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4.5
#2 of 2 hotels in Recess
Location
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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Luxury 4-star hotel located on a 700-acre estate with 48 bedrooms & suites with our most recent refurbishments completed in February 2024. The rooms & suites overlooking the river, mountains or both in the tranquillity of the Connemara landscape. Our Fisherman's pub serves lunch and dinner by the open log fire, dinner is also served in the award-winning Owenmore Restaurant. On site, miles of scenic river & lakeside walks, bicycles to explore the area, fly fishing and clay shooting. Locally we have a boat trip from Roundstone fishing village which includes a trip to a deserted island & lobster fishing and great hiking. Connemara National Park, Connemara Golf Club and Clifden are all a short drive as is the ferry & airport to the Aran Islands. Ballynahinch Castle is the ideal base for touring Connemara and the Wild Atlantic Way.
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Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is lauded for its friendly and professional service, though some guests have experienced occasional lapses. The amenities, including the comfortable rooms with enchanting river views and the cozy fireside lounges, receive high marks, as does the hotel's tranquil location in the heart of Connemara.
Despite this, reviewers warn of a mismatch between cost and value, citing overpriced services. However, the hotel's cleanliness and atmosphere are consistently praised, with guests enjoying the pristine conditions and the historical richness of the property.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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We had a wonderful three night stay in Ballynahinch, the hotel is very pretty with lovely walks around the grounds. The hotel is very well looked after and we paid extra for River views which was worth the money as we woke up to a beautiful river view every morning. Due to Covid, you must book your dinner slots in advance which I would recommend prior to your visit.
Drawback: On our first night, we ate in the bar. It too 45 minutes to get our starter and our food seemed like it was sitting under heaters for some time before we got it. Also, waiting for drinks was quite slow as you could sit in the drawing room an hour before and after dinner, the staff are so nice but they seem to be doing a number of jobs from reception, running back and worth to serve drinks amongst other things...
All in all, I would stay here again as it is a great setting.
The highlight for us was the lobster experience with John, he was great fun and it was a great way to explore connemara. He made our trip and I would love management to pass on our thanks to him! It is worth booking!!!
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Date of stay: September 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â River Views are the best, pay the extra for one!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eoin Walsh, General Manager at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Responded 23 Sept 2020
Dear Liz R, Thank you for sharing your review with us. I am delighted that you had the opportunity to experience the many different areas of the hotel and activities during your stay with us. Please accept my apolgies if you feel there was shortcomings in our service delivery, we always strive to ensure our guests are attended as quickly as possible. I can however assure you that each and every dish is freshly prepared by our devoted kitchen team but it appears we didnt quite get this right for you on this occasion. The lobster and Island Experience is one of our favourtie activities and I am delighted that you enjoyed it so much - I will ensure to pass your feedback to our captain, John. Warm Regards, Eoin Walsh General Manager
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I am sitting in my room writing this review because I have been blown away by our experience here. We arrived down on Friday and from the moment we got here it felt like a home away from home albeit a stunningly luxurious home! Where nothing is too much trouble. Staff are so friendly and everyone is clearly so proud to work here! I think that says it all! We ended up chatting to the general manager at one point and I noticed throughout the weekend he was clearing tables, doing everything not standing around, again a sign of the calibre of staff here. Given the current restrictions in place we were curious to see how it would unfold, we never felt at any point that it changed the experience. There were sanitation stations everywhere, staff wore masks but it did not hide their enthusiasm or pride. The other things to mention are the food, where possible locally sourced and really thought about. Every bite was delicious. Their home made orange juice is to die for. To end we have to speak about the view, we came here before and the weather was fine, it was still breath-taking - this weekend there are no words so I will post a pic, I think it sums it up. It was our first wedding anniversary and I hope we have started a tradition!
