We 'broke away' last wednesday for a little break away from the children and found Mount Falcon to be themost wonderful place to escape. Just outside Ballina,at the end of a sweeping driveway lies the stunning old house, which is lovingly restored and extended into an elegant retreat. We were greeted at reception by friendly, efficient staff and given a beautiful room in the new wing, with probably the most comfy 6ft bed I have ever slept in. We do not fish but Mount Falcon seems to be a mecca for the sport with the River Moy running through the estate. This hotel is not flashy but it has real elegant charm which has such appeal together with the well chosen staff who are clearly valued. We enjoyed a superb dinner in the 'Kitchen Restaurnat' which was worthy of a Michelin Star, although the hotel has an already impressive list of plaques in the front porch.

We met up with fellow diners and guests in the bar later and we relaxed into the wee hours... judging by fellow guest this hotel seems to have a large repeat business and guests are treated like old friends. David, the bartender was exceptional and called us by name after one introduction. This is no hotel chain .. this is a very special place!

Stayed for a weekend, and found the experience fairly average. The location is stunning and the grounds are beautifully maintained, but the service inside was not 4 star. The receptionist complained about driving in Ireland, and complained about living in Ireland. There was a fair amount of dust on the main bannister going to the four main suites and the chair in our room was stained with what looked like strawberry juice. Friends stayed in one of the cottages and there was clear signs of dust around the corners of the room and scratches on the sofa- we both felt that the staff could do with a lesson in pledge and a duster. What really let the place down was the quality of food- very average to poor in the bar and the restaurant- a caesar salad with no parmesan and a burger that was straight from a microwave. The price of dinner was astronomical, nearly 50 euros for one starter and 2 mains with no drinks and seriously lacking in quality. Appears that overall the business plan is built on banqueting for weddings- so there was no sense of privacy in the grounds as there were constant arrivals and departures of brides. I would consider going back out of season mid week wnen perhaps the focus will be on the ordinary punters, but would not recommend dining. My preference next time would be the Ice House. good points include the style of the bedroom- very big beds that were very comfortable, and good power showers

We stayed here for three nights, it was ideal to tour the area and play golf. We found the staff friendly, courteous and helpful. The accommodation and hotel is beautifully presented and the spa a welcome opportunity to relax. Excellent value and would recommend to any friend. For golfers we would strongly recommend a round at Enniscrone Golf Club where we were given a warm welcome and the link course was a fantastic challenge.

Mount Falcon looks like an older building from a distance, but up close you can see that the exterior is modern and it is clear once you get inside that this is a modern hotel. The original building has been so much altered as to be difficult even to imagine. The grounds are lovely and there is a pond (the hotel calls it a lake but to North Americans it would be a pond) stocked with trout. I borrowed a fly rod and tried my hand for about an hour without success, but you can definitely see the trout in there, some of a good size. Salmon fishing is also an attraction, but you have to reserve your "beat" well in advance, and it's a very expensive pastime.

Our room was not large and overlooked the garbage disposal area, but there was no noise or smell, so that was not a problem. The bed was very comfortable, the bathroom was luxurious, and there was a flatscreen TV for those who require it. Our main interest was food and Mount Falcon did not disappoint. The dinners were better than the breakfasts, but service was uniformly good and speedy. Staff at the main reception desk couldn't have been nicer and were most helpful with directions, which we needed to get through the town of Ballina, which is not large but afflicted with the usual rush-hour traffic jams that plague Irish towns and cities.

Take a walk out toward the old cemetery and you're quickly in the Irish countryside with its old stone walls, pastures, and lush vegetation everywhere. After a rainy day on the course at Enniscrone, we found Mount Falcon the perfect place to warm up with a nice hot shower and a drink in the bar. Families with younger children will enjoy the swimming pool, while older couples will be charmed by the great food and attentive service.