"Really good location in the centre of Kilrush. Great evenings at Crotty's and Buggles for Irish music. We covered the coast from Galway to the Dingle peninsula. Also went to the Aran Isles-beautiful and fascinating. A really good meal at P.Morrissey's in Doonbeg. We liked Kilrush, Kilkee, Galway, Limerick, Kinvarra, Ballyheigue, the Burren, the cliffs of Moher and the cave at Doolin. A great holiday with a great base at Kilrush. A lovely, comfortable place to stay. Thanks to Paul and the ..."

" Paul was extremely helpful with helping us have a very memorable experience of traveling around Ireland. Thank you "

"It is central to the Kilrush town and only a very short walk to the local facilities such as pubs, butchers, cafes,,etc. There is an excellent Italian restaurant just around the corner. The only issue of access is the stairs which older persons should consider. We would not hesitate to return there when we come back possibly next year. The owner Paul was always available by phone and provided all information in the most friendly manner."

"We found this accomodation to be far above what we had anticipated and as a result it was a home rather than holiday accomodation. It is central to the Kilrush town and only a very short walk to the local facilities such as pubs, butchers, cafes,,etc. There is an excellent Italian restaurant just around the corner. The only issue of access is the stairs which older persons should consider. We would not hesitate to return there when we come back possibly next year. The owner Paul was always ..."

"The Merchant's House is a MUST stay if you are traveling in County Clare or on the Wild Atlantic Way. Kilrush is a small city with so much to offer! And the Merchant's House is located right in the center! Close to pubs, restaurants, and grocery stores, everything you need is within 5 minutes of walking/driving. We loved to sit at the widows of this two story flat and watch the locals in their daily life. The Merchant's House offers all one needs for a comfortable and relaxing stay. We spent a lot of time in the parlor/sitting room. You can light a fire on cold nights. In the town there are many small quaint shops that you can't miss! Check out the VanDeleur walled gardens for some beautiful plants and history. Scattery Island is seriously a MUST and you can get to it from the marina in Kilrush. Paul the owner is so friendly and welcoming, always available for anything you may need. He even gave us a tour of the Merchant's Store (rental below us) and some history of the houses. If I could give more stars I would! I would stay here again in a heartbeat!"

"The Merchant's House is a MUST stay if you are traveling in County Clare or on the Wild Atlantic Way. Kilrush is a small city with so much to offer! And the Merchant's House is located right in the center! Close to pubs, restaurants, and grocery stores, everything you need is within 5 minutes of walking/driving. We loved to sit at the widows of this two story flat and watch the locals in their daily life. The Merchant's House offers all one needs for a comfortable and relaxing stay. We spent a ..."

"It was lovely to stay in a house that took you back in time whilst still offering all the mod cons. It was great to look out onto the market square and hear the town gently waking up. My teenage children took a morning run to Cappagh and called into the shops on their way back always to be greeted warmly by the shopkeepers. There was plenty to do, we walked to Vandeleur gardens, had breakfast at Jamm, and admired the cakes in Miniters. We walked along the cliffs at Kilkee and visited the Cliffs of Moher, but nothing was as nice as just being in the village of Kilrush because my children felt everyone was just so friendly. At night we enjoyed live traditional irish music in Crotty’s - great atmosphere, a real sense that this music had been handed down from generation to generation, great food and they were genuinely interested in how they could help you have a good holiday. Then only a few steps and you could get back to the atmosphere of the Merchants house. Climbing up the wooden stairs. Looking out of the sash windows. For a brief moment you felt like it was Kilrush 1906 - wouldn't that be something! Paul and his family were wonderful, very informative and friendly. They have a genuine interest in helping you enjoy your holiday and always have time to have a chat and ask you how your day has been. A holiday we will always remember and I hope we will return. Ps. We all loved having breakfast in the kitchen with the blue china and the pantry!"

"An old, beautifully restored apartment with local atmosphere in a lovely Irish town."

"The merhant's House has been sympathetically restored but with all the modern conveniences we now expect. Fabulous area to explore both locally and a bit further afield. Nice friendly town and pubs."

"Very friendly host with a great knowledge of the history of the town. The merhant's House has been sympathetically restored but with all the modern conveniences we now expect. Fabulous area to explore both locally and a bit further afield. Nice friendly town and pubs."

"They are the kind of people you would want as friends in any situation. This made the holiday that much more enjoyable! Great time for sure!"

