Located on the edge of Loughrea town about 20 minutes drive from Galway city, this locally owned modern hotel offers a comprehensive range of facilities including the impressive Shore Island Spa and a range of well equipped conference/meeting/function rooms - and it makes an excellent base for visiting Galway city and its environs.
The somewhat institutional exterior and large (but very convenient) carpark belie the quality and comfort of the spacious interior. At its heart is the Lir Bar, which has an official capacity of several hundred but clever design and comfortable seating give it a deceptively intimate air. It is a bar in the modern Irish sense where food is as important as drink - cocktails are a cut above the usual and, in addition to daytime food, it is the main midweek dinner venue as well as serving a good breakfast.
The evening Bar Menu features a good range of dishes and offers honest unpretentious cooking, generous portions, good coffees and friendly, helpful service, along with an informative and well-priced wine list. The hotel's Abbey Restaurant is open at weekends for formal dining and its recessed banquettes, most comfortable chairs and inventive use of lighting and stained glass make for a relaxed ambience in contrast to the buzz of the Lir Bar.
Cooking by Executive Chef Narendra Sharma and a keen kitchen team has finesse and careful attention is paid to local provenance, with with excellent suppliers including Mary's Fish and Gilligan's Farm meats credited on menus.
Almost allof the luxurious bedrooms have a rural or lake view, many have balconies, and all - especially the deluxe rooms and suites - are notable for high quality furnishings and good amenities for both leisure and business guests, including laptop sized safes. The spacious and smartly tiled bathrooms have baths with overhead power showers, and gleaming granite worktop space for guests' bits and bobs.
The popular Shore Island Spa offers all kinds of treatments and the spa area has a jacuzzi, sauna, ice grotto, steam room, sanarium (less hot than a sauna), both light and dark relaxation stations and more.
Loughrea is only around 20 minutes' drive from Galway and makes a relaxed base for visiting the city, exploring the environs and attending events such as Galway Race Week. But the town has plenty to offer in its own right too, including the magnificent St Brendan's Cathedral with some superb stained glass windows and carved corbels. In the adjacent museum, there are some medieval carved statues and very early silver chalices. Families will find plenty of interest in the area too, including the Turoe Pet Farm and Dartfield Horse Riding Centre,
