I am sorry to have to review this visit so negatively, particularly, when all the reviews seem to suggest a very welcoming couple providing advice, help with their guests' visit, tea and Granola - I am afraid I didn't experience anything of the sort. I wondered if I was in the same place. The first thing was the lead picture of Clontarf Castle - most confusing - I thought the room was in this building and, on reflection, if I was renting out a room in my place in Victoria, London, I am certain I would not use, as a lead picture, a photo of Buckingham Palace which happens to be close by. The second thing that annoyed me was being addressed as 'Hi Pat', in one of the text messages, when my name is Paul - I would have thought that an element of accuracy in communication would have existed particularly with people in the media industry.
When I eventually gained access to the house, after three attempts and having to, at some point, leave my bag with the next door neighbour, 'John' seemed bemused as to who I was - even though I had been compelled to provide a photo of myself at the beginning of this process, which now seems superfluous - I had to tell him that I was supposed to be staying in his house, at which point the penny dropped. He then gave me a perfunctory 'welcome' and took me upstairs to show me my room and bathroom, he then left, to attend to his children, and that was the first and last I saw of him and indeed anyone. When I left in the morning, on two occasions, no sign of anybody - no cosy cups of tea or bowls of Granola for me, in fact, nothing.
To be constructive: I think a hand towel in the bathroom and an extra small one for the guest would be a good idea, I was only given a bath towel; fixing the hook on bathroom door would be a great help as well as fixing the shower screen which just allows water to cover the floor; a plug for the basin but this may be missing for a good reason.
The bedroom could have done with some mineral water and box of tissues - not knowing the rules of the house I did not want to start looking around the kitchen for a glass and water; although the sheets were clean they were not ironed and at 85 euros a night I would have thought that was a given; my phone battery had gone flat so pulled the bed out to use the one and only socket, incidentally, there is a used toothbrush on the floor below the socket.
The first night's debacle curtailed my evening with messing around trying to gain access to the house. I did not enjoy my stay one little bit and certainly would not come back. The money asked was too much, in my opinion, this price point needs addressing.
The whole experience left me thinking I will not book and Airbnb in future.