One of the properties is a traditional thatched cottage consisting of 3 bedrooms, 2 of which are ensuite, together with a well-appointed kitchen, delightful sitting room and private grounds with lawns and fruit trees. The second holiday home is a stone built barn, lovingly restored and consists of 2 bedrooms, both of which are ensuite, together with well-appointed kitchen, sitting room and lovely manicured grounds. A separate laundry room is available to both properties.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
We had amazing time staying in Adare. We were welcomed by a lovely and the most helpful host David. There was a homemade cake and freshly baked bread ready for us, all the essentials (and more!) for breakfast and a super cosy cottage - that feels like stepping back in time. Incredible place to be! Waking up in this beautiful and peaceful countryside, listening to Robins song 🐦⬛ in the garden and saying hello to Jake & Ted 🐶🐶 Lighting up the fire in the evening after a long day of exploring the dramatic Irish landscapes and watching the Atlantic Ocean, spending time listening to the local musicians in the village ... unforgettable experience! 100% recommended authentic Irish stay 🥰
Read more
Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just returned from Ireland where four of us shared the thatched cottage for a week. I can't say enough how comfortable the accommodations were. We had a very minor shower (hot water) issue in one of the bathrooms that was resolved quickly. It was not an problem for us at all. The location is perfect, close to Adare village but far enough away to give us a quiet farm retreat after a day of sight seeing. My niece found the place last year and decided to come back again this year. The garden is lovely and the dogs are cute. Joan greeted us with homemade scones and tea, delicious!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2015
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As driving into town we saw the cottages. We walked back and got a closer look which housed food, shopping etc. I thought the entire town had these cottages but they were the only ones I saw and A couple were destroyed by fire which is a shame.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have had mainly good to great experiences in our travels, guided often by the collective advice of the Trip Advisor community, so it is rare that I contribute a below average review but this is one of those--all the more unusual as the lodging had universal 5 ratings at the time I made my reservation.
The good: We stayed in the thatched cottage with three bedrooms, as opposed to the neighboring thatched roof building which is a converted barn. We had five in our party, including my wife, her 84-year-old father, our daughter and her husband. On first entrance, I received much praise for discovering such a quaint, charming property at such a reasonable rate. The place is just truly lovely and while conservation laws constrain what the owners can do with it, they have done a good job of updating especially the kitchen and baths (for the most part--more on that later), while still retaining the authentic cottage feel. The grounds are also lovely. You reach it by passing through a gate, down a smooth, gravel lane, past the owners’ house, and around a couple of bends. It feels very secluded, yet you are a scant ten minute drive from the Adare city centre and the N21 which takes you north to Limerick or south to County Kerry. We prepared to settle in for our six-night stay, using this as our base of operations for exploring the west coast of Ireland. First, though, we were pleasantly interrupted by our hostess, Joan, who had scones and jam and cream prepared. She fixed a pot of tea while showing us how things worked about the place. This was just what I expected from the reviews I had read. So far, so good...
The not-so-good: Our problems all boiled down to showers, oddly. Or I could say it boiled down to boilers, I suppose, as we fell victim to both timer settings and overheating shut-offs as well as a mis-set shower control unit, all of which resulted in a series of cold and missed showers affecting almost everyone in our party over the next three days. Consequently, by day three I had a full rebellion on my hands. When it got to the point that we were spending more time planning shower timing and contingency plans for the next morning than we were on the next day's sightseeing schedule, I realized we had a problem.
A hopeful glimmer: When we returned the evening of day three following a drive through County Clare, we had our regular consultation with Joan and learned that she had a service man up from Cork who discovered that the plumber had programmed the new shower controller in the master bedroom toilet wrong so the hot water was shutting off prematurely. Joan was puzzled why other guests had not mentioned it since it had been installed some two months prior. She thanked us for letting her know so it could be corrected. For one night and the following morning, we had normal showers.
