This place is stunning and spacious. I felt like royalty every time we pulled up the driveway. The rooms were comfortable with heaters in each room, heated blankets on each bed, a fireplace in the living room, and plenty of hot water for showers. The kitchen is filled with everything you could possibly need. I made breakfast most mornings and a few dinners with food I purchased in Galway. We loved eating at the table in the common area together. The living room was comfortable and we spent several nights hanging out and watching movies as a family after a long day out exploring Ireland. It really is a wonderful place to go as a family to bond together. Oh, and I can't forget the horses! We have quite a few pictures with the friendly horses on the property.
Maura and John were so attentive and will go out of their way to make sure your stay is exactly what you are looking for. If you have any questions, need anything, or have any problems, they are happy to take care of it right away.
I traveled with my two college-age kids and one of their friends. We loved being out in the country and having our own bedrooms and bathrooms but also being able to hang out together eating dinner or watching movies. It's really nice to be able to have alone time but also be able to spend a lot of time together when wanted. I think it really reduces fighting on family vacations.
You are about 30 minutes from Galway but there are a lot of taxi drivers who will drive you into town. That's what I did and they felt like friends by the end of the trip. They love Ireland and love to tell you all about it on each drive which was wonderful. My son asked to sit up front because he felt like he was really getting to know Ireland from them. Just be careful because some drivers only take Euros, not credit cards.
From Galway, you can take public transportation (bus and train) to other places in Ireland. I highly recommend the tours. I booked several toward the end of my trip and I wish I did more. There are multiple tour guides but Viator tours are all over Ireland. Maura recommended Connemara and I almost didn't go. I thought, "How beautiful could it possibly be?" I booked a tour to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey and it was one of the best parts of the trip. Words can't describe how beautiful it is and I can't believe I almost missed it. We also went to the Cliffs of Moher and saw a sheepdog demonstration which was really interesting. Do not miss going to Salthill in Galway. It was my favorite part of the city. It's so fun to walk the promenade by the water (the views are amazing) and hang out at the pubs. Clifden is also a town that I wish I spent more time in. TIP: Walsh's is a bakery in Clifden and everything is homemade. I don't really like desserts or baked goods but these were incredible. They also had quiche and soups.
Oh and there's a pub and little store down the road, my kids walked to it several times. They loved the people at the pub and we were able to get Euros there as well as some small food items. It's a tiny little place but those are the gems when you travel, getting to know the real people.
We did not want our trip to end. My kids kept saying, "I wish we could stay here forever!" They are already planning our return. Hopefully, we will be seeing John, Maura, and our friendly horses again soon!