Rest of Co. Cork
Hotels, Guesthouses, and B&Bs
Photos: Three of Co. Cork's varied hotels include (upper low) the Maritime Hotel, Baltimore; and (lower left) Seaview House, Ballylickey; and (lower right) the Carlton Hotel at Oysterhaven, near Kinsale.
| Some of Co. Cork's finest lodgings are scattered throughout the county - along the southern coast, beside Bantry Bay or in the northern and eastern parts of this vast county. The places featured below offer all rooms with private bath/shower ("en suite") unless otherwise noted. Here are some of my favorites. | Price Key € - under 50 €€ - 50 to 75 €€€ - 75 to 100 €€€€ - 100 to 150 €€€€€ - over 150 |
Hotels & Guesthouses Aherne's Townhouse, 163
N. Main St., Youghal, Co. Cork, tel. 024-92424; fax 024-93633;
e-mail: ahernes@eircom.net.
Situated in the heart of an historic and seafaring town 30 miles
east of Cork City, Aherne's has long been known as a superior
seafood pub/restaurant run with great hospitality and care by
the FitzGibbon family for three generations. And now it has taken
on a new life as a 4-star guesthouse. The 13 guest rooms above
and behind the restaurant are surprisingly large and decked out
with antiques, traditional furnishings, designer fabrics, and
over-sized beds. Parking for guests is provided next to the building,
so you can park your car and walk all around Youghal and along
the seafront. Closed: 23 - 29 December.
€€ to €€€
Web site: www.ahernes.com Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery, Co. Cork, tel.
023-48722; fax 023-48723; e-mail: info@celticrosshotel.com.
Overlooking Rosscarbery Bay between Clonakilty and Skibbereen,
this 3-star hotel stands out on the West Cork waterfront, yet
blends agreeably with the countryside. The two-story facade offers
a cottage-like appearance enhanced by a unique stone tower with
huge two-story windows. The tower, which is reminiscent of a traditional
round tower, serves as a lounge with a 40-foot-high 5,000-year-old
bog yew tree sculpture as its center. Facilities include a restaurant,
two bars, and a leisure center with swimming pool, gym, steam
room, and sauna. Many of the 66 modern guestrooms overlook the
water. Closed: 8 January - 14 February. €€
to €€€
Web site: www.celticrosshotel.com Fota Island Golf Resort & Spa, Fota Island, Cork, Co. Cork, tel. 021-467-3000, fax 021-467-3456. A long winding driveway leads up to the expansive luxury hotel on Fota Island, opened in April 2006. It’s a secluded hideaway, yet adjacent to Fota Wildlife Park and a short drive to Cobh, Blarney, Cork City, East Cork or Kinsale. No expense was been spared in the building of this contemporary property, which originally traded under the ‘”Sheraton” mantle, with a tasteful blend of marble floors, dark woods furnishings, beam ceilings and hand-cut stone work. The 131 guest rooms feature air conditioning, mini-bar, flat screen TV, safe separate bath and shower units, and many rooms have balconies with views of the golf course. Public areas include the Fota Restaurant and the Amber Lounge, as well as a seafood specialty restaurant, The Cove. There is also an indoor heated pool, spa and fitness suite. €€ to €€€ Web site: www.fotaisland.ie/hotel Glengarriff Park Hotel, Main St., Glengarriff, Co. Cork, tel. 027-6300, e-mail: info@glengarriffpark.com. If you want to relax in the heart of West Cork’s most beautiful subtropical scenery (including palm trees), it is hard to top Glengarriff, chosen by Maureen O’Hara as her Irish home. It’s a town that has not seen a new lodging place in many a year, until 2007 when this three-story hotel opened in the center of town. The public areas impart a vintage village inn ambiance with pine wood furnishings and local art, while the 28 guest rooms provide a smart contemporary décor and every modern comfort – from double glazed windows to cable TV, coffee/tea-maker and hair dryer. Facilities include the Blue Pool Bistro & Bar, internet access for guests, and a health and fitness spa with hydrotherapy pool, treatment rooms, gym, sauna, steam room, and more. € to €€ Web site: www.glengarriffpark.com Grove House, Colla Rd., Schull, Co. Cork, tel.
