Very surprised by the first review. Myself and my wife are regular visitors to Carlow. We’ve stayed in Barrowville three times in the last two years as my wife’s family is from the area.
The rooms we’ve stayed in were fabulous and overlooked the garden. The house itself is a real sight. Being a fan of antique furniture and art I just love the surrounds in Barrowville.
The house has justly been given numerous awards and that can reassure any wary travellers of the standards that keep my wife and I coming back.

PS I’ve just looked at the prices for Barrowville on the internet and it clearly gives the price of a double room as 47.50 per person, while a single room is 60.

My husband tim and I had been driving for about 6 or 7 hours, with a few stops along the way, and were looking for one night's lodging. We made it to Carlow Town and decided to look there. We had a "Rough Guide to Ireland" book with us and it listed the Barrowville Town House. We thankfully found it and went to check to see if a room was available, as we were both quite tired at that point. It had been a long drive and a rainy day. Mr. Dempsey answered the door and indicated they did have one room for the night. I inquired of the price and checked with my husband to see if he wanted to stay. We took the room and were escorted in to get settled.

We immediately felt unwelcome. My husband and I like to travel casually so perhaps we were not dressed quite to Mr. Dempsey's liking.
The elements had gotten to us a bit after having been out in the rain and mud at Blarney Castle and there was no time to change. I immediately felt as if we were being critiqued on our appearance. Instead of giving us a range of time when breakfast was served we were told that breakfast would be a bit of a problem for a later time as other guests would be eating. He wanted us to eat first off. That was fine seeing as we needed to get an early start to drive to Dingle.

The next morning was when we truly were made to feel as if we were unwanted and that our leaving would be most welcome. My husband and I were a little confused as to where breakfast was being served as when we entered the room that had been pointed out it did not seem as if it was right. We headed downstairs and my husband accidentally discovered the kitchen. Our hosts seemed quite upset that we were down there and hurriedly ushered us off upstairs as if they were worried about us being down there. My husband later tried to be pleasant to Mr. Dempsey by chatting with him, but Mr. Dempsey was quite short with him and seemed to want to get on with getting our breakfast order and getting us out. I can understand if it were busy, but there was only one other couple in the breakfast room that morning and no other guests stirring. We had been to another Bed and Breakfast whose owner took the time to chat with all the guests and still managed to get everyone what they needed.

During breakfast the other couple went to check out and presented their credit card to Mrs. Dempsey who told them that they needn't worry about it now and to get their things together and check out when they were ready. Once through with breakfast, having heard what Mrs. Dempsey had said to the other couple, we did the same. When we went downstairs we rang the bell as instructed to get their attention. I presented my VISA card only to have Mr. Dempsey say to me "no..no..cash please..we can't accept credit cards". Now I had just heard the conversation with the other guests and had clearly seen the sign out front saying that they accepted VISA. I was quite upset by this and mentioned that I saw the VISA sign and that we did not have the 95 euro he quoted for the room in cash. He then said "well I guess we have to take it then". I have never felt so ill treated in my life. I was definitely being judged and deemed to be not trustworthy. My husband and I have good jobs and are hard working people. I felt it extremely demoralizing that he assumed that our credit was not good.

I went online upon our return home and found the Barrowville website. It was then that I found that the highest charge they list on their website is 60 Euro. So then I felt even more upset because it would seem, unless they neglected to change their rates on the website, that we had been overcharged. I have checked in with my credit card company and the charge has not yet come through, but I am anxiously waiting to see what is finally charged to the card as I will most certainly have something to say about it if it is the 95 euro.

My husband and I had been looking forward to our trip to Ireland for quite a while. Aside from this experience we had a wonderful time and were treated most hospitably by everyone else we encountered. In fact we stayed at other Bed and Breakfasts, that while not having the old Georgian house and antiques, were far far better.

I could not let our experience go by unnoticed. I hope that you will take this into consideration and not give this establishment your business.