THE PLACE I HAD ALREADY SEEN
LEENANE
THE PLACE I HAD ALREADY SEEN
​
Before I ever came to Ireland, I had already wandered around Leenane on Google Maps. Something about the fjord, the mountains, and this little place tucked into Connemara had caught my attention. So when I finally drove into Leenane and saw the hotel, I had the strangest feeling: there it is.
​
The Leenane Hotel sits right along the road, with its little balconies, old-world details, and the landscape opening up around it. Inside, a winding staircase rises beside the reception desk, a long lounge gives you somewhere cozy to settle in, and the pub has a fireplace that makes you want to stay awhile. I had Irish stew there my first night, and it was exactly what I wanted after a day on the road.
​
My room was spacious and comfortable, with large windows, a soft bed, extra blankets, plenty of places to charge my things, and a beautifully modern bathroom. My room faced the back, so if I stayed again, I'd ask for a room overlooking the fjord. But I didn't really mind. There were other places I wanted to be.
​
Across the road, the garden sits behind a stone wall with the fjord just beyond it. I found a bench tucked into the hedges, settled in with my crochet, and stayed for a while. I also spent time in the little pub with my hook and yarn, enjoying the quiet.
​
Maybe that's what I remember most about Leenane. I had come because I wanted to see the place I'd been looking at for so long. But once I arrived, I didn't feel the need to rush off and see everything. I could simply sit, crochet, and let myself be there.
​
And sometimes, that's enough.
GOOD TO KNOW
The things I look for when traveling
LOCATION & PARKING
✓ Easy to find, right along the main route into Leenane
✓ Ample on-site parking
✓ Walkable to the village of Leenane
✓ About a 10-minute drive to Killary Sheep Farm
✓ Courtyard and garden across the road from the hotel
DINING & BREAKFAST
✓ Irish breakfast available
✓ Fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, yogurt, cereals & breads
✓ Cozy on-site pub with fireplace
✓ Irish stew and other traditional meals
✓ Comfortable dining room
COMFORT & LITTLE THINGS
✓ Spacious, comfortable rooms
✓ Very soft beds & extra blankets
✓ Modern bathrooms
✓ Desk and comfortable places to settle in
✓ Plenty of outlets for charging devices
✓ Bottled water provided
✓ Cozy lounge and sitting areas
✓ Garden seating with views toward the fjord
MY TAKE
I came to Leenane because I had been imagining this place long before I ever arrived. What I loved most was finally being there sitting in the little pub, crocheting in the garden, and watching the mountains beyond the fjord. It was an easy place to slow down and simply be where I was.