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eoin Walsh, General Manager at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Responded 26 Aug 2020
Dear Diane, It is refreshing to read your kind words and I will ensure they are shared with our team. Thank you for chosing Ballynahinch Castle to celebrate such a special occasion and we would be delighted to celebrate with you again in the future. Kind Regards, Eoin Walsh General Manager
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And this has now officially become our favorite place to stay in Ireland! I could go on and on on how beautiful this place is! We were there for a quick lunch last winter and we said to ourselves we have to stay there someday! so we did! from the minute you step inside with the beautiful smells from the open fire at reception, you are in a different world! they must be putting on the fire every day of the year because this was what we first liked when we visited during the winter, and it was on again as it was over 20 degrees outside last week, we loved it!
Our room was fabulous and I believe we must have got upgraded because I asked on check out the type of room that was and they said a luxury one (we booked a classic river view). It was very spacious, over looking the river with french windows leading to the river; massive bathroom and walking dressing area.
Dinner was great, beautiful food, all staff were wearing a mask, tables at social distance, we are getting used to people wearing masks at this stage so our experience was just the most normal and most enjoyable one. The food was beautiful, the restaurant staff were lovely. It was a beautiful summer evening so we were able to have a pre-drink outside.
We were lucky to be given a table with a view for breakfast as we were able to enjoy it a little bit longer! Breakfast was just ok though...and I put it down to the Covid situation as they no longer have their impressive buffet. They take you to your table and give you a tray with granola for 2, one little croissant, one little pain au chocolat, one small scone and one slice of brown bread which we thought was very little for 2...we did not ask for more though and I am sure we could have had! then they bring you your cooked breakfast after you order it. I hope once this situation is all behind us to experience their beautiful buffet one day!
We got to go for a walk by the river, beautiful.
It is a really nice and special place, so special that we will be coming back in November for 2 nights this time and we cannot wait!
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Date of stay: August 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â I am sure all the rooms are equally beautiful
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shrouded in mists and nestled amongst pine trees, lakes and lush vegetation Ballynahinch Castle is hidden away in Connemara. Driving drizzly rain and low cloud smothered all the great views from the hotel during our stay but the rain is the price you pay for such scenery and great fishing. It has the feel of a hunting lodge, log fires, tweeds and comfy couches so deep you are half horizontal, a fisherman's dream but also a great place to hole up for an autumn or winter break. It has to be said it rains a lot. The far side of Galway the sun was shining and it was a warm 22° but we needed raincoats and it was 7° cooler.
The rooms have been recently refurbished and are immaculately presented and very well appointed. You have views of the mountains or the river. I can't imagine there is any room you could find disappointing.
Some of my companions went shooting (clay pigeon) and absolutely loved it. They said the instructor was amazingly good. There are bikes to borrow and excellent cycle paths and a beautiful walled garden to explore.
The food overall was disappointing, it was fine but nothing special, no interesting side notes or nuance. My vegetarian companion had a choice of charred cauliflower, charred courgette or charred asparagus for her main meal the first night. Not much variety there! My beef came with broccoli and the most peculiar pouring liquid potato. The breakfasts were better, there is a good choice on the menu but there were a few issues. We were being brought our eggs when we hadn't finished our cereal/fruit salad/porridge and if we didn't relinquish it the plate was stacked on top of something else on the table. I never encountered this anywhere before. Despite this the eggs were always cold!
