Plenty of rooms at inns for pooch

ROSITA BOLANDwrote recently about problems sourcing pet-friendly places to stay in Ireland but has been surprised by the reaction of readers and hotel owners since

MY RECENT article about travelling with my dog Boo and trying to find pet-friendly accommodation in Ireland provoked many e-mails from readers who had similar problems.

A number recommeded places they had stayed, and owners of pet-friendly lodgings also contacted Go. Here's a selection of the feedback received.

Margaret Lee from Co Tipperary brought her dog Jess to the Sea View Hotel (seaviewhousehotel.com) in Ballylickey, near Bantry. “Jess was not allowed in the public area but that was not a problem as I had a room at ground level that had its own entrance. There was no extra cost.”

Deirdre Larkin of Co Dublin was one of several readers recommending Rathmullan House (rathmullanhouse.com) hotel in Co Donegal. “Two years ago, we had a family gathering, 16 people and two dogs. The dog owners had ground floor rooms with access to the outside, and as we had a private drawingroom for drinks before dinner, the dogs were allowed to join us at that time. It is a rather special place for humans too!”

“There are two hotels in Connemara where we have stayed with our golden retriever; the Zetland Hotel in Cashel and Ardagh Hotel, Clifden,” writes Therese O’Riordan from Cork city. “I could not say enough about the Ardagh whose owners are dog lovers and on wet days even provided hot water and towels to clean the dog. Both hotels allow the pets to stay in the room and are also welcome in the bar.” See zetland.com and ardaghhotel.com.

Derek Tallant recently stayed with his family and Labrador at Randles Court Hotel (randlescourt.com), Killarney. “My daughter has not stopped asking to go back to her ‘Kerry house’ – the hotel – and the Labrador’s only complaint was he was nervous on the trip on the lift to the third floor where he shared our spacious bedroom.”

“It is sad that more hotels do not offer this service as my wife and I would go away more often as we are both retired,” writes Ray Levy. “Living in Kerry, I can tell you of a little gem of a hotel that welcomes well behaved dogs right in the middle of Killarney, it’s the Royal Hotel.” See killarneyroyal.ie.

Hoteliers and accommodation providers were quick to respond, too. Rose Rima of the Kylemore Pass Hotel (kylemore-pass-hotel- connemara.com) in Connemara writes that they’ve always allowed dogs in the rooms and “never had a dog do any damage”.

As well as your dog, your horse is also welcome at Harvey’s Point Hotel (harveyspoint.com) near Lough Eske, Co Donegal: “We have had a ‘welcome pets’ policy for many years, which has recently been expanded to include horses as well as dogs, cats and small animals,” writes Frank Corr. Rubber Bandits, take note.

Tankardstown House (tankardstown.ie) and cottages in Co Meath, Helen Byrne writes to say, not only welcome dogs, but has four resident “four-legged tour guides living on site”.

“I even got a lovely shower put into the boiler house, for dogs who like to cool off after a refreshing run at Rathmullan Beach,” writes Maggie McAteer, who owns Maggie’s Cottage, a self-catering house in Rathmullan, Co Donegal. See donegalcottageholidays.com.

From the Landmark Trust (irishlandmark.com), a collection of restored period self-catering properties, Dorothy Ellen-White writes to say “the majority of Irish Landmark Trust properties allow dogs at no extra charge.”

David Barry of Trident Holiday Homes (tridentholidayhomes.ie) points out that several of its properties are pet-friendly.

Carbery Cottage B&B (carbery-cottage-guest-lodge.net) on Sheep’s Head, run by Mike Hegarty and Julia Bird has “welcomed over 200 dogs in seven years of business” to its west Cork location.

Frances McDonagh says of her B&B Lough Key House (loughkeyhouse.com) in Boyle, Co Roscommon: “Dogs are welcome. We have a large enclosed courtyard and a dry lockable shed for them.”

Kevin and Bernadette O’Donnell have a B&B Kilmaneen Farmhouse (kilmaneen.com), near Clonmel, Co Tipperary. “We have a two-bedroomed cottage beside our farmhouse and that is where our guests who have dogs usually like to stay as it has the extra space that a dog would like.”