Westmeath & Roscommon - Hotels
Photos: (Left) Hodson Bay Hotel, Co. Westmeath; and Shannon Key West
Hotel, Co. Roscommon.
B&B per person per night
€ - under 50
€€ - 50 to 75
€€€ - 75 to 100
€€€€ - 100 to 150
€€€€€ - over 150
Hodson Bay Hotel, Hodson Bay, Co. Westmeath; tel. 090-644-2000; fax 090-644-2020; e-mail: info@hodsonbayhotel.com. For stunning waterside views, you don't have to go to the Irish seacoast. Just head for the very center of Ireland to the Hodson Bay Hotel, 3 miles north of Athlone. Hugging the shores of Lough Ree, this hotel and the surrounding area have had a long and storied history. Lough Ree, meaning the "Lough of Kings," has many islands including one on which St. Ciaran is said to have founded a monastery before he went to Clonmacnoise. The land on which the hotel sits was given to the Hodson family in the 1640's and in 1800-1813 a round tower was placed on another nearby island, to this day known as Hodson's Pillar. The site was then passed to the Lenihans, a famous Irish political family, before it became a 10-room hotel and then grew to 46 rooms in 1992. As a result of recent expansion, this modern 3-star hotel has tripled its size. The 133 guest rooms offer luxurious amenities and views of the lake, marina, sandy beaches, and the islands. Facilities include a waterfront bar, restaurant, conservatory-style breakfast room, and a leisure centre with a heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gym, and sun room. In addition, it is bordered on three sides by the18 hole Athlone championship golf course. The grounds also offer a tennis court and lakeside walking trails. €€ to €€€€ Web site: www.hodsonbayhotel.com
Shannon Key West Hotel, The River Edge, Rooskey, Co. Roscommon; tel. 071-963-8800; fax 071-963-8811; e-mail: info@shannonkeywest.com. Perched beside the upper reaches of the Shannon River in a small town on the main Dublin-Sligo road and beside the Leitrim/Roscommon border, this 3-star hotel is a blend of new and old — the lobby is bright and modern with a nautical atmosphere, sandstone fireplace, and huge windows overlooking the river, while the restaurant and bar have a traditional ambiance, incorporating the original brick, stone, pitch pine, and timeless fixtures of a pre-existing pub, The Rooskey Inn. The 39 guestrooms are furnished in contemporary style; some rooms are rather compact and small and face the back of the hotel, while other rooms are more spacious and have views of the waterfront. Facilities include a patio and roof terrace overlooking the water, and an in-house leisure centre with gym, solarium, Jacuzzi, steam room, and tennis court. All of this in Rooskey, an off-the-tourist-path place — a great little town to get away from it all. Closed: 24-26 Dec. € to €€ Web site: www.shannonkeywest.com
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