{"id":197428,"date":"2025-11-24T10:22:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T10:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/197428\/"},"modified":"2025-11-24T10:22:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T10:22:34","slug":"17-of-irelands-cosiest-places-to-stay-this-winter-from-donegal-to-kerry-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/197428\/","title":{"rendered":"17 of Ireland\u2019s cosiest places to stay this winter, from Donegal to Kerry \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter has its compensations. For every windswept, rainy afternoon, there is a welcoming fireside to match, while those deliciously crisp and bright, icy days give you all the more reason to get out for a good walk, before coming back for a little stove-side sofa time. So where should you go? First up, grand isn\u2019t necessarily cosy. Our most palatial pads may be amazing, and the lap of luxury can be exceptionally accommodating \u2013 but cosy is something else entirely. Here is our pick of Ireland\u2019s beautifully warm hot spots.<\/p>\n

Hunters HotelCo Wicklow\"HuntersHunters Hotel Wicklow <\/p>\n

A step back in time, to when fires warmed hearths and cosiness was as standard as a nice cup of tea: Wicklow<\/a> stalwart Hunters is not a place for Scandi-chic, selfies or anything else that passes for cool, and that\u2019s a compliment. Instead it is genuinely gorgeous with lovely gardens in summer, and open fires in winter. Some bedrooms have fireplaces too, so inquire when booking. Dinner, bed and breakfast in winter from \u20ac150 per person; and two nights midweek with dinner on one night from \u20ac230pp. hunters.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Cliff at LyonsCo Kildare\"CliffCliff at Lyons <\/p>\n

Make like a king in a cottage at The Cliff at Lyons, or should that be: channel the spirit of Marie Antoinette, getting cosy with palatial levels of being looked-after in this very elegant world away from the world? Midweek special rates include a welcome Irish coffee or hot whiskey, overnight and breakfast, plus access to the barrel saunas and hot tubs. From \u20ac189 for two in an Estate Room. The Blue Book Luxurious Escape includes overnight, breakfast, dinner, prosecco and a cocktail, plus use of the saunas and hot tubs too, from \u20ac399 in an Estate Room to \u20ac649 in one of the cottages. irelands-blue-book.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Mustard SeedCo Limerick \"MustardMustard Seed, Limerick <\/p>\n

If perusing menus fireside, while sipping at something interesting is your idea of cosy, well: welcome to the Mustard Seed. Built, or so legend has it, in 1884 by the local Catholic priest to annoy his Protestant counterpart, this fine house has done service as both convent and country house. Today the large gardens grow produce for the restaurant. First under the ownership of Dan Mullane, and more recently John Edward Joyce, it has been winning awards ever since. Chef Angel Pirev cooks like a \u2013 you guessed it \u2013 angel, and wintertime dinner bed and breakfast is from \u20ac320 for two. mustardseed.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

[\u00a0The 12 stays of Christmas: Luxury getaways, Santa sleepovers and gourmet experiencesOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Haddington HouseD\u00fan Laoghaire, Co Dublin\"HaddingtonHaddington House, D\u00fan Laoghaire <\/p>\n

Following recent refurbishments, D\u00fan Laoghaire\u2019s seafront Haddington House has a whole new category of cosy rooms. To ramp up the vibe, you\u2019ll also be offered hot water bottles, made by EcoTree in Co Clare \u2013 not that you\u2019ll need one, but just because it\u2019s lovely. Suites and signature rooms have deep baths, while, if you\u2019re feeling like really embracing the feeling of coming back into the warm, they\u2019ll give you a towel, beach bag and bike to nip to the 40 Foot, take a dip and then really get the benefit of their drawingroom fire. From \u20ac195. haddingtonhouse.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Number 31Dublin city \"NumberNumber 31 Leeson Street <\/p>\n

A hotel of two halves, Number 31 is the best of both worlds. The classic Georgian town house has the added attraction of a super stylish mews, designed by legendary architect Sam Stephenson in the 1960s, with a sunken conversation pit complete with fire for late-night chats. Breakfasts here are epic, and coming in via the little laneway off Leeson Street, you feel as if you know something other people don\u2019t, immediately realising that cosy and cool can go hand in hand. From \u20ac199 per room, or stay with them in the heart of Dublin on New Year\u2019s Eve from \u20ac305 per room. number31.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Within the VillageRoundstone, Co Galway\"WithinWithin the Village, Connemara <\/p>\n