The final night, and last straw: Day four was a long drive to Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head Drive, capped off by dinner and trad music at Murphy's bar in Dingle Town. This put us back at the thatched cottage later than usual, worn out from a full day of touring. Surprise! One of the showers had no hot water at all. My son-in-law and I tried to troubleshoot the problem, inspecting the boiler in the adjoining laundry room that fed the second shower. We determined that it was completely cold, meaning it had been off for some time, but changing settings and hitting the reset had no effect. We considered phoning our hosts, but by now it was past 1:00 AM and we thought it best not to disturb their sleep, also being concerned that they might momentarily fear some more dire emergency.
The bad: We waited until a little after 7 am to call the house about the showers, to see if we could perhaps use the vacant barn. Joan arrived presently and following a rather unpleasant exchange during which I was chided for calling so early (they were scared out of their wits as they had a friend in the hospital) and reminded that we couldn’t even stay in a hostel anywhere else for the rate we were paying, she concluded that it seemed best if we were to leave immediately, paying for the days we had stayed. When I suggested that a discount might be appropriate given the inconveniences, she said “Oh, so it’s all about the money!” so I backed off that suggestion and agreed we’d pack up and go. Her husband Michael showed up a few minutes later to take an electric meter reading. I asked if they would split the cost and they consented to pay 10 euros to our 15.
Upshot: We hit the road and were fortunate to find a nice place in Killarney (Springfield Lodge) for that evening. Moreover, it allowed us to extend our stay by checking in to our next stop in Kilkenny a day early where I got to watch the hurling final (Kilkenny vs. Tipperary) in our hosts’ living room. Our three nights there were the highlight of our trip, plus the rate was about the same as at Adare Irish Cottages with a lovely full Irish breakfast included as well. (See review of Dunromin Bed & Breakfast, Kilkenny). Our advice would be that the Thatched Cottage would be suited for shorter stays and/or fewer people. The hot water challenges would have been much more manageable if we had only had two or three in our party, rather than five. I should also mention there is a small pack of charming dogs in residence. They almost always greeted us on arrival and raced our car when departing. However, keep your eye on Hector, the languid-seeming Gordon setter. If you leave your car door open unattended you’re liable to find him inside, waiting for a ride. We found he could be quite persistent.
Bonus material: I’m sure this is the longest review I’ve written for TA by a fair piece, but if you’re still with me, I might as well add another incident concerning the cottage’s lighting. It was characteristic of our overall experience at the Thatched Cottages: amusing in retrospect, but maddeningly frustrating at the time…
While Joan had already warned us about the quirky light in the second bath with a mind of its own—it occasionally worked and sometimes not—we also had a surprise from the overhead light in the third bedroom, occupied by my father-in-law. This was the room, or over-sized closet, that was barely large enough to contain a bed that he, at 5’8”, could not lay flat in (“yes, I know: it’s ‘quaint’!”). One night he apologetically summoned us to see if we could turn off the light for him. It seems it had come on of its own accord and would not go off. After involving everyone at hand and trying standard approaches of flipping the switch and attempting to unscrew the bulb, we were considering a forceful termination of the bulbs useful life when it apparently grew tired of the jest and went off. We learned the next day from Joan that it was a fancy-looking Euro-florescent type thing that you push in and twist to remove, as she demonstrated effortlessly. The conclusion being that the number of Americans needed to remove a Euro-style florescent light bulb is something north of five. Joan helpfully explained that the erratic electricity behavior was due to the wiring being original to the 300-year old cottage’s construction. This seemed a little questionable to a couple of members of our party, but with the lack of wifi there (we were told this was “due to the trees”) we were not able to Google to verify the historical events that might have enabled this.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2014