"Owner of property and his family are extremely friendly and helpful. They are the kind of people you would want as friends in any situation. This made the holiday that much more enjoyable! Great time for sure!"

"The property is exactly as described (actually the house is bigger than what I expected) and the location was just perfect. The owner is very welcoming and friendly."

"We would highly recommend the Merchants House as a holiday home. In fact it was like a home from home and we didn't feel that we were in holiday accommodation. The owner was so welcoming and his family were too. The property is amazing and we were honored to stay in a place full of history. Kilrush is a great base for visiting tourist attractions and there is also lots to do in Kilrush such as dolphin watching, shopping, eating and more."

"Wonderful house to stay in, very clean,spacious and you felt that you could experience the history of Kilrush. The owner Paul and his family were very approachable, friendly and gave us a real Irish welcome.My teenagers enjoyed their daily run to Cappagh and shopping in the local bakery, sweet shops and listening to traditional live Irish music in the street and at Crotty's pub. A holiday we will always remember."

"The Merchant's House was a welcoming,comfortable home away from home. Paul met us and gave all the information we needed to make our visit happy and interesting for first time visitors to this part of Ireland."

"I absolutely adored my time here, and daydream often of Kilrush and The Merchant's House. I'm frightfully lazy about leaving reviews, but I think of this place every once in a while and smile, so I figured I should finally leave one! My Mum and I stayed here for a few nights in late March and had a wonderful time. The Gleesons were very accommodating and made sure we felt right at home. In person the Merchant's House is even more adorable than the photos, and the many small details like books and artwork make the place feel very homey. I found that the rooms were all very spacious, and the large kitchen was a treat. The weather when we were there was chilly, but with the fireplace lit it was very manageable. One of my favorite parts of the apartment were the large windows with a view overlooking the market square. The central Kilrush location really cannot be beaten! The car park is only a few steps away, and you can also walk anywhere in town. Aside from the usual pubs, there is a good bakery called Considine's just down the street, and if you walk a bit past that you will reach the shore and a marina. I would also urge you to have a look around Gleeson's hardware store, just down the street, as it carries much more than just hardware. The best souvenir of the whole trip was a darling little mug with a strawberry motif that I purchased there. The Merchant's House is a great place to stay. I has character, history, and is large and comfortable. It's the kind of place you are happy to relax in after a long day of site-seeing. In the future I would love to return!"

"I absolutely adored my time here, and daydream often of Kilrush and The Merchant's House. I'm frightfully lazy about leaving reviews, but I think of this place every once in a while and smile, so I figured I should finally leave one! My Mum and I stayed here for a few nights in late March and had a wonderful time. The Gleesons were very accommodating and made sure we felt right at home. In person the Merchant's House is even more adorable than the photos, and the many small details like books and artwork make the place feel very homey. I found that the rooms were all very spacious, and the large kitchen was a treat. The weather when we were there was chilly, but with the fireplace lit it was very manageable. One of my favorite parts of the apartment were the large windows with a view overlooking the market square. The central Kilrush location really cannot be beaten! The car park is only a few steps away, and you can also walk anywhere in town. Aside from the usual pubs, there is a good bakery called Considine's just down the street, and if you walk a bit past that you will reach the shore and a marina. I would also urge you to have a look around Gleeson's hardware store, just down the street, as it carries much more than just hardware. The best souvenir of the whole trip was a darling little mug with a strawberry motif that I purchased there. The Merchant's House is a great place to stay. I has character, history, and is large and comfortable. It's the kind of place you are happy to relax in after a long day of site-seeing. In the future I would love to return!"

"A real jewel of a place, lovingly restored. We've had an excellent stay, just what we were looking for. The house is big and comfortable enough for a family of five with every little detail catching the eye. Both the house and the town helped us experience real Ireland."

