The Ardcarne Lodge at the Old Rectory is a phenomenal piece of history and comfortable accommodation. I and my two travel companions (plus our three furry babies!) have stayed here for the last month, and it has been a haven for us. Our work consists mostly of writing, and it requires solitude, comfort, and inspiration. We could not have asked for a better place! The Lodge itself is a renovated 1800's carriage house, inset into the ground, surrounded by a raised garden, a small wooded area, and in a central location where you can reach Boyle (beautiful river town) or Carrick on Shannon (picturesque port town) in about 15 minutes. The decor is rustic and vintage, making the home feel incredibly comfortable. Jim and Bernie, who are the hosts that live next door, are WONDERFUL people. They help with anything you request, and they go out of their way to make sure you're comfortable. The kitchen is fully outfitted with anything you might possibly desire, and the nearby SuperValu will deliver! Each bedroom is cozy, with convenient desks, chairs, and en suite bathrooms. Jim and Bernie have made sure to fill the place with lots of Irish charm and history–every nook and cranny is filled with interesting books, antique reliquaries, and funny local knick knacks. The living room houses a fantastic wood burning stove and a GIANT smart TV. There is also a beautiful window view of the carriage yard behind the house (this is where I set my writing area up). You can hear the wind rustling through the trees, there are gentle bird calls every morning, and the surrounding area is hauntingly beautiful during both rain and shine. Most days, upon waking, my companions and I would take walks and visit the nearby Ardcarne graveyard, or to get a cup of tea at the Ardcarne garden center. Jim and Bernie arranged a local driver for our stay, and he was just as lovely and accommodating! Just know that the place is a piece of history, so it has the charms of an older home–it creaks a little here and there, and the doors are on the thinner side. It never bothered us, and in fact we love the charm that saturates every corner of this house. Brian was also a fantastic intermediary whenever we had a question and just wanted to shoot an email. Overall, we'd call this a writer or artist's paradise. It feels isolated and ancient, but it's close to everything you need. For our work we constantly need to order books and do research–Amazon.co.uk was able to deliver to the Lodge without any issue. So if you want to "get away from it all" without truly going into the wilderness, this is the place to stay!