028-28067; fax 028-28069; e-mail:
info@grovehouseschull.com. Tucked along the coast overlooking
Schull Harbour (a favorite for yachtsmen), this handsome Georgian
residence has been welcoming guests for hundreds of years (first
as a private home visited by George Bernard Shaw and Jack B. Yeats)
and now as a guesthouse. Fully restored in 1999, the house is furnished in traditional
style, with pitch-pine floors, open fireplaces, antiques, armoires,
and local art. Proprietor Katarina Runske offers 5 non-smoking bedrooms, with
all modern comforts plus views of the sea or the gardens. Closed:
November to mid-March. €€
Web site: www.grovehouseschull.com Maritime Hotel, The Quay, Bantry, Co. Cork; tel. 027-54700; e-mail: info@themaritime.ie. Sitting on The Quay at the south edge of town overlooking Bantry Bay, this contemporary 4- and 5-story hotel opened in spring of 2007, in an area sorely in need of a major lodging facility. And the Maritime fits like a glove, with a stylish nautical décor and a cruise ship ambiance. Public areas include the Ocean restaurant (headed by a chef who used to cook on board the Queen Elizabeth 2), and the Maritime bar. It offers 51 air-conditioned guest rooms along with 33 two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes (ideal for families), outfitted in traditional style, each with plasma flat screen TV, hairdryer, safe, iron/ironing board, complimentary internet access, pillow menu, plush bathrobes, and more. The majority of rooms face out on the bay and nearby islands. Facilities include a leisure club with swimming pool, Jacuzzi, gym, sauna, and steam room, as well as secure car parking. Closed: 24-26 December. € to €€€. Web site: www.themaritime.ie. Sea View House Hotel, Bantry/Glengariff Rd.,
Ballylickey, Bantry, Co. Cork, tel. 027-50073; fax 027-51555;
info@seaviewhousehotel.com.
Like a dove proudly spreading its wings on the horizon, this snowy
white 4-star hotel stands tall amid verdant gardens rimming the
shores of Bantry Bay. Aptly named, Sea View is homey and full
of heirlooms, antiques, lots of tall windows, and a cheery Victorian
décor. Facilities include 25 up-to-date guest rooms, award-winning
restaurant, oak-trimmed lounge, and sun deck. Proprietor Kathleen
O'Sullivan is always on hand to provide a warm welcome for all,
making this hotel a long-time and dependable favorite of mine.
Closed: 15 November - 15 March. €€
to €€€
Web site: www.seaviewhousehotel.com The Watersedge, Yacht Club Quay, Cobh, Co. Cork;
tel. 021-481-5566; fax 021-481-2011; e-mail: info@watersedgehotel.ie.
If you enjoy sea views, here's a place for you - the well-named
Watersedge Hotel in the historic port city of Cobh. Located literally
on the water's edge beside the pier, this new two-story hotel
is adjacent to the Cobh Heritage Centre and a one block walk to
the main street. The décor is bright and modern, with traditional
accents, and many huge windows showing off the stunning water
views. There are 19 guest rooms, all of which offer contemporary
comforts including internet access. Fifteen of the guest rooms
face the water; some rooms have French doors that open out to
individual balconies overlooking the water; and four rooms are
on the ground floor. Guest facilities include a bar and restaurant,
also with water views. Guests can arrive as easily by boat as
by car. Closed: Winter season; check web site for opening dates. €
to €€€
Web site: www.watersedgehotel.ie A Few B&B Suggestions....
The White House, Shean Lower, Blarney, Co. Cork, tel. 021-438-5338; e-mail: info@thewhitehouseblarney.com. Set on a hillside and surrounded by well-tended gardens, this modern bungalow-style home is within easy walking distance of Blarney Castle and village. Hosts Pat and Regina Coughlan provide 6 guest rooms, each with TV, hair dryer, and coffee/tea-maker. € Web site: www.thewhitehouseblarney.com Blarney Vale House, Cork Road (R617), Blarney, Co. Cork, tel. 021-438-1511; e-mail: info@blarneyvale.com. Aptly named, this modern dormer-style bungalow is set amid lush gardens and shrubs in a residential neighborhood overlooking the village. Hostess Anne Hennessy offers 4 guest rooms (2 doubles and 2 family rooms), each with TV, hair dryer and coffee/tea-maker. Closed: Nov.-March. € Web site: www.blarneyvale.com |
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