We bookended our stay in Ireland with 2 nights at Ashgrove. Since we've never been to Ireland or a B&B before, Sheila had everything handled and taken care of. We were able to get right into our room and snooze for a few hours before going to the madrigal dinner performance at Bunratty (which Sheila booked for us by the way).

The room was quiet, clean and the bed SUPER cozy. The Irish Breakfast was absolutely delicious. We were really on the move while there but the atmosphere made me want to stay and relax for a while. Frank has a great personality and we talked to him for a little bit before departing after our first night in Ireland - he is totally hilarious and super nice.

When we returned to stay for our last night in Ireland we arrived in the mid-afternoon and we ended up hanging out with Sheila for a little while. She is a great hostess, very welcoming and made us feel like we were part of her family - we will surely stay at Ashgrove again next time we visit Ireland.

Ashgrove hous is a great place to stay if you are flying in or out of Shannon. It is less than 1/2 hour away. The Inkeeper, Shelia, is a real sweetheart. She will give you an Irish coffee after a long trip and lots of hints on what to see and do. Touring Bunratty Castle and Folk Village (just down the road) is an absolute must. It exceeded our expectation in every respect. Of the two restaurants nearby (The Creamery and Dirty Nellies) , the former is a better choice. But they sometimes stop serving early off season.

The B&B is very comfortable but unpretentious. Shelia makes you feel that you are a guest in her home and that is really nice. The breakfast is hearty and there is a car park in the rear. We paid 65 Euro for an insuite room with breakfast. Shelia prefers cash. The local ATM ran out of money the day of our departure but she gladly took dollars. She even packed us a picnic lunch because we has an earlty flight out and would miss breakfast.

Sheila is an outstanding hostess and runs a truly special B&B. She did everything possible to make our brief stay in Bunratty comfortable and memorable. My friend and I spent only one night at Ashgrove House before an early departure from Shannon Airport, but it ended up being the nicest B&B on our entire tour of Ireland.

The rooms were spacious, the linens luxurious, and the bathroom was immaculate. Our room had a t.v. with remote and lots of channels, a hair dryer, plenty of mirrors, good lighting, and all the rooms were on the ground floor as I recall. Oh, and the Irish coffee we were offered upon arrival was honestly the best I've ever had.

We didn't have a car, but Sheila noticed us in the village and gave us a lift (saving us the trouble of getting a taxi). But arranging a taxi (to and from the village or to the airport) was a piece of cake, and Sheila helped with that as well.

We didn't have an opportunity to enjoy a proper breakfast in the morning (because our flight was so early), but knowing that, Sheila packed us a picnic breakfast to enjoy at the airport. The scones were delicious!

It looks like there are a few nice B&Bs in the area, but if you are lucky enough to stay at Ashgrove House you will NOT be disappointed.

This was our second stay with the Ashgrove House (we also stayed there in Oct 2005). This was my review on their website for 2005: "The Ashgrove House has the best hospitality in Ireland! My husband Josh and I had such a wonderful time. We enjoyed having an Irish coffee with Sheila and chatting so much. The room was very comfortable and the breakfast was delicious! Sheila, Frank and Julie really went out of their way to make us feel at home and I will never forget it. The Tiernan family made it all the more difficult for us to leave such a beautiful country! I would highly recommend the Ashgrove House to anyone traveling to Ireland."

When we arrived at the Ashgrove House this time, Sheila greeted us with hugs and we had a long chat with her and Frank. They made us feel so welcome and at home!! They went out of their way to make us comfortable, and I really cannot thank them enough. Their rooms are very comfortable and clean, and include a tea service, lots of information on the area, reading materials, TV, and great conversation. The B&B has a great central location, and the Tiernan's are very helpful with suggestions on things to do and places to eat, too.

Breakfast was outstanding, and included Sheila's famous brown bread and scones, a delicious Irish full breakfast, and an assortment of delicious cereals, juices, tea and coffee. Sheila refilled our tea and gave us more goodies until we couldn't eat another bite. Delicious and truly like home.

We were so sad to leave Sheila and Frank again but know we will see them again as soon as possible! Many heartfelt thanks to our friends across the sea.