"I absolutely adored my time here, and daydream often of Kilrush and The Merchant's House. I'm frightfully lazy about leaving reviews, but I think of this place every once in a while and smile, so I figured I should finally leave one! My Mum and I stayed here for a few nights in late March and had a wonderful time. The Gleesons were very accommodating and made sure we felt right at home. In person the Merchant's House is even more adorable than the photos, and the many small details like books and artwork make the place feel very homey. I found that the rooms were all very spacious, and the large kitchen was a treat. The weather when we were there was chilly, but with the fireplace lit it was very manageable. One of my favorite parts of the apartment were the large windows with a view overlooking the market square. The central Kilrush location really cannot be beaten! The car park is only a few steps away, and you can also walk anywhere in town. Aside from the usual pubs, there is a good bakery called Considine's just down the street, and if you walk a bit past that you will reach the shore and a marina. I would also urge you to have a look around Gleeson's hardware store, just down the street, as it carries much more than just hardware. The best souvenir of the whole trip was a darling little mug with a strawberry motif that I purchased there. The Merchant's House is a great place to stay. I has character, history, and is large and comfortable. It's the kind of place you are happy to relax in after a long day of site-seeing. In the future I would love to return!The accommodation is beautiful and the location is perfect for a quiet, authentic Irish coastal town holiday. The first thing to say about this gorgeously restored apartment is that it is much, much bigger than it looks in these photos. We were really surprised to find that the kitchen is large and has an adjoining butlers pantry; the living room is much bigger than we expected; and the bedrooms and bathrooms are on a separate floor, up a large, wide, winding staircase. It's been beautifully restored and one suspects Farrow and Ball played a significant part in the decor. We deliberately sought out lovely accommodations as we wanted a place where we would feel happy and spoiled about having nights in with a DVD and staying in for supper; we were tired, and just wanted a rest. But we also knew that we would be bored of that after a few days and so we also looked for a town with a quiet, friendly population and exploring to be had within short distances. We found that spot here. The town of Kilrush is quiet - perhaps because we went at the end of September - and was perfect for what we were seeking. We wanted a town with one or two local pubs populated by friendly locals and served food, in a town by the sea, with a little to explore by car in the vicinity. That is what Kilrush is; it's not got a huge nightlife and you'd be sorely disappointed if you were looking for a party town, but if you want genuinely low-key high-friendliness Ireland, you can find it here. Sites like TripAdvisor will tell you about Crotty's pub (which serves lovely Guinness and great, though somewhat overpriced food) and the Buggles Bar (with free wifi and friendly owners who are happy to chat to blow-ins like us). However, we recommend you seek out Johnsons Bar, opposite Gleeson's Hardware store: the Guinness is fresh and the banter is friendly and, if you're really lucky, you may even get invited to join a lock-in without even noticing it happened. That all sounds glowing, so were there any drawbacks? Well... in terms of the flat, we could have done with some instructions on how to use the cooker, and the en suite shower is a bit small and that bathroom has no shelves. The staircases, particularly as you enter the flat, are rather steep and the television is very small. It would also be very hard to stay here without a car, though I suppose you could easily get here by taxi from Shannon airport. Overall we loved the short time we stayed here. We were supposed to stay a week, but our time in Kilrush was cut way too short due to being called home. We hope we'll go back to finish what we started, and see the dolphins the bay."

