Absolutely beautiful!

Guest: Mandi (CT, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/08/11 Review Submitted: 08/25/11

Thank you so much for our stay at Ballyreen. It was so beautiful and my husband and I had such an amazing time. I knew the area was beautiful, but I did not realize we had such a good view of the Cliffs and the Islands from the top of the road! We caught some beautiful sunsets! Doolin is a great location for traditional music as well as beautiful hiking spots. The cottage was very private....our only neighbors were cows! We would recommend this spot to our family and friends and would like to stay again in the future.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Lovely Ballyreen Cottage

Guest: Sam and Laura (Kansas City, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 08/31/10 Review Submitted: 09/09/10

We arrived at Ballyreen Cottage after a long day of driving from Kenmare, across the ferry in Tarbert and through the scenic coastal towns toward Doolin. As soon as we entered the cottage, we felt relaxed in such a warm and inviting home. We loved the artwork, skylights, sound system, books, candles, and all other thoughtful extras in the cottage. The remote location was just what we wanted; the gardens and scenic views from the cottage were so very pretty. On one of our evening walks down the short path to the ocean we saw the most amazing sunset over the Aran Islands and later that night a million stars lit the sky. We will never forget it. We took the Aran Magic ferry to the Aran Island of Inis Oirr to spend part of a day, and returned to view the spectacular Cliffs of Moher from the water. A school of dolphins performed for us along the way, diving in and out of the water alongside of the ferry. We enjoyed the food, the music and the people (and the Guinness) at McDermott's pub and had a great lunch at Fitzpatrick's. We also enjoyed exploring the Burren, and the scenic drive towards Galway. Thank you, Maryann, for sharing your cottage with us. If we are fortunate enough to ever come back to Ireland, we would love to stay at your cottage again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, romantic getaway.

Charming and Relaxing Cottage!

Guest: Dana (Atlanta, GA)
Date of Stay: 07/18/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

When my family decided to take our long-anticipated trip to Ireland, we knew that we wanted to spend the first week somewhere where we could unwind and enjoy the Irish countryside. We also wanted a good 'home base' for our many drives around the area. This proved to be the perfect spot! The town center of Doolin is only a few miles away (you'll need to drive a car to get to shops, pubs, etc.), and the cottage is on a very infrequently used road (no cars driving by at all). The cottage is quaint and charming. The cows and horses in the nearby pastures, along with the clouds that rolled off the ocean, made this a picturesque spot. From here, we took day trips to Westport, the Aran Islands (where we took a bike tour) and Bunratty Castle (pretty touristy but still fun). Of course we also spent time in Doolin and going to the pubs. This is a great place to vacation! I would love to come back in cooler weather to have an opportunity to use the fireplace.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, romantic getaway.

Guest: Ruth Baranowski (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 09/29/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/09

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Ballyreen. What a fabulous location on the private road, with the cows and the horses and the ocean nearby. The peace and quiet was amazing, and my cousin commented that it had been years since she had slept so soundly. We explored Doolin, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Aran Islands. We also spent two days in Dublin and wished that we had skipped it and stayed on the west coast of Ireland. It is a special place. Thanks, MaryAnn. We enjoyed your beautiful cottage very much. Ruth and Loretta

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Guest: Carolyn & Graig (Silver Spring, MD USA)
Date of Stay: 08/26/09 Review Submitted: 08/26/09

I think Kellie said just about everything that I had in mind to say (8/8/09 comment)! The weather was also temperamental during our honeymoon stay at Ballyreen. But it gave us an excuse to light the fire. We really enjoyed Doolin and made use of the ferry rides to see the Cliffs of Moher. Ferries also run daily to the Aran Islands, for those interested. We happened to enjoy McDermott's pub the best with their live music. After an evening out, Ballyreen Cottage was the perfect retreat. Access to the cottage was easy enough after Maryann's detailed directions. The cottage is in prime location to explore to the south or north. Outdoor enthusiasts will really enjoy the area as there are many hiking and biking paths near by. Maryann, you may be hearing from some of our friends - we've recommended your place to everyone we know interested in traveling to Ireland!

