A bad horrific B & B experience in Doolin several years ago scared me off that whole sector of accommodation providers but my faith has been restored. In fact I am wholly restored after four nights sans famille in Connemara with the Rugby Player, Congratulations to Emer and Shane who got married and gave us the excuse for the break!
We stayed in Gannon's B and B in the Square in Clifden - you can't miss their signage once you get to the town centre. We arrived weary and a little battered as the road works between Galway and Clifden are currently lengthy and bumpy, the welcome which we found at the end of the long bright corridor and up a couple of flights of stairs was warm and enthusiastic. Plenty of advice on eateries and encouragement to use the facilities in this special establishment were offered.
The location is excellent central to pubs, restaurants, and even a nail bar. The parking warden doesn't start work in Clifden until 11 so if you're out and about by then you're safe.
Our spacious room was furnished with a large sleigh bed, cotton bed linen, dressing table, and generous storage provided by a sliding door wardrobe. The ensuite offered the usual facilities with copious amounts of hot water at high pressure in a shower big enough to accommodate the ensuite of many a lesser establishment.
What really sets Gannon's apart is the kitchen, sitting room and dining area accessible to guests throughout their stay. Simply and stylishly furnished, you can help yourself to coffee or tea and even self cater (Super Valu is across the road) Chill your wine in the fridge and have a night in, if you're on a longer trip I imagine this would make a comfortable and frugal change. This is separate to the family's living area so there is no sense of intruding in personal space. There are no TV's in the rooms - this is an added attraction for me and the TV in the sitting room is more than adequate.
Breakfast is continental and includes fresh home baked scones, yogurt, muesli etc. If you really need a rasher there would be nothing to stop you nipping across to the supermarket and popping it on the pan yourself.
The decor throughout is elegant without any frilled pelmets or valences, so beloved of many a cluttered B and B which reflects just a little too much personality. It is unfair that Siobhan and Gerry's modern, guest centred hostelry is lumped in with so many dated, poorly maintained establishments and I hope that somebody will soon gather the names and locations of classy B and B's so that celtic tiger cubs used to hotels are not deprived of the good experiences this sector can offer.
PS. Don't forget to call into Gannon's Sports downstairs, I bought the children's winter coats there (hooded and waterproof with removable fleece inside) so that's one less thing to do this week.
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