"The Merchant's House was a welcoming,comfortable home away from home. Paul met us and gave all the information we needed to make our visit happy and interesting for first time visitors to this part of Ireland.I absolutely adored my time here, and daydream often of Kilrush and The Merchant's House. I'm frightfully lazy about leaving reviews, but I think of this place every once in a while and smile, so I figured I should finally leave one! My Mum and I stayed here for a few nights in late March and had a wonderful time. The Gleesons were very accommodating and made sure we felt right at home. In person the Merchant's House is even more adorable than the photos, and the many small details like books and artwork make the place feel very homey. I found that the rooms were all very spacious, and the large kitchen was a treat. The weather when we were there was chilly, but with the fireplace lit it was very manageable. One of my favorite parts of the apartment were the large windows with a view overlooking the market square. The central Kilrush location really cannot be beaten! The car park is only a few steps away, and you can also walk anywhere in town. Aside from the usual pubs, there is a good bakery called Considine's just down the street, and if you walk a bit past that you will reach the shore and a marina. I would also urge you to have a look around Gleeson's hardware store, just down the street, as it carries much more than just hardware. The best souvenir of the whole trip was a darling little mug with a strawberry motif that I purchased there. The Merchant's House is a great place to stay. I has character, history, and is large and comfortable. It's the kind of place you are happy to relax in after a long day of site-seeing. In the future I would love to return!The accommodation is beautiful and the location is perfect for a quiet, authentic Irish coastal town holiday. The first thing to say about this gorgeously restored apartment is that it is much, much bigger than it looks in these photos. We were really surprised to find that the kitchen is large and has an adjoining butlers pantry; the living room is much bigger than we expected; and the bedrooms and bathrooms are on a separate floor, up a large, wide, winding staircase. It's been beautifully restored and one suspects Farrow and Ball played a significant part in the decor. We deliberately sought out lovely accommodations as we wanted a place where we would feel happy and spoiled about having nights in with a DVD and staying in for supper; we were tired, and just wanted a rest. But we also knew that we would be bored of that after a few days and so we also looked for a town with a quiet, friendly population and exploring to be had within short distances. We found that spot here. The town of Kilrush is quiet - perhaps because we went at the end of September - and was perfect for what we were seeking. We wanted a town with one or two local pubs populated by friendly locals and served food, in a town by the sea, with a little to explore by car in the vicinity. That is what Kilrush is; it's not got a huge nightlife and you'd be sorely disappointed if you were looking for a party town, but if you want genuinely low-key high-friendliness Ireland, you can find it here. Sites like TripAdvisor will tell you about Crotty's pub (which serves lovely Guinness and great, though somewhat overpriced food) and the Buggles Bar (with free wifi and friendly owners who are happy to chat to blow-ins like us). However, we recommend you seek out Johnsons Bar, opposite Gleeson's Hardware store: the Guinness is fresh and the banter is friendly and, if you're really lucky, you may even get invited to join a lock-in without even noticing it happened. That all sounds glowing, so were there any drawbacks? Well... in terms of the flat, we could have done with some instructions on how to use the cooker, and the en suite shower is a bit small and that bathroom has no shelves. The staircases, particularly as you enter the flat, are rather steep and the television is very small. It would also be very hard to stay here without a car, though I suppose you could easily get here by taxi from Shannon airport. Overall we loved the short time we stayed here. We were supposed to stay a week, but our time in Kilrush was cut way too short due to being called home. We hope we'll go back to finish what we started, and see the dolphins the bay."

"It was lovely to stay in a house that took you back in time whilst still offering all the mod cons. It was great to look out onto the market square and hear the town gently waking up. My teenage children took a morning run to Cappagh and called into the shops on their way back always to be greeted warmly by the shopkeepers. There was plenty to do, we walked to Vandeleur gardens, had breakfast at Jamm, and admired the cakes in Miniters. We walked along the cliffs at Kilkee and visited the Cliffs of Moher, but nothing was as nice as just being in the village of Kilrush because my children felt everyone was just so friendly. At night we enjoyed live traditional irish music in Crotty’s - great atmosphere, a real sense that this music had been handed down from generation to generation, great food and they were genuinely interested in how they could help you have a good holiday. Then only a few steps and you could get back to the atmosphere of the Merchants house. Climbing up the wooden stairs. Looking out of the sash windows. For a brief moment you felt like it was Kilrush 1906 - wouldn't that be something! Paul and his family were wonderful, very informative and friendly. They have a genuine interest in helping you enjoy your holiday and always have time to have a chat and ask you how your day has been. A holiday we will always remember and I hope we will return. Ps. We all loved having breakfast in the kitchen with the blue china and the pantry!The Merchant's House was a welcoming,comfortable home away from home. Paul met us and gave all the information we needed to make our visit happy and interesting for first time visitors to this part of Ireland.I absolutely adored my time here, and daydream often of Kilrush and The Merchant's House. I'm frightfully lazy about leaving reviews, but I think of this place every once in a while and smile, so I figured I should finally leave one! My Mum and I stayed here for a few nights in late March and had a wonderful time. The Gleesons were very accommodating and made sure we felt right at home. In person the Merchant's House is even more adorable than the photos, and the many small details like books and artwork make the place feel very homey. I found that the rooms were all very spacious, and the large kitchen was a treat. The weather when we were there was chilly, but with the fireplace lit it was very manageable. One of my favorite parts of the apartment were the large windows with a view overlooking the market square. The central Kilrush location really cannot be beaten! The car park is only a few steps away, and you can also walk anywhere in town. Aside from the usual pubs, there is a good bakery called Considine's just down the street, and if you walk a bit past that you will reach the shore and a marina. I would also urge you to have a look around Gleeson's hardware store, just down the street, as it carries much more than just hardware. The best souvenir of the whole trip was a darling little mug with a strawberry motif that I purchased there. The Merchant's House is a great place to stay. I has character, history, and is large and comfortable. It's the kind of place you are happy to relax in after a long day of site-seeing. In the future I would love to return!The accommodation is beautiful and the location is perfect for a quiet, authentic Irish coastal town holiday. The first thing to say about this gorgeously restored apartment is that it is much, much bigger than it looks in these photos. We were really surprised to find that the kitchen is large and has an adjoining butlers pantry; the living room is much bigger than we expected; and the bedrooms and bathrooms are on a separate floor, up a large, wide, winding staircase. It's been beautifully restored and one suspects Farrow and Ball played a significant part in the decor. We deliberately sought out lovely accommodations as we wanted a place where we would feel happy and spoiled about having nights in with a DVD and staying in for supper; we were tired, and just wanted a rest. But we also knew that we would be bored of that after a few days and so we also looked for a town with a quiet, friendly population and exploring to be had within short distances. We found that spot here. The town of Kilrush is quiet - perhaps because we went at the end of September - and was perfect for what we were seeking. We wanted a town with one or two local pubs populated by friendly locals and served food, in a town by the sea, with a little to explore by car in the vicinity. That is what Kilrush is; it's not got a huge nightlife and you'd be sorely disappointed if you were looking for a party town, but if you want genuinely low-key high-friendliness Ireland, you can find it here. Sites like TripAdvisor will tell you about Crotty's pub (which serves lovely Guinness and great, though somewhat overpriced food) and the Buggles Bar (with free wifi and friendly owners who are happy to chat to blow-ins like us). However, we recommend you seek out Johnsons Bar, opposite Gleeson's Hardware store: the Guinness is fresh and the banter is friendly and, if you're really lucky, you may even get invited to join a lock-in without even noticing it happened. That all sounds glowing, so were there any drawbacks? Well... in terms of the flat, we could have done with some instructions on how to use the cooker, and the en suite shower is a bit small and that bathroom has no shelves. The staircases, particularly as you enter the flat, are rather steep and the television is very small. It would also be very hard to stay here without a car, though I suppose you could easily get here by taxi from Shannon airport. Overall we loved the short time we stayed here. We were supposed to stay a week, but our time in Kilrush was cut way too short due to being called home. We hope we'll go back to finish what we started, and see the dolphins the bay."