Created from a former pub and B&B, Within the Village offers five self-catering houses to rent individually or as a mega headquarters for cosy craic. Restored with the help of local craftspeople, makers and artists, you\u2019re getting effortless rural chic with wood-burning stoves, fresh scones delivered daily and added arty elements by the likes of Joe Hogan, Dorothy Cross and the Tweed Project. There\u2019s a focus on sustainability too. As Within the Village\u2019s Maria Murphy says, \u201csummer may be spectacular in Connemara, but winter has a seductive sprit all of its own\u201d. From \u20ac215 per night. withinthevillage.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

[\u00a0Christmas escapes: Cottages, turrets and lighthouses around Ireland for the perfect resetOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

The TwelveCo Galway\"TheThe Twelve, Co Galway <\/p>\n

Ticking the boxes for location, The Twelve is just off the pier at Barna, ideal for jaunts into Galway city and Connemara. There is an open fire in the bar, and they pride themselves on their wine list. Book into their top-range Suite X11 (from \u20ac400 per night) and warm to a not-quite-real fire, which given the whole open-plan nature of things, you can enjoy from bed, the lounge area or even from the Jacuzzi. The Twelve is completely dog friendly, with four pet suites, from \u20ac185 per night. Pets are also welcome in the Gastro Bar, while Blackthorn, Nathan Hindmarsh\u2019s new restaurant at The Twelve, is a real Sunday Brunch hot spot. Overnight B&B plus dinner at Blackthorn from \u20ac180pps. thetwelvehotel.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

The Olde Post InnCo Cavan\"TheThe Olde Post Inn, Co Cavan <\/p>\n

Gear\u00f3id and Tara Lynch\u2019s Olde Post is, as the name suggests, a beautifully restored 19th-century post office, so picture old stone walls, candlelight, open fires and solid fuel stoves as well as excellent food \u2013 it is Michelin listed, after all. The postmaster\u2019s house has six rooms, so you\u2019re also getting gentle peace and quiet alongside your cosy comforts. Described as a secret worth keeping, you\u2019ll definitely want to write home about it. Winter rates from \u20ac170pps for dinner, B&B. theoldepostinn.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Station House HotelCo Meath\"StationStation House Hotel, Co Meath <\/p>\n

From an old post office to a former station house, this Co Meath spot is another cosy gem. The rooms are country-luxe, there are snugs, lounges and open fires to hang out alongside, and the food is local Boyne Valley fabulous. A series of midweek mini-breaks add to the adventure, including Christmas Wreath Making with Jenny Murphy on December 3rd, Sourdough Breadmaking with Chris Brownlow of Bread with Benefits on January 23rd, and Ceramics with Gr\u00e1inne Rafter on February 6th, all from \u20ac180pps. Or try having A Sunday Well Spent, with B&B and lunch from \u20ac165pps. stationhousehotel.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Eccles HotelCo Cork\"EcclesEccles Hotel, Glengarriff <\/p>\n

Glengarriff\u2019s Eccles is known as Ireland\u2019s first purpose-built hotel, dating from 1745. Its facade was added to in 1861 to impress Queen Victoria, who was on her way to Killarney. These days you can hang out by open fires in the lounge or book yourself a hot tub on the terrace with tasty views whatever the weather. And talking of tasty, head chef Addie Attwell serves up west Cork\u2019s finest in surroundings that double the cosy quotient when the weather batters outside. On brighter days, work up an appetite in the nearby Glengarriff Nature Reserve. From \u20ac160 per room, or take the two-night Twixtmas break including dinner, bed and breakfast, from \u20ac485 for two. eccleshotel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Sheen FallsCo Kerry\"SheenSheen Falls, Co Kerry <\/p>\n

This Kenmare pad is definitely in the luxe bracket, but its location, right by the rushing river, makes the winter welcome all the warmer. Book one of the four suites with an open fire or check out one of the thatched cottages for a full-on retreat vibe. Recently awarded two Michelin Keys, the Three for Two By the Falls offer gives two nights B&B and dinner on both evenings, from \u20ac857 per room, available until February 2026. Stay over Christmas itself from December 24th to 26th, and enjoy a champagne breakfast, Christmas lunch, and a Gala dinner on St Stephen\u2019s Day. Santa Claus will be there too, from \u20ac1,800pps, with children sharing from \u20ac90 per night. sheenfallslodge.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Wineport LodgeCo Westmeath\"WineportWineport Lodge Pavilion <\/p>\n

Wineport takes its name from the days, 1,500 years ago, give or take a decade or two, when wine had come direct from France to be landed on these shores in order to keep the local monks happy. Today you will be more than happy on the banks of Lough Ree, with welcoming fires and stoves, including one in the lakeside pavilion, and a lovely laid-back atmosphere. Try the Festive Bubble Break with bed, breakfast, dinner, a hot tub session, Prosecco and truffles, available until December 22nd from \u20ac480 for two; or take a midweek break with dinner, bed and breakfast from \u20ac380 for two. wineport.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Castle LeslieCo Monaghan \"CastleCastle Leslie, Co Monaghan <\/p>\n