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eoin Walsh, General Manager at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Responded 31 Jul 2021
Dear jackytabacky, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. It is through our guest's feedback that we can continue to make improvements to our product and service. We look forward to welcoming you back to Ballynahinch Castle in the future. Warm Regards, Eoin Walsh General Manager
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We absolutely love Ballynahinch every time we stay. The setting is gorgeous, the rooms are lovely, and the food is just divine. There were a couple of drawbacks this time - One being that the room was very very hot, and with no air conditioning the only thing we could do was open the window, which didn’t help because it was so warm outside. The second drawback, is their bar rules as a result of Covid-19. If you stay in the hotel, you can only avail of the bar for an hour before your dinner reservation, and an hour after, and through room service. This information is not available on their website, and was not communicated to us prior to our visit. We have stayed in a few other hotels recently and nobody else has had this rule. Other hotels have their bars open for residents and just have social distancing rules in place which work perfectly well and make for an enjoyable stay. I understand the need for restrictions due to Covid-19, but I don’t understand the bar rules in Ballynahinch. We were a little disappointed with this rule given how much it costs to stay there, and especially seeing as it wasn’t communicated to us prior to our stay. Apart from that would definitely recommend, it’s a beautiful place, and a real escape.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eoin Walsh, General Manager at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Responded 23 Sept 2020
Dear IIeana W, Thank you for taking the time to write about your stay with us. While we strive to deliver as much information on our websiste as possible, unfortunetly this can be challenging with this ever changing situation we find ourselves in, as it evolves. We are governed by strict protocols and the 1 hour before and after meals is not rule of our hotel but a rule imposed by our governement on all restaurants and hotels, including hotel bars for residents. Whilst we have had to apapt our service to ensure our guests are well looked after, our priority remains to ensure the health and safety of guests is upheld. With this, we support the governement on all requests and follow their advice accordingly. I am delighted that you found the rest of your stay an enjoyable experience and we look forward to welcoming you back to Connemara soon. Warm Regards, Eoin Walsh General Manager
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The location is spectacular at a river in the middle of a very well preserved estate. The interior and design has been beautifully done. Rooms are luxurious and clean as one would expect in this price category. Yet, we experienced a few issues with the service. Although the staff was very welcoming and friendly, at times the service didn’t quite match the 4 star category of the hotel. We had booked a table the first evening in the bar at 20.00 and arrived on time. We were asked to wait 20 minutes outside in the corridor while our table was being prepared and our food eventually arrived at 21.15. The burgers were dry and very small, and lacked taste. Next day we took the hotel‘s bicycles for a small tour. All 5 bikes we had were pretty old and rattled not suited with their thin tires for the road conditions of the track recommended by the hotel. We had to push them back to avoid having an accident. They should update their bikes to more solid mounts bikes with thicker tires. Dinner at the fine dining restaurant was very nice, apart from the red wine that was lukewarm served (probably at outside temperature of 25 degrees). At check out we noticed that we got charged for an additional dinner amount of EUR 160 too much. The hotel apologized stating that this was due to computer glitch that occurs from time to time. Had we not noticed this additional amount before paying at check-out, we would have been over charged the amount which for such a hotel is unacceptable. All that said, we would go there again as the location and hotel is really nice.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eoin Walsh, General Manager at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Responded 25 Aug 2022
Dear Casaserena2014, We appreciate you taking the time to review your stay with us. I am very sorry that some aspects of your visit did not fully live up to expectations and rest assured we welcome your feedback both positive and negative. I am glad that you still enjoyed your stay with us and this would not deter you from visiting the hotel again. I would welcome you to contact me directly before your next visit so that we can make it extra special next time. Warm Regards, Eoin Walsh General Manager
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We paid 670 euro for two nights with breakfast. The room had a river view and was very nice. Unfortunately the radiators in the room were so hot one could barely touch them; and the thermostat didn’t seem to work so we left the windows wide open. So much for environmentally friendly! The breakfast experience was smooth, efficient, professional, and courteous. Service was provided by obviously experienced staff who knew what they were doing and did it with a smile. One got the impression that they were expertly supervised. Breakfast fare was very good indeed. A very enjoyable experience overall. The Fisherman's Pub, on the other hand... A 'pub' it most definitely is not. It is a dining room that happens to have a bar counter - behind which one bar person, and one only, noisily prepares cocktails. The 'Pub' waiting personnel were pleasant and courteous. The one person behind the bar took care and time in preparing cocktails while customers waited at the bar. This wouldn't be a problem if the wait was worthwhile. Unfortunately, the care lavished on the preparation of cocktails was sadly lacking when it came to pouring and serving pints of Guinness. The pints I got were speedily and inexpertly poured and served. Any village bar throughout the length and breadth of the country could and would do better. They wouldn’t have too many customers otherwise. On the two occasions I dined in the ‘pub’ all the tables were in use. The lack of atmosphere in the room served to amplify the jarring noise made by the repeated loud crashing of empty bottles as they were thrown into bins behind the bar. The fare was just about adequate - if overpriced. Anyone seeking an authentic Irish pub experience would be advised to look elsewhere. This hotel is in a beautiful natural setting but should strive for higher standards to match its surroundings, rather than relying solely on its location.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Old but truly well kept. Great food and busy restaurants. Big and good grounds we had a room that overlooked the stream that at the right time had salmon jumping the bar was busy and good. Room had access to the gardens and stream. Very good holiday and sites nearby food is excellent and table by the window. A friend from Amsterdam knew of the hotel but was full so stayed nearby and thought the bar and restaurant were first class
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Our room a luxury room on the top floor was accommodating with a large and well equipped bathroom. The view of the river and the surrounding wood was absolutely stunning.