"The Merchant's House is a MUST stay if you are traveling in County Clare or on the Wild Atlantic Way. Kilrush is a small city with so much to offer! And the Merchant's House is located right in the center! Close to pubs, restaurants, and grocery stores, everything you need is within 5 minutes of walking/driving. We loved to sit at the widows of this two story flat and watch the locals in their daily life. The Merchant's House offers all one needs for a comfortable and relaxing stay. We spent a lot of time in the parlor/sitting room. You can light a fire on cold nights. In the town there are many small quaint shops that you can't miss! Check out the VanDeleur walled gardens for some beautiful plants and history. Scattery Island is seriously a MUST and you can get to it from the marina in Kilrush. Paul the owner is so friendly and welcoming, always available for anything you may need. He even gave us a tour of the Merchant's Store (rental below us) and some history of the houses. If I could give more stars I would! I would stay here again in a heartbeat!It was lovely to stay in a house that took you back in time whilst still offering all the mod cons. It was great to look out onto the market square and hear the town gently waking up. My teenage children took a morning run to Cappagh and called into the shops on their way back always to be greeted warmly by the shopkeepers. There was plenty to do, we walked to Vandeleur gardens, had breakfast at Jamm, and admired the cakes in Miniters. We walked along the cliffs at Kilkee and visited the Cliffs of Moher, but nothing was as nice as just being in the village of Kilrush because my children felt everyone was just so friendly. At night we enjoyed live traditional irish music in Crotty’s - great atmosphere, a real sense that this music had been handed down from generation to generation, great food and they were genuinely interested in how they could help you have a good holiday. Then only a few steps and you could get back to the atmosphere of the Merchants house. Climbing up the wooden stairs. Looking out of the sash windows. For a brief moment you felt like it was Kilrush 1906 - wouldn't that be something! Paul and his family were wonderful, very informative and friendly. They have a genuine interest in helping you enjoy your holiday and always have time to have a chat and ask you how your day has been. A holiday we will always remember and I hope we will return. Ps. We all loved having breakfast in the kitchen with the blue china and the pantry!The Merchant's House was a welcoming,comfortable home away from home. Paul met us and gave all the information we needed to make our visit happy and interesting for first time visitors to this part of Ireland.I absolutely adored my time here, and daydream often of Kilrush and The Merchant's House. I'm frightfully lazy about leaving reviews, but I think of this place every once in a while and smile, so I figured I should finally leave one! My Mum and I stayed here for a few nights in late March and had a wonderful time. The Gleesons were very accommodating and made sure we felt right at home. In person the Merchant's House is even more adorable than the photos, and the many small details like books and artwork make the place feel very homey. I found that the rooms were all very spacious, and the large kitchen was a treat. The weather when we were there was chilly, but with the fireplace lit it was very manageable. One of my favorite parts of the apartment were the large windows with a view overlooking the market square. The central Kilrush location really cannot be beaten! The car park is only a few steps away, and you can also walk anywhere in town. Aside from the usual pubs, there is a good bakery called Considine's just down the street, and if you walk a bit past that you will reach the shore and a marina. I would also urge you to have a look around Gleeson's hardware store, just down the street, as it carries much more than just hardware. The best souvenir of the whole trip was a darling little mug with a strawberry motif that I purchased there. The Merchant's House is a great place to stay. I has character, history, and is large and comfortable. It's the kind of place you are happy to relax in after a long day of site-seeing. In the future I would love to return!The accommodation is beautiful and the location is perfect for a quiet, authentic Irish coastal town holiday. The first thing to say about this gorgeously restored apartment is that it is much, much bigger than it looks in these photos. We were really surprised to find that the kitchen is large and has an adjoining butlers pantry; the living room is much bigger than we expected; and the bedrooms and bathrooms are on a separate floor, up a large, wide, winding staircase. It's been beautifully restored and one suspects Farrow and Ball played a significant part in the decor. We deliberately sought out lovely accommodations as we wanted a place where we would feel happy and spoiled about having nights in with a DVD and staying in for supper; we were tired, and just wanted a rest. But we also knew that we would be bored of that after a few days and so we also looked for a town with a quiet, friendly population and exploring to be had within short distances. We found that spot here. The town of Kilrush is quiet - perhaps because we went at the end of September - and was perfect for what we were seeking. We wanted a town with one or two local pubs populated by friendly locals and served food, in a town by the sea, with a little to explore by car in the vicinity. That is what Kilrush is; it's not got a huge nightlife and you'd be sorely disappointed if you were looking for a party town, but if you want genuinely low-key high-friendliness Ireland, you can find it here. Sites like TripAdvisor will tell you about Crotty's pub (which serves lovely Guinness and great, though somewhat overpriced food) and the Buggles Bar (with free wifi and friendly owners who are happy to chat to blow-ins like us). However, we recommend you seek out Johnsons Bar, opposite Gleeson's Hardware store: the Guinness is fresh and the banter is friendly and, if you're really lucky, you may even get invited to join a lock-in without even noticing it happened. That all sounds glowing, so were there any drawbacks? Well... in terms of the flat, we could have done with some instructions on how to use the cooker, and the en suite shower is a bit small and that bathroom has no shelves. The staircases, particularly as you enter the flat, are rather steep and the television is very small. It would also be very hard to stay here without a car, though I suppose you could easily get here by taxi from Shannon airport. Overall we loved the short time we stayed here. We were supposed to stay a week, but our time in Kilrush was cut way too short due to being called home. We hope we'll go back to finish what we started, and see the dolphins the bay."

