If you're looking for authenticity in the Dingle area, and you want a genuine experience with some wonderful people in a beautiful location, your options are:
1 - Head to Ballyferriter and stay at Donal and Kelly's
2 - regret not staying staying at Donal and Kelly's
3 - refer to option one
Ballyferriter is smaller, more casual, and much more laid back than Dingle so if you don't need all of that commotion, this is where you need to be.
Donal and Kelly were gracious, they went above and beyond to make us comfortable. The room had a beautiful little kitchen, a great new bathroom with a nice shower, a comfy bed, and it's tough to beat being located above the pub. We were even held up by bad weather on our drive there, but every time we called to update them, they answered the phone and told us not to worry about our late arrival.
Beyond the room itself, which was wonderful and clean, Kelly and Donal (and Hannah and Sinead and Dan!) were all just fantastic folks to be around. They were accommodating and incredibly welcoming - to the point where we were not only sad to leave, but made real friends with them in our time there. They gave us tips on places to see, hikes to take, swimming holes to visit, and routes to explore.
Lastly, the pub food here is great. Kelly has it all locked down and makes kick ass fish and chips, hot wings, hamburgers, and chicken sandwiches - wish we had this menu back home.
We cannot say enough good things about our time here and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great place to stay!