2016 Award Winners PET FRIENDLY HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2016

Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel, Recess, Co Galway

In Ireland we lag way behind our UK neighbours when it comes to pet friendliness; if you google an area in Britain looking for somewhere to stay, chances are that pet friendly options will pop straight up. Water bowls are put out at doors and in bars wherever you go and dogs are genuinely welcome almost everywhere. But, although it is far from the norm, many establishments here have quietly welcomed dogs for years, and our Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year is one of them…

It’s a pity that Ireland is not very well supplied with pet-friendly places to stay, as it’s a great place to travel with your dog - yet many pet owners decide to go somewhere else that’s more welcoming when deciding where to take a break.

But there are some really lovely places that do welcome dogs and, while that includes a few pretty high-fallutin’ hotels offering doggy welcome packs and even pet pampering while you’re at the spa, plenty of dog owners really prefer the fuss-free places that (with a few necessary restrictions) treat your pet pretty much like one of the family.

A small owner-managed Irish hotel is a wonderful thing - add a wild West of Ireland setting and pet-friendliness to the mix and it becomes irresistible to a surprising number of people.

And Maire O'Connor lovely understated country house hotel, Lough Inagh Lodge is that kind of place. It’s beautifully located in deepest Connemara and many guests bring their dogs because it’s in a brilliant area for walking and other country pursuits.

But even if you do none of that, it’s just so relaxing that pets are welcome in some areas of the hotel (in the cosy bar, for example) and to come in at night.

Well behaved owners are equally welcome, it should be said...