"The accommodation is beautiful and the location is perfect for a quiet, authentic Irish coastal town holiday. The first thing to say about this gorgeously restored apartment is that it is much, much bigger than it looks in these photos. We were really surprised to find that the kitchen is large and has an adjoining butlers pantry; the living room is much bigger than we expected; and the bedrooms and bathrooms are on a separate floor, up a large, wide, winding staircase. It's been beautifully restored and one suspects Farrow and Ball played a significant part in the decor. We deliberately sought out lovely accommodations as we wanted a place where we would feel happy and spoiled about having nights in with a DVD and staying in for supper; we were tired, and just wanted a rest. But we also knew that we would be bored of that after a few days and so we also looked for a town with a quiet, friendly population and exploring to be had within short distances. We found that spot here. The town of Kilrush is quiet - perhaps because we went at the end of September - and was perfect for what we were seeking. We wanted a town with one or two local pubs populated by friendly locals and served food, in a town by the sea, with a little to explore by car in the vicinity. That is what Kilrush is; it's not got a huge nightlife and you'd be sorely disappointed if you were looking for a party town, but if you want genuinely low-key high-friendliness Ireland, you can find it here. Sites like TripAdvisor will tell you about Crotty's pub (which serves lovely Guinness and great, though somewhat overpriced food) and the Buggles Bar (with free wifi and friendly owners who are happy to chat to blow-ins like us). However, we recommend you seek out Johnsons Bar, opposite Gleeson's Hardware store: the Guinness is fresh and the banter is friendly and, if you're really lucky, you may even get invited to join a lock-in without even noticing it happened. That all sounds glowing, so were there any drawbacks? Well... in terms of the flat, we could have done with some instructions on how to use the cooker, and the en suite shower is a bit small and that bathroom has no shelves. The staircases, particularly as you enter the flat, are rather steep and the television is very small. It would also be very hard to stay here without a car, though I suppose you could easily get here by taxi from Shannon airport. Overall we loved the short time we stayed here. We were supposed to stay a week, but our time in Kilrush was cut way too short due to being called home. We hope we'll go back to finish what we started, and see the dolphins the bay."