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have stayed at the thatched cottage twice now, and both stays were wonderful. The cottage is beautiful and quaint. The rooms are decorated well and are very comfortable. The garden is idyllic and a perfect spot to read a book or have a cup of tea. The locations is perfect too. The cottage is just a few minutes outside of Adare, but it is still in the countryside. We really enjoyed the three dogs who visited the cottage daily. Joan and her family are also great. Joan had tea and scones ready for us when we arrived, and they were delicious. Joan was also very helpful about answering questions and helping us with the electric showers. Joan even installed wifi when we requested it when making our reservation. I highly recommend the thatched cottage!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2015
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Joan and Michael for the most wonderful visit to Southern Ireland. We came early for my son's wedding near Dublin and stayed in the Barn for 5 nights. Truly amazing!!! If I could give 10 stars I would. My sister and I could have stayed forever. Great location for all the best sights in Southern Ireland. If you need a driver, Joan's friend Mike was the greatest. He drove us 900 miles all over Ireland and we saw everything we wanted to see and more. The barn was beautiful and Joan's art work and antiques make you fell as if you have come home. We could have eaten scones and jam and cream everyday and Joan's were the best. Beautiful scenery and quiet. I slept like a baby. No wifi so you do have to go into Adare to use wifi. If we ever return to Southern Ireland we definitely stay with Joan. We also wanted to take her dog home with us as Darcy was adorable! Thank you so much for the perfect trip and tell cousin Mike hi from us!!
Debbie and Marcy
Read more
Date of stay: August 2014
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family attended a wedding reception in Adare in August this year and for 4 nights we had the pleasure of staying in the Stone Barn. What an absolute treat it was! Joan and Michael Toomey are wonderful host landlords. Joan gave us a full tour of the operations, told us the workings of everything and were available for help at any time. The barn is beautifully decorated, cozy and reeking with charm...everything you would expect an Irish cottage to be. The grounds are lovely and have walking paths for exploring. Just a short drive to the lovely town, it is very convenient and a good home base. My husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and myself are all wanting to return in the not too distant future.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2013
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:There is no bad room! One room is ensuite, other bathroom is very large; window seats and bay...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had the pleasure of Staying in the Stone Barn for 2 nights at the end of our recent Ireland trip. It was a cool raw day and Joan surprised us by greeting us and then putting together homemade scones, with homemade jam and a hot pot of tea. (who does this?!?) This cottage was full of the latest modern amenities while being very quaint and cozy. I absolutely LOVED this place. Spotless and comfortable. Our 8 month son was able to stay in the 2nd bedroom on the far side of the house, which allowed us all to sleep fantastic! Joan brought a pack & Play (cot as they call it in Ireland) with sheets/ blankets and a really nice/clean high chair. All worked perfectly. We really enjoyed coming home early so my son could sleep and we could do laundry, all while relaxing in front of the fire. One rainy morning we even enjoyed our coffee in front of the fire before venturing out for the day. We enjoyed walking the grounds and meeting the cows and dogs as well. This cozy relaxation was the perfect end to a wonderful trip, I just wish we could bring this perfect little place and Joan closer to the states!
Read more
Date of stay: September 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I stayed in the Thatched Cottage for 2 nights. For me it was a dream come true as I have always loved old houses and cottages. It has all the comforts of home but is still so authentic. Joan made us feel so welcome and at home and the scones were delicious. The garden and fields also added to the feel of the lovely country life. It is also so close to Adare, Limerick, Shannon airport and many other tourist areas but in quiet, peaceful surroundings. I would recommend it to all travellers. I wish we could have stayed longer, maybe next time.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adare, located along the Maigue River in the County of Limerick is one of Ireland`s prettiest villages. Beautiful unique thatched cottages line its wide main street such as The Blue Door, Restaurant 1826, Adara Cottage Shop located right across from the Trinitarian Monastery. The walls were built with stones found locally then covered with a mud plaster before being white washed, thatchers use domestic cane to create the beautiful roof lines. Worth a visit.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2018Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Adare area.
LOCATION
IrelandProvince of MunsterCounty LimerickAdare
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
