The
Rest of Co. Galway -
Hotels & Guesthouses
Photos: (Top, from right) Cregg Castle, Corrandulla, near Headford; St. Clerans Country House, Craughwell, Loughrea; (lower left) Shannon Oaks Hotel & Country Club, Portumna; and (lower right) Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort.
B&B per person per night
€ - under 50
€€ - 50 to 75
€€€ - 75 to 100
€€€€ - 100 to 150
€€€€€ - over 150
Lady Gregory Hotel, Ennis Rd., Gort, Co. Galway, tel. 091-632333; e-mail: info@ladygregoryhotel.ie. Literary fans have long flocked to Gort in south Co. Galway because of its attractions associated with William Butler Yeats, Ireland's Nobel Prizewinning writer (Thoor Ballylee), and Lady Gregory, co-founder of the Abbey Theatre (Coole Park). This new hotel, thanks to its name and ambiance, carries on the literary tradition. The public areas - from the Jack B. Yeats Pub and the Copper Beech Restaurant to the Kiltartan Reading Room - have literary themes. In addition, this 3-star hotel offers 48 guestrooms with up-to-date amenities including internet access. Guests can also avail of an in-house gym. It is situated on the southern edge of town on the main N 18 road, so it can be a convenient base for touring both Clare and Galway, as well as the Yeats and Gregory landmarks. Closed: 24-27 Dec. € to €€ Web site: www.ladygregoryhotel.ie
Shannon Oaks Hotel & Country Club, Main St., Portumna, Co. Galway, tel. 0509-41777; e-mail: sales@shannonoaks.ie. Sitting next to Portumna Castle and the Shannon River, this luxurious hotel has brought a touch of class to east County Galway. The interior is rich in dark woods and cool pastel tones, and the 63 spacious guest ooms offer every modern amenity including air-conditioning. The facilities include a garden-themed restaurant, a bi-level old world bar, and a leisure centre with swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and gym. The grounds have a medley of rose gardens and manicured lawns, and the town centre is only a few hundred yards away. It's an ideal base for visitors who want to stay beside the Shannon River or have close access to many inland attractions such as Clonmacnoise, the Bog Railway, Birr Castle, and Lough Derg; and Galway City is only an hour away. €€€ Web site: www.www.shannonoaks.ie
St. Clerans Country House, Craughwell, Loughrea, Co. Galway, tel. 091-846555; e-mail: info@stclerans.com. Hollywood glamour prevails at this 4-star guesthouse in the countryside 20 miles east of Galway City, thanks to its recent owner, the late Merv Griffin (entertainer and entrepreneur of Irish ancestry), and its former owner, the late John Huston (film director who used the house as his Irish home from 1955 to 1975). But there's more than star power in this house - it was built in 1784 by the Burke family, originally Normans named deBurgo who owned the land since the 13th century. Today, thanks to extensive investment by Merv Griffin, St. Clerans retains its historic charm, enhanced by a sunny California flair, with bright yellow and cream-colored walls and enormous vases of fresh flowers in all of the rooms. The drawing room and library are contained in a unique bow-ended wing, added in 1811, with floor-to-ceiling bay windows. The dining room, with huge windows overlooking the grounds, provides an elegant setting for breakfast and dinner. Tables are set with vintage Irish silver cutlery, fine Irish linens, and placemats bearing the Griffin family crest. Each of the 12 guest rooms is furnished with Irish-made carpets and hand-picked antiques from Dublin's prime dealers including gilt-trimmed chandeliers and crystal wall sconces, as well as 20th century amenities such as CD player, remote control color TV, in-room safe, and internet access. The 45-acre estate includes extensive gardens, natural woodlands, waterfall, putting green, driving range, and croquet lawn. All of this does not come cheap - but don't be surprised to see a celebrity or two strolling around. €€€€ to €€€€€ Web site: www.stclerans.com
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