"The accommodation is beautiful and the location is perfect for a quiet, authentic Irish coastal town holiday. The first thing to say about this gorgeously restored apartment is that it is much, much bigger than it looks in these photos. We were really surprised to find that the kitchen is large and has an adjoining butlers pantry; the living room is much bigger than we expected; and the bedrooms and bathrooms are on a separate floor, up a large, wide, winding staircase. It's been beautifully restored and one suspects Farrow and Ball played a significant part in the decor. We deliberately sought out lovely accommodations as we wanted a place where we would feel happy and spoiled about having nights in with a DVD and staying in for supper; we were tired, and just wanted a rest. But we also knew that we would be bored of that after a few days and so we also looked for a town with a quiet, friendly population and exploring to be had within short distances. We found that spot here. The town of Kilrush is quiet - perhaps because we went at the end of September - and was perfect for what we were seeking. We wanted a town with one or two local pubs populated by friendly locals and served food, in a town by the sea, with a little to explore by car in the vicinity. That is what Kilrush is; it's not got a huge nightlife and you'd be sorely disappointed if you were looking for a party town, but if you want genuinely low-key high-friendliness Ireland, you can find it here. Sites like TripAdvisor will tell you about Crotty's pub (which serves lovely Guinness and great, though somewhat overpriced food) and the Buggles Bar (with free wifi and friendly owners who are happy to chat to blow-ins like us). However, we recommend you seek out Johnsons Bar, opposite Gleeson's Hardware store: the Guinness is fresh and the banter is friendly and, if you're really lucky, you may even get invited to join a lock-in without even noticing it happened. That all sounds glowing, so were there any drawbacks? Well... in terms of the flat, we could have done with some instructions on how to use the cooker, and the en suite shower is a bit small and that bathroom has no shelves. The staircases, particularly as you enter the flat, are rather steep and the television is very small. It would also be very hard to stay here without a car, though I suppose you could easily get here by taxi from Shannon airport. Overall we loved the short time we stayed here. We were supposed to stay a week, but our time in Kilrush was cut way too short due to being called home. We hope we'll go back to finish what we started, and see the dolphins the bay."

"Much care and attention has been paid to this accommodation. It's perfectly placed in a quiet Irish seaside town with lovely local pubs and locals. If you're looking for the real Ireland it's here!"

"A wonderful house and really nice people who own it."

"The Merchants House is a great spot and we thoroughly enjoyed our week there; a good base for exploring the beauty spots of Clare. The house has been very thoughtfully restored and it was a pleasure to stay there, very relaxing, very atmospheric. Lots of little touches, like fresh bread and the makings of an Irish breakfast awaiting us, were much appreciated. Already missing sitting in the window looking down on the Market Square and watching the world go by."

"A lovely place, lovely host and in a wonderful condition for a 200 year old house."

"Great welcome to a wonderful house in a beautiful area. Everything we experienced was a delight. We were very sad to leave."

"A unique, character property, seeped in history which has been lovingly and carefully restored by the owner's. Excellent location, with very friendly and welcoming neighbors all around. Will definitely go back. Thank you to the owner and his family for making us so welcome. "