Quiet riverside double room with en-suite in Ennis

Join us at Ardilaun House and relax in one of our spacious double rooms. Make a cup of tea or coffee, wind down in the communal lounge, potter in the large, riverside garden or get the barbecue going ... and enjoy Ennis and its surrounding countryside. A stone’s throw from Shannon Airport, Ennis is the perfect base from which to explore Ireland’s mid-west— the Wild Atlantic Way, the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, the Burren, Bunratty Castle, Aillwee Cave, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna and much more. The space The double bedroom is at entrance-floor level and overlooks the back garden, the river Fergus and the undulating farmland beyond ... truly a tranquil setting for the weary traveller. The room itself boasts a king-size bed, an en-suite bathroom, a dressing table, wardrobe and casual table and seating and includes a TV, wifi and facilities for making tea and coffee. The breakfast room is just along the corridor. The extensive garden includes an away-from-it-all riverside decked area with seating, tables and a barbecue. And, if the mood takes you, you can try and catch your own dinner, straight out of the Fergus. And, when it’s time to wind down, you can share travel yarns with your fellow guests in the communal lounge or sit out on its terrace and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Irish countryside. The house has ample free car-parking but no car is needed for the 600m walk to Ballyallia Lake, an important site for waterbirds that has been recognised as a wetland of international importance. Here there is good access to lakeside walks and, in July and August, kayaks and stand-up boards are available for hire. (See ‘Other things to note’ below for details of other attractions, amenities and services in and around Ennis.) Ardilaun has invested in an ozone generator to facilitate the daily sterilisation of all rooms; in addition we are committed to following all current safety procedures . Guest access The proximity of Shannon Airport ensures that access to Ennis and Ardilaun is straightforward ... just 22 minutes by car. It also makes Ardilaun the perfect overnight stop before catching the flight home. From junction 14 of the M18—from Shannon Airport to the south or Galway in the north—Ardilaun is just over 3km (2 miles) south on the R458 towards Ennis. For those already driving in the area, Ardilaun is on the R458 between Ennis and Barefield. Two bus services every hour also link Shannon Airport and Ennis Bus & Railway Station. Bus Eireann route 51 takes 30 minutes and route 343, 45 minutes; there are also regular rail services between Limerick and Galway that stop here. As there is no onward public transport to Ardilaun from the Station (a 45-minute walk) arrangements can be made to pick up guests at the Bus & Railway Station. Pick-up at Shannon Airport can also be arranged through a local and reliable taxi service (number available on request). By giving the driver your flight details, he will monitor its progress and be there when you arrive. Other things to note Ennis, the county town of Clare, is an historical market town that has lost none of its charm while offering the visitor every modern amenity ... from superb restaurants, as divergent as ‘bring-your own-bottle’ to ‘eat- as-much-as-you-can’, to traditional bars, many of which offer live music all the year round. Ennis bars and pubs are particularly busy in May and November when there are traditional Irish music festivals. In addition, every March there is the prestigious Ennis Book Club Festival which attracts authors with national and international reputations and many of these musical and literary events take place in the Glór, Ennis’ thriving arts centre and theatre. Within walking distance (about 400 metres), the Auburn Lodge has both a restaurant and a bar while there is easy parking close to the many in-town restaurants and bars. On the other hand, if you don’t fancy a night out in town, many restaurants offer a delivery service and there are numerous Takeaways, all just a phone-call away. Snacks and other foodstuffs can also be bought at the nearby Lidl. The town is adequately served by public transport and, as well as buses to and from Shannon Airport, Galway, Limerick and Cork, there are local routes to the coast at Kilrush and Kilkee as well as Lahinch, the Cliffs of Moher and, in the opposite direction, Bunratty Castle. Timetables are available online at Buseireann and Dublincoach. websites (Bunratty / Limerick / Dublin). Additional information on all the locations and attractions for which County Clare is well-known—as well as detailed maps of the area—is available at the town’s excellent Museum and Tourist Information Centre. Here day trips can be arranged that take in the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin and a boat trip to one of the Aran Islands or you can head out instead into the mouth of the Shannon from Carrigaholt for a two-hour trip in search of the bottlenose dolphin. In addition to the many sightseeing opportunities, Clare has much to offer both the energetic traveller and those who gravitate to more leisurely activities ... everything from golf to fishing and horse-riding to surfing and countless opportunities for casual lakeside and seaside walking or taking to the hills. And, if you want to get to know Ennis itself, there are daily walking tours (group and private tours can also be arranged) when, as well as finding out that Ireland’s longest serving Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and President for 14 years, Éamon de Valera, was the local TD (Member of Parliament), you’ll hear tales of famine and poverty, murders and hangings, rebellions and riots ...