Travel Features

Poverty has made staying the new going and Ireland now boasts the cheapest room prices in the EU. But who wants to stay in a Nama hotel? Try these five instead.

By Robert Carry

The Light-keeper's Cottage, Loop Head Peninsula, Co. Clare

The idea of tech-free holidays is starting to catch on and a good location for one is this sympathetically restored Light-keeper’s Cottage (pictured above). There was no phone, telly or wireless internet for the building's original occupants to enjoy, so you don’t get any either. You get a fire to tell stories beside.

The nearest shop is three miles away so make sure you really get along well the person you bring along – with no telly on the go, one of you may end up being flung into the Atlantic from the top of the sheer cliff this magnificent property is perched beside.

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Inisturkbeg, Clew Bay, Co. Mayo

If you’re better than the rest of us, then the idea of cutting yourself off from your fellow man will really appeal. This can be achieved by underwater hotels, desert hotels or, the king of them all, private island hotels.

That’s right – you can book out an entire island in the middle of Clew Bay in Co Mayo. And not just any island – Inisturkbeg is a high-end luxury island retreat with five ‘cottages’ with infinity pools, gyms, spas, access to a private chef, butler and use of the retreat’s horses and catamaran.

Prices range from €2,000 for two guests for two nights during low season to an eye-watering €96,225 to rent out the whole island in peak season.

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Ballygally Castle Hotel, Larne, Co. Antrim

This 17th Century castle has been thoroughly converted with all the mod-cons you could rightfully expect. However, what they couldn’t get rid of during the renovations is the ghost of Lady Isabella Shaw who was imprisoned in the castle because she gave birth to a girl instead of a boy (how dare she). The striken woman then leapt to her death with her baby in her arms.

Alarmingly, Isabella has been wrecking the heads of guests ever since by doing nick-knocks on doors. Her daughter, meanwhile, has been known to emit blood curdling screams in the middle of the night. Appealing.

Grouse Lodge, Roesmount, Co. Westmeath

Grouse Lodge has earned itself a place in music folklore. The stunning stone farmhouse and outbuildings features its own recording studio that has been used by the likes of Michael Jackson, REM, Madonna, Manic Street Preachers and, in what is something of an anti-climax, Sinead O’Connor.

Rent the place out and you get yourself an indoor heated pool, jacuzzi, nine double bedrooms and on-site organic chef.

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Barrowline Barges, Co. Laois

The problem with staying in any given hotel for a period of time, is that you may well start to get bored with your surroundings. That is not an issue you need concern yourself with should you choose this option.

The way it works is, you turn up at the Grand Canal at Vicarstown in Co. Laois and take your pick of one of the barges or narrow-boats they have on the go.

Then, you can either slip off down the River Barrow or choose to head along the Grand Canal in the direction of either Dublin or the mighty Shannon. Make a fool of yourself in the local? No problem – just up-anchor and float on down towards your next victims.

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