Spacious riverside triple room with en-suite

Take a break at Ardilaun House in one of our large triple rooms. Make yourself a hot drink, wander round the large, riverside garden or put a match to the barbecue ... and enjoy Ennis and the peaceful Irish countryside. No distance from Shannon Airport, Ennis is the ideal base from which to experience Ireland’s mid-west— the Wild Atlantic Way, the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, the Burren, Aillwee Cave, Bunratty Castle, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna and much, much more. Welcome! The space This triple room is at entrance-floor level and has a double and a single bed ... the perfect setting for well- earned break. In addition to the en-suite bathroom, there is casual seating, a small table, a dressing table, a wardrobe and includes wifi, a TV and facilities for making a hot drink. The breakfast room is just along the corridor. The large garden, which includes several artworks, slopes gently down to a riverside decked area with seating, tables and a barbecue where, if the mood takes you, you can catch your own dinner, straight from the Fergus. There is plenty of free parking but you won’t need your car for the 600m stroll to Ballyallia Lake, an important ecological site where waterbirds abound that has been recognised as a wetland of international importance. Here there is easy access to lakeside walks and, in July and August, kayaks and stand-up boards are available for hire. (For more details of other attractions, amenities and services in and around Ennis, see ‘Other things to note’ below.) 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 All Ardilaun guests have access to the communal lounge and the riverside gardens at all times and, of course, the breakfast room in the morning. This applies also to the gymnasium but occasionally the space is used for a local yoga class; Ardilaun guests can participate in the class free of charge or have a massage on request. With Shannon Airport only a short distance away—just 22 minutes by car—access to Ennis and Ardilaun couldn’t be easier and makes Ardilaun the perfect overnight stop before travelling home. From Shannon Airport to the south or Galway in the north, Ardilaun is just over 3km (2 miles) south of motorway (the M18) junction 14 on the R458 towards Ennis. If you’re already driving in the area, Ardilaun is between Ennis and Barefield on the R458. Two hourly Bus Eireann services (numbers 51 and 343) also link Shannon Airport and Ennis Bus & Railway Station; the 51 takes 30 minutes and the 343 an additional 15 minutes. There are also regular Irish Rail services between Galway and Limerick that stop at Ennis. As Ardilaun is a 45-minute walk from the station and is there is no onward public transport to that part of town, guests can be picked up at the Bus & Railway Station by arrangement. Guests can arrange to be picked up at Shannon Airport by a local and reliable taxi service (number available on request). It is helpful if the driver has flight details so that he can monitor its progress and be there on time. Other things to note Ennis is the county town of Clare and a market town steeped in history that manages to achieve a happy medium between the old and the new. 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 has something for everyone. The town’s bars and pubs are buzzing in May and November particularly when Ennis hosts traditional Irish music festivals. Every March there is the long-established Ennis Book Club Festival which attracts not only home-grown authors and poets but also those with an international reputations. Many Ennis venues host these literary and musical events but the most prestigious are showcased in the town’s thriving arts centre and theatre, the Glór. A short walk from Ardilaun, you’ll find Auburn Lodge which has both a restaurant and a bar while, if you fancy an evening out in the town, there is plenty of parking and easy access to the town’s restaurants and bars. If you prefer a night in —and haven’t caught dinner in the Fergus—the many restaurants offering a delivery service and the numerous Takeaways, all just a phone-call away. Snacks and beverages can of course be bought at the nearby Lidl. Ennis is well served by public transport and, as well as buses to and from Galway, Limerick and Cork and, of course, Shannon Airport, there are local services to the Wild Atlantic Way at Kilrush, Kilkee, Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher and, in the opposite direction, to Bunratty Castle. Check online for local timetables at Buseireann and Dublincoach websites (Bunratty / Limerick / Dublin). County Clare’s wealth of attractions and locations is well-known but additional information on all of these, as well as detailed maps of the area, is available at the excellent Museum and Tourist Information Centre, part of the Museum complex. Many day-trips can be arranged here such as a two-hour trip from Carrigaholt out into the mouth of the Shannon in search of the bottlenose dolphin, or a day-long excursion to the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin which includes a boat trip to one of the Aran Islands. Alongside the many sightseeing opportunities, visitors can participate in a host of other activities, both energetic and leisurely ... everything from golf to fishing and horse-riding to surfing as well as seaside, lakeside and hill walking. And, should you want to get a feel for Ennis itself, there are daily walking tours (private and group tours can be arranged too) when you’ll hear tales of famine and poverty, murders and hangings, rebellions and riots ... and pick up a nugget or two about Éamon de Valera, Ireland’s longest serving Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and local TD (Member of Parliament).