A review of hostels in Ireland

DUBLIN

Before leaving for Ireland, I made reservations at Avalon House in Dublin. I was able to do so over the internet, which was quite convenient - reduces the cost of overseas telephoning, not to mention you don't have to worry about what time it is over there when you call!

There is no curfew at Avalon. If you come in past 10pm, there is a security guard who will let you in when you show your night's pass. In November, I paid 7.50 IEP for a dorm bed, and 15 IEP for a single bed room. Don't forget to bring your own towel! Linen is supplied, and the dorms and bathrooms are co-ed. Breakfast is included in the price of a night's stay.

There were a few problems with the electronic keys... You might find yourself, in the middle of the night, not being able to get into your dorm because your key has been demagnetized and must be reset at the front desk. Otherwise, everything you need is there. The kitchen has all the equipment necessary, and there is a supermarket nearby. Tours leave from St Stephen's Green which isn't more than a five minute walk away. It was a good experience, and I met alot of nice people there from all over Europe.

My new friends were finding themselves in a jam trying to get themselves a bed for the weekend, as everything was booked, even in the low season. Many people "live" there in search of employment or a more permanent place to live. So I made sure I reserved again for my return two weeks later.

Before leaving Dublin, I took advantage of the central reservation's office (a "book ahead" program the independant hostels have in Ireland). At Avalon House, I was able to request a reservation at the Cliffview in Donegal Town. I paid 6 IEP in Dublin, and paid the balance upon arriving in Donegal, and this ensured a bed was waiting for me there in Donegal.

The Cliffview was a welcome change from Avalon House as it had an ensuite - this means there is a bathroom within your dorm room. I stayed in an 8-bed dorm (4 bunks) and paid 7.50 IEP a night. There is a key deposit which is returned to you upon remitting your key. Breakfast is included in the price of a night's stay. Linen is provided, but you must make your own bed.

The Cliffview is a five minute walk to the centre of town. It is a very clean establishment, and very quiet as well. You can hear the cows in the meadow in the morning! I would gladly return to this hostel in my next visit to Ireland.

I spent my first weekend in Galway at Great Western House. It is conveniently located next to the bus and train station, on the south-east corner of Eyre Square in Galway City. If I remember correctly, it was 8 IEP a night in a dorm room there. My dorm room had eight beds (4 bunks) and they were rather noisy, as they're made of metal. However, the showers here were the best I saw in all the hostels. Breakfast is included in the price of a night's stay, but is to be had in the restaurant next door. With your breakfast pass, you can get a discount on bigger breakfasts which are well worth the extra pound or two. Linen is provided, but you must make your own bed.

The staff here are very helpful in suggesting pubs with live music. That is how I came upon Taaffe's. As at Avalon House, you need your breakfast pass to get in after hours. There is a sauna at this hostel. One complaint was that there was an odd stench coming from one of the dorm rooms - luckily it wasn't mine! - and some people had to change rooms because of the smell. That might have been from the carpet, as I noticed the windows were open all day, yet the stench was still there.

I came back to Galway a bit more than a week later and stayed at Kinlay House this time to try something different. It is located at the south-west corner of Eyre square, just a block or two from the Great Western. I paid 9 IEP a night there, as I was staying in a smaller dorm with only 6 beds (3 bunks). It was an ensuite room as well, with a shower and facilities attached to our room.

Breakfast is included, and it is an all you can eat tea, toast and orange juice buffet. It is in the cafeteria of the hostel, where you can also bring in your own groceries. There is a room to store your luggage if you'd like to lock it up during the day. The only problem you might encounter here is that there are a large number of steps to climb to get to the reception desk, and a few more after that to get to your room if you are on the 2nd floor.

I liked Kinlay House better than Great Western House though, because of the cafeteria. I was able to sit in there for hours, writing in my journal or reading my book. The beds aren't as noisy either, and the hostel is across the street from the Irish Tourist Board, making it convenient to get to tour buses.

I left Great Western House to spend three nights in BallinTaggart House in Dingle, Co. Kerry. I paid 7 IEP a night here, and stayed in a four-bed dorm (2 bunks). The room had an ensuite, and linen was provided. There is no breakfast at this time of year, as the restaurant is closed for the season. There is a shuttle van that takes you in and out of the town from the hostel several times a day, and you can get groceries here. The hostel is equipped with two kitchens and plenty of eating space.

As you can tell by the photo (taken by yours truly!), the hostel is on a large piece of land, and is just off the main highway. There is horseback riding available during the high season, and you can hire a wetsuit to go swimming with Fungi the dolphin. The hostel itself has a large reading room with a fire place, and another equally large TV room. The dogs are quite friendly, and so is the staff. I liked this hostel very much, and would gladly return.

I arrived in Cork late on a Thursday evening, and called Kinlay House from the bus station. They gave me great directions to their location across the River Lee. I paid 7.50 IEP a night there, for a bed in a 14-bed dorm. It's a large hostel, and access to the co-ed showers was no hassle at all at this time of year. However, I don't think the sheets were as clean as they could have been. I think I came away from Kinlay House in Cork with several spider bites.

Breakfast is included in the cost of a night's stay, and, like in Galway, it is an all you can eat tea, toast and orange juice buffet. Linen is provided, but here, I would suggest using your own sleeping bag. Most people I met here were looking for work or going to school and living in Kinlay House temporarily. It isn't located in the best part of town, but it's a short walk to the centre of town. Its counterpart in Galway surpasses it by far. They didn't accept Visa, whereas the Galway location did.

last updated January 14, 1999