6 Best Hotels in Connemara and County Mayo, Ireland

In Westport's town center, this hotel welcomes guests with a traditional wooden facade but inside, a contemporary glass-roofed lobby becomes the centerpiece of a stylish modern interior decorated with original artwork. The current owners' parents opened the hotel in 1959, and it has been a well-loved Westport institution ever since. The Riverside Restaurant has formal dining, while Madden's Bistro remains a popular value eatery, with a busy local trade. Guest rooms are nicely decorated with cherrywood headboards backed by striking patterned fabrics. The back rooms are the quietest and have views of parkland and the river. Residents have free use of the public pool next door, and reception can arrange special rates for Westport House: ask when booking.

An old town house in the lower, quieter part of Clifden has been extended and converted into a comfortable guesthouse with private parking. The town's bars and restaurants are only two minutes' walk away, yet there can be sheep grazing on a grassy enclosure across the road. Rooms are a good size, with hotel-like features including adjustable radiators, swagged floral curtains, and efficient showers. Help yourself to tea and coffee in the residents' lounge, a good place to compare notes with fellow travelers. The breakfast room has a pine floor and white damask cloths, and the homemade bread is accompanied by homemade jams.

Close to the coast on the edge of Ballycroy National Park, this brand-new low-rise hotel has surprisingly luxurious rooms and furnishings despite its modest architecture and location in the cusp of Mayo's wilderness. The Nephin Restaurant offers gorgeous views to accompany the simple and well-priced menu, and the rooms are tastefully furnished---and, given there's little else in the area, the silent night's sleep is on the house. This hotel offers an excellent overnight opportunity for travelers along the Wild Atlantic Way or for Ballycroy hikers.   

In the heart of the picturesque village of Roundstone, this slim town house offers large, well-appointed rooms, with Bertraghboy Bay, Inis Rí island, and the Twelve Bens views, a full Irish breakfast, and a guest-only lounge for an edge on other local offerings. Ask for a bay side room that overlooks the ocean, or if you're looking for more privacy, ask for details of the self-catering Abby's Cottage, a stunning stone finished house that's also in the heart of Roundstone.

With framed fishing ties and specimen fish given pride of place on the lobby wall, you know you are in a hostelry favored by anglers. But you don't have to be a fisherman to recognize that Ryan's—a clean and comfortable, affordably priced, and totally frills-free hotel—is a total catch. Guest rooms above the pub and bistro are mostly sunny, reasonably sized for the price, and simply decorated with white furniture, plain walls and carpets, and colorful quilted bedspreads. The staff are friendly and informal, and you can hone your dart-playing skills in the lively Crowe's Nest Pub, which has live music year-round. It even has its own bus stop.

The quirky, modern-boutique-hotel hallmarks and Baroque color scheme are a little at odds with the town's otherwise plain offerings, but the focus on idiosyncratic style here does not in any way divert attention from comfort. High-pressure showers, large bathrooms, varnished floorboards, and clean linen ensure a comfortable stay right in the town center. As a nod to its location on the Wild Atlantic Way, there's a drying room for those who embrace the great outdoors and need a place to hang their raincoats, galoshes, or fishing rods. The hotel also has the best food on the peninsula, with cooked-to-order breakfast and hearty, home-baked apple pie later in the evening.