Self Catering in IrelandSelf catering in Ireland is a great value option for families or groups, who need more flexibility and freedom then most hotels can offer, in terms of sleeping arrangements and eating. The weather can be very changeable in Ireland so it is nice to be able to come ‘home’ early and put your feet up in front of a blazing turf fire, or laze around all day in comfort if the weather turns bad. Most have well equipped kitchens if you fancy cooking or just making a hot drink mid afternoon to go with the fresh bread, scones or apple pie you picked up at the local bakery.However, avoid the large soul-less modern complexes if you can? There are plenty of excellent character houses, cottages and even good size apartments available to rent privately. These are often add-ons to family homes, farms, castles and grand country houses, so you will have the added bonus of being looked after by people who know the area very well indeed and can give you great advice on where to eat locally and various other interesting places to see and things to do? The better ones, listed here of course, will provide a welcome pack with fresh farm eggs, brown bread and pint of milk to get you settled in....
Still very popular are the traditional Irish thatched cottages located in small groups close to popular villages, such as Ballyvaughan in County Clare, with all the local amenities of pubs, shops and restaurants. Very pretty with rambling roses around the front doors and lace curtained windows these cottages are always booked out in peak season, but there are good weekend or short stay offers to be had off season. Most places will have a local ‘Bean-an-Ti’ woman of the house or caretaker who will let you in and look after you.... The Irish Landmark Trust has some great properties too, from dolls-house style gate lodges on vast country estates to lighthouses in wild and remote locations like the fabulous Loop Head in County Clare. And of course whenever I come across a self catering gem, like the recently discovered excellent Belan Lodge (only an hour from Dublin, in the heart of County Kildare, from only €250 a week)I will list them here at the links below. You will of course come across plenty of private self catering options online and by all means take a chance on them if you fancy it but just bear in mind that all of the above have been carefully vetted and approved to Irish tourism standards of comfort and safety so you are unlikely to be disappointed. Excellent Self Catering Options in Ireland include...
Belan Lodge, County Kildare
Irelands Hidden Places, County Tipperary
Ireland Hidden Gems - Self Catering Gems
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