If the warm breath of horses is your idea of heaven, this Monaghan hot spot, famed for its stables, is for you. Still, you don\u2019t have to go trotting through mud to appreciate the wood-burning stoves and fireside sofas in both the Castle and the Lodge. Each of the Castle bedrooms is unique, with its own history of illustrious overnight guests and Leslie family members, such as writer Anita Leslie, who liked to compose her works, fuelled by a diet of smoked salmon and Champagne. A pre-Christmas break with dinner in Conor\u2019s Bar from \u20ac320 per room. B&B in a Castle Room from \u20ac315 per room, castleleslie.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Lough EskeCo Donegal\"LoughLough Eske <\/p>\n

Another of those grander hotels that does cosy oh so well is Donegal\u2019s Lough Eske. Huge fireplaces and open fires are a great start, while you\u2019ll also find more contemporary, but still cosy gas fires in the newly redone Donegal Suites. From \u20ac600 a night, the suites can sleep a family of up to five. Or book the Lake Lodge and you will get this small lakeside gem all to yourself. It has a wood-burning stove, two bedrooms and a deliciously old-style copper bath, from \u20ac400 per night. Elsewhere the Celebrate at the Castle package includes overnight, Prosecco and chocolates, breakfast and use of the pool and guest bicycles, from \u20ac249 per room. It is available until the end of March. lougheskecastlehotel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Clontarf CastleCo Dublin\"ClontarfClontarf Castle: Knight’s Bar <\/p>\n

Curl up in a castle? What could be cosier? No draughty halls here \u2013 instead Clontarf Castle combines contemporary design and a dose of art (from the quirky to the cool), with ancient halls, huge fireplaces and dark panelled lounges and diningrooms. Add the festive decorations and it\u2019s quite the deal. The Winter Retreat package from \u20ac254 includes wine and chocolates, dinner in Fahrenheit Restaurant or Knight\u2019s Bar, plus B&B. Or check in on Christmas Eve, with mulled wine and mince pies, have dinner, a Champagne breakfast on Christmas morning, followed by Christmas lunch, and if you still have room, evening snacks, \u20ac1,598 for two for two nights. clontarfcastle.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Dunmore HouseCo Cork\"DunmoreDunmore House, Co Cork <\/p>\n

Crashing waves are your backdrop at Dunmore House, as you revel in the views over Clonakilty Bay. Here you\u2019re wrapping up warm for a breezy walk on the gorgeous beaches, or popping into Clon for a spot of shopping, where you\u2019ll find plenty of local craft and design. Then it\u2019s back fireside for hot chocolate, or something stronger, with B&B from \u20ac220 per room. But book now, because Dunmore closes over Christmas, and then you\u2019ve only got until January 4th before they all take a well-earned break until spring 2026. dunmorehouse.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Ballynahinch CastleCo Galway\"BallynahinchBallynahinch Castle Hotel <\/p>\n

Anyone who has stayed at Ballynahinch during a storm might almost wish for woeful weather, but even when the winter sun shines, this is still a very cosy spot \u2013 plus you get all the pleasures of garden rambles and lake walks, possibly popping by one of the lakeshore saunas en route. Back at the hotel, think thick walls, crackling fires, comfy beds and lovely lounges to loll in. B&B from \u20ac315 per room, or stay overnight with dinner at the Fisherman\u2019s Pub from \u20ac460 for two. Go all out for Christmas itself with three nights\u2019 dinner, bed and breakfast, cocktails, Champagne, crackers, music, board games, quizzes \u2013 in fact, everything you might have at home, without the arguments and the washing-up. From \u20ac3,600 for two for three nights, ballynahinch-castle.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Winter has its compensations. For every windswept, rainy afternoon, there is a welcoming fireside to match, while those…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":197429,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[42554,1877,6368,20688,18,117,1878,19,17,957,3625,1844,361,1873,35046,19871,946],"class_list":{"0":"post-197428","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-cavan","9":"tag-cork","10":"tag-donegal","11":"tag-dun-laoghaire","12":"tag-eire","13":"tag-entertainment","14":"tag-galway","15":"tag-ie","16":"tag-ireland","17":"tag-kerry","18":"tag-kildare","19":"tag-limerick","20":"tag-magazine","21":"tag-meath","22":"tag-monaghan","23":"tag-westmeath","24":"tag-wicklow"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115604185130336313","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197428\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/197429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=197428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=197428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}