Have you, or anyone else on the website, any information on this Castle Hotel? It was on a list of "Castles" in the Seattle area travel section in our paper today. Looked at their website, and found it interesting, as we will be in Balina come May. I am just curious, so far haven't thought about staying there. I still enjoy the personal touch of B and Bs.
I stopped by Belleek Castle a few years ago for a tour. I was not that impressed and thought the rooms could be cleaner (especially bathrooms). Of course, things could have changed by now. For the past several years they have chosen to be unrated by the Be Our Guest Book (Irish Hotels Federation), which may tell you that they were not happy with the rating they would be given.
Sorry for the delay in responding -- I had a few, 'Life Getting In The Way' moments and had VERY limited Internet access . . .
We spent one night in October, 2012 at Belleek Castle and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. My report: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t51514087/commentary-on-the-retirement-tour/
We were most fascinated by the Bar (built from wood salvaged from a ship from the Spanish Armada) and the Grounds are well worth a stroll on a fair weather day.
My TripAdvisor review of our stay: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g211864-d625584-Reviews-Belleek_Castle-Ballina_County_Mayo_Western_Ireland.html
As to options in the area:
Moyne Abbey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moyne_Abbey and Rosserk Friary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosserk_Friary and Killala -- which includes a nice Round Tower: http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/killala/killala.html are all part of the Humbert Trail -- which follows the French Invasion of Ireland in support of the Native Irish 1798 Rebellion: http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/castlebar/history/the-races-of-castlebar.html
Also nearby is Ceide Fields: http://www.museumsofmayo.com/ceide.htm and The Father Peyton Center: http://fatherpeytoncentre.ie/
IN Ballina: http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/ballina/ballina-visitors-guide.html
Hope this helps!
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Bob
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