West of Ireland is honeymoon heaven

Ireland - the place where honeymoons began (and begins!)

The west of Ireland also offers a rich assortment of laid-back country inns, castles and hotels ideal for traveling twosomes. Stella Maris, at nearby Ballycastle overlooking Bunatrahir Bay on the north coast of Mayo, is about as secluded as it gets. The 12 rooms all have individual names on their doors, such as Connemara or Rosapenna with appropriate art, instead of numbers, and 11 of them have unfettered sea views.

The public areas of this cozy inn convey an intimate ambiance, with soft leather furnishings in the lounges, open fireplaces with marble mantles, and crisp linens and candlelit tables-for-two in the dining room, capped by a stunning 40-foot-long glassed-in conservatory lounge overlooking the water. Relax in one of the comfortable couches and gaze at the panoramic scenery or at each other.

Other West coast properties with similarly idyllic settings and waterside views include Cashel House Hotel on Cashel Bay in Connemara, Co. Galway; Portfinn Lodge at Leenane, Co Galway; Ashford Castle on Lough Corrib in Cong, Co. Mayo; the Ice House on the River Moy in Co. Mayo; Kilronan Castle overlooking Lough Meelagh in Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon; Lough Rynn Castle beside Lough Rynn in Mohill, Co. Leitrim; the Sandhouse Hotel at Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal, overlooking the Atlantic; Cromleach Lodge on Lough Arrow in Co. Sligo; and Wineport Lodge beside the River Shannon in Co. Westmeath.

In the evenings, no matter where honeymooners roam, there are always plenty of pubs and other entertainments, providing opportunities to mix and mingle with the locals. Getting to know the people and speaking the same language rank high on the list of reasons that honeymooners choose Ireland. It ensures a no-hassle honeymoon.

Patricia Preston has written 23 travel books (15 about Ireland). Visit Pat’s web site (http://www.IrelandExpert.com) or get her latest book, Ireland Travel 101

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