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Guest: Kellie Griego (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Date of Stay: 08/08/09 Review Submitted: 08/08/09

We arrived at Ballyreen at midnight in torrential rains and wind! I tried to hold my umbrella over my husbands head while he put the cbination into the lock box, but the umbrella quickly turned inside out and was blown down the road. We laughed as we became drenched, and then made a mad dash for the door! Struggled a bit to find the key holes...and then when we hit the lights, WOW!!! The cottage is so charming and feels so welcoming. The beds are comfortable, the shower is great, and the fire place is easy to use and makes everything so cozy and warm. It's definately everything we had hoped for! When we woke up and finally got to treat ourselves to the view, we were completely amazed! It is incredibly beautiful with lush green hills and the cows and horses. You can see the castle in the distance, and hear the ocean. Walk a couple steps out the ocean is right there! I lived being at the end of the road. Doolin is the best! We definately chose the right village to stay in. We lived O'Connors pub. The music was great and the food was wonderful! If you like seafood and are daring, try the seafood plate! It's huge! They had the best seafood chowder and the best lamb. Lisdoonvarna has a good Chinese restaurant! We used the market in Ennistimon. They make great sandwiches for picnics. The Cliffs of Moher are incredible and inspiring, the Burren could be explored forever, and the rock walls are such a piece of history! Unbelievable!!! Castle and church ruins are everywhere. We made a trip to Galway and shopped, ate outside at a cafe, and checked out the Hookers (boats). Lovely! We went to the beach in Fenore, the sandy beach, and watched the crazy suffers in their wetsuits as the went into the freezing cold water. Ireland takes you back in time. The weather...well we caught a few funny days, but always have a sweater and rain jacket available! The air was warm, but the wind from the Atlantic ocean has a mind of it's own! If you get the chance to rent a car and drive, Do it! But beware. The roads are narrow with no room for forgiveness. Driving on the left side was quite an experience, especially with their speed limits! It really was fun and we laughed a lot! We were so glad that we had the freedom to take off and explore! Thank you Maryann for a WONDERFUL holiday and experience!!!!! Best, Kellie and Eric

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Guest: danny blaydes (orlando, fl)
Date of Stay: 06/17/09 Review Submitted: 06/17/09

This cottage is wonderful! My daughter, granddaughter and I spent nine of the most glorious days there. It was well stocked, so charming, clean, peaceful-could not have been better. Maryann is so nice and helpful. I can't wait to return. The view from every direction is breathtaking. We felt comfortable letting the 5 year old in the yard to do 5 year old things-she loved all of the cows and horses surrounding the cottage. We loved walking the area around the cottage and never tired of the view. We would give Ballyreen Cottage 5 stars.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/31/09 Review Submitted: 05/31/09

Staying at Ballyreen was a magical experience for our family. My wife and I brought our 3 children to Ireland and the stay at Ballyreen was amazing! There is complete peace and serenity, with no house between us and the Atlantic Ocean. Having never been to Ireland, we loved the look of the Burren, and we chose the right location. We traveled to other parts of the country, but found ourselves loving the Doolin area more and not wanting to stray far. The Cliffs of Moher are very near and Lisdoovarna has a nice market and some nice restaurants. Although our vacation is over, I feel as though my thoughts remained behind at Ballyreen. Thank you Maryann - it was a wonderful and memorable experience.

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Guest: Hannah13 (New York)
Date of Stay: 05/12/09 Review Submitted: 05/12/09

Ballyreen Cottage was just wonderful - the location was perfect, and the facilities were just what we were looking for. We sat by the fire and made a wonderful curry on the stove and took a walk down to the wild ocean and just had a marvelous time. Thanks!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/08 Review Submitted: 09/15/08

Thanks Maryann,we ran out of time all too quickly. Ballyreen all we could have wanted, that bath!!!

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