email: alcockandbrownhotel@yahoo.ie
www.alcockandbrownhotel.com
Clifden Station House Hotel
Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95
Fax: +353 (0)95
Email: infor@clifdenstationhouse.com
www.clifdenstationhouse.com
Foyle's Hotel
Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95 21801
Fax: +353 (0)95 21458
Email: info@foyleshotel.com
www.foyleshotel.com
Sea Mist House
Sheila Griffen, Owner
Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95 21441
Email: sgriffin@eircom.net
www.seamisthouse.com
The Quay House
Julia & Patrick Foyle, Owners
Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95 12369
Fax: +353 (0)95 12608
Email: res@thequayhouse.com
www.thequayhouse.com
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Roundstone City Center:
Vaughn's Roundstone House Hotel
Roundstone, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95 35864
Email: info@roundstonehousehotel.com
www.roundstonehousehotel.com
Eldon's Hotel
Roundstone, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95 35933
Email: info@www.eldonshotel.ie
www.eldonshotel.ie
B&Bs, Country Houses and Castle Hotels
Located outside of the City Centers.
By far the most plentiful and popular places to stay in Ireland are bed & breakfast establishments, which run the gamut from spare bedrooms in private homes to what are essentially small inns. B&Bs are rigorously inspected and rated by the Irish Tourist Board (Failte Ireland), and those that make the grade proudly display Failte Ireland's green shamrock in a prominent place.
Country houses/hotels and castle hotels are typically private estates that have been converted into commercial lodging establishments. Some can be quite grand, with elegant drawing rooms and libraries – and large dining rooms where meals are served at long banquet tables. Others are modest, comfortable lodges, inns and private residences that offer eight rooms or more, plus a full breakfast, optional evening meals – and tea in the afternoon when requested in advance. We've listed here our favorites – especially those appealing to an angler.
Toombeola/Roundstone:
The Anglers Return
Lynn Hill, Owner
Toombeola, Roundstone, Co. Galway, Ireland
TEL: +353 (0) 95 31091
Email: info@anglersreturn.com
www.anglersreturn.com
Errisbeg House
Richard de stacpoole
Roundstone, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 86 8215153
Email: destacpoole@eircom.net
www.errisbeghouse.com
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Recess:
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 31006
Fax: +353 (0) 95 31085
Email: info@ballynahinch-castle.com
www.ballynahinch-castle.com
The Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel
Maire O'Connor, Owner
Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 34706
Fax: +353 (0) 95 34708
Email: inagh@iol.ie
www.loughinaghlodgehotel.ie
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Letterfrack/Kylemore
Kylemore House
Nancy Naughton, Manager
Kylemore, Connemara Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel/Fax: +353 (0) 95 41143
Email: kylemorehouse@eircom.net
www.kylemorehouse.net
Rosleague Manor Hotel
Mark & Edmund Foyle
Letterfrack, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 41101
Fax: +353 (0) 95 41168
Email: info@rosleague.com
www.rosleague.com
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Leenane:
Delphi Lodge
Leenane, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 42222
Fax: +353 (0) 95 42296
Email: office@delphi-salmon.com
www.delphi-salmon.com
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Clifden/Ballyconeely:
Dolphin Beach House
Clodagh & Sinead Foyle
Lower Sky Road
Clifden, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 21204
Fax: +353 (0) 95 22935
Email: stay@dolphinbeachhouse.com
www.dolphinbeachhouse.com
Emlaghmore Lodge
Nicholas Tinne
Ballyconneely Connemara Co. Galway Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 23529
Fax: +353 (0) 95 23860
Email: Info@emlaghmore.com
www.emlaghmore.com
Ardagh Hotel
Stéphane & Monique Bauvet
Ballyconneely Road
Clifden, Co. Galway,
Ireland
TEL: +353 (0) 95 21384
Email: info@ardaghhotel.com
www.ardaghhotel.com
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Cashel/Screebe:
Cashel House Hotel
Kay & Dermot McEvilly
Cashel, Connemara, Co. Galway
Tel: +353 (0) 95 31001
Fax: +353 (0) 95 31077
Email: res@cashel-house-hotel.com
www.cashel-house-hotel.com
Zetland Country House Hotel
Colm Redmond, Fisheries Manager
Cashel Bay, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 31111
Fax: +353 (0) 95 31117
Email: info@zetland.com
www.zetland.com
Screebe House
Camus, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 91 574110
Fax: +353 (0) 91 574179
Email: info@screebe.com
www.screebe.com
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Moyard:
Crocnaraw Country House
Lucy Fretwell, Proprietor
Moyard, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel/Fax: +353 (0) 95 41068
Email: lucyfretwell@crocnaraw.co.uk
www.crocnaraw.co.uk
Fishing Lodges:
Fishing lodges are hotels, country houses or B&Bs that own fishing rights to an adjoining or nearby fishery and can arrange for guides to assist their guests. Most offer day tickets to non-guests on a space-available basis, too. See "Where to Fish" for more detailed information on each fishery. All of the accommodations here are first class, clean, friendly and oriented towards angling.
The Anglers Return Fishery
(The Roundstone Bog Lakes)
The Anglers Return
Lynn Hill, Owner
Toombeola, Roundstone, Co. Galway, Ireland
TEL: +353 (0) 95 31091
Email: info@info@anglersreturn.com
www.anglersreturn.com
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Ballynahinch Fishery
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 31006
Fax: +353 (0) 95 31085
Email: info@ballynahinch-castle.com
www.ballynahinch-castle.com
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The Lough Inagh/Derryclare Fishery
The Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel
Maire O'Connor, Owner
Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 34706
Fax: +353 (0) 95 34708
Email: inagh@iol.ie
www.loughinaghlodgehotel.ie
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Lough Kylemore Fishery
Kylemore House
Nancy Naughton, Manager
Kylemore, Connemara Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel/Fax: +353 (0) 95 41143
Email: kylemorehouse@eircom.net
www.kylemorehouse.net
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Delphi Fishery
Delphi Lodge
Leenane, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 42222
Fax: +353 (0) 95 42296
Email: info@delphi-salmon.com
www.delphi-salmon.com
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Erriff Fishery
James Stafford, Manager
Aasleagh Lodge
Leenane, Co. Galway, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 95 42252
Fax +353 (0) 95 42361
Email: erriff.fish@iol.ie
www.errifffishery.ie
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Zetland / Gowla Fishery
Zetland Country House Hotel
Cashel Bay, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 95 31111
Fax: +353 (0) 95 31117
Email: info@zetland.com
www.zetland.com
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Screebe Fishery
Screebe House
Camus, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 91 574110
Fax: +353 (0) 91 574179
Email: info@screebe.com
www.screebe.com