There are quiet a few walks which can be done and the grounds are quiet vast.
The pub restaurant serves good food and is always quiet full. They also have some live music on some evenings.
The ownmore Restaurant with the stunning river view serves good food but not out of the extraordinary. They serve a set Menu, there’s no A La Carte. Rather on the expensive side. The breakfast is also served here and offers a very good choice.
The service was extremely good everywhere with the exception of the Terrace, here they tend to forget your out there. Very attentive staff otherwise.
We very much enjoyed our stay and hope to come back.
What I can’t recommend is the boat excursion which is on the Hotels activities program. Not only is it far too expensive but you also don’t really get to see anything and there are no security precautions taken. It’s a waist of money and time.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Eat at the pub, more choice.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eoin Walsh, General Manager at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Responded 28 Jun 2023
Dear Pinnochio10, Thank you for taking the time and trouble to review your recent visit with us. I apologise for the shortcomings you experienced and I am particularly concerned that you note there are no security precautions taken on board our boat? This is not something we have heard previously and which we would take extremely seriously. I would very much welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. I can be reached at eoin@ballynahinch-castle.com I am delighted you enjoyed some aspects of your visit and I appreciate your balanced comments. Warm regards, Eoin Walsh General Manager
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If you like nature, then Ballynahinch is for you. The location and grounds are stunning, and the walks absolutely amazing. It is a lovely choice for a respite. This review is during covid, so keep that in mind. We arrived for three nights, and stayed in a Riverside suite, which was NOT cheap. It was a lovely suite, huge, with amazing views, but surprisingly lacking in practical furniture. No regular size sofa , no dining table and chairs. We had to eat room service on the window ledge. The menus are very limited. The all day menu is also the room service menu, which is also the lunch menu, AND the pub menu. . No sandwiches or decent salads, and we had pretty much sampled everything in two days. The dinner menu in the main restaurant did not change. It was our 20th anniversary, and I mentioned this when booking. It was never acknowledged except when we checked in, and briefly, verbally. For what we paid, and the hype that I had read, I really expected more. All in all, a nice stay, but limited, and not very personal. Maybe just covid to blame?... I hope so.....
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Date of stay: September 2020
Rooms
Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eoin Walsh, General Manager at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Responded 2 Oct 2020
Dear QueenofSam, Thank you for posting your review following your recent stay. I am delighted that you both found the hotel and estate an enjoyable experience. It appears we didn't quite hit the mark in terms of dining options. We do in fact have a lovely array of sandwiches available alongside beauiful salads from our walled garden. These are normally on the special boards in the bar and my apologies this was not communicated to you for in room dining options. Should you wish to discuss this or any other aspects of your stay, I would welcome the opportunity. Eoin Walsh General Manager eoin@ballynahinch-castle.com
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Hi - I am not sure if there is an EC charger at the castle but would not be surprised. Email them hotel & I am sure they will respond asap. There are many EV stations nearby including one in the remote Connemara National Park & Maam Cross. Enjoy your stay should you choose to visit this idyllic part of the world.
There are more places to choose from in the Recess area.
PRICE RANGE
€354 - €445 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
ballynahinch castle hotel
LOCATION
IrelandWestern IrelandProvince of ConnachtCounty GalwayRecess
NUMBER OF ROOMS
48
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Ballynahinch Castle Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Connemara Shooting School (0.7 km), Connemara Heritage and History Centre (2.8 km), and Dan O'Hara's Homestead Farm (7.5 km).
Are there any historical sites close to Ballynahinch Castle Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden (11.4 km), Marconi Station (14.4 km), and Alcock and Brown Landing Site (14.4 km).
