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Killeany Lodge Pilgrim Hostel

Aran Islands (Inishmore Island)

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Address
Aran Islands (Inishmore Island), County Galway, Ireland   Map
Price
€15 euro in dorm/night ; €20 or €30 in twin room/night
Location/Contact
Details
Online booking is not offered for this hostel, contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed above).
Their Description

Features

  • Kitchen
  • Lounge / Common space
  • Book Collection/Exchange
  • Washing Machine (laundry)
  • Travel information provided
 
The Hostelz.com Review
Killeany Lodge Pilgrim Hostel is perfect for those who want something different -- peaceful and rustic, and giving the sweet sensation of a house where time has stopped long ago.

The Location

The hostel is situated in Killeany, on the east corner of Inis Mor. It's advisable to rent a bike because it's quite a walk from Kilronan. Be prepared to ride up a steep lane, but once you're there, the place is worth the effort.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Our private room had three wooden bunk beds equipped with bright colored duvets, a shelf, and an armchair near the window -- all spotlessly clean. No doors in the house have locks -- not even the entrance door. There is a common bathroom with two toilets and two showers, all very clean. It's on the far side of the house and you have to cross the kitchen to use it.

Common Spaces

The kitchen is large and well equipped with two stoves (one of them was out-of-order during our stay) and lots of plates/pans, but there's no microwave oven. Everything is very clean. Food can be stored in a big fridge, and there is opportunity to buy eggs and organic vegetables. The living room is absolutely fantastic, with a high ceiling, a big fireplace, and cozy armchairs. Two tables are used for breakfast and dinner. There is no TV nor computer for guests. Also, it is forbidden to smoke, drink, and use portable phones. The staff (Laura and Filippo) are extremely kind and ready to help -- Filippo gave us info on Teampall Beanain and how to reach it (we couldn't have managed to see it without that).

Summary

The general impression is a sense of peace. Obviously, one has to cope with some drawbacks -- the distance from Kilronan and other places of interest and a common bathroom. This place is recommended to families.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
July 2008


Ratings & Comments

2 Average from 3 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.
Comment by Dominic
April 2006
4 We stayed here in August 2004 and had a very pleasant time. Although a familly of 4 we were happily accomodated in one of the dorms. The kitchen was well provided with,and excellent Breton cooking prepared by Simon. Bathroom and toilets were adequate. It is a little out of the way for the nightlife, but hey if we wanted to disco, we'd have gone somewhere else! A pleasant stroll back from the pub of a summer's night was just the thing. The peace and tranquility of this part of the island was worth the slight inconvenience of distance from Kilronan.
Comment by Sinead Cunningham
August 2005
1 This hostel is appalling. There is one shower and two toilets for 22 people. There were holes in the ceiling, cobwebs everywhere and the bedclothes needed a wash. A group of 22 of us stayed there recently and it was so bad it was laughable. We all slept in our clothes. My skin is crawling even as I am writing this. It's away from the rest of the village and taxis or bikes are needed to bring you to the boat. Please don't stay there unless sanitation is not a priority. Also beware of nocturnal four-legged squeaking creatures that make an appearance at night. It's no wonder the owners live in a wooden shed outside the property!
Comment by Ronnie
August 2005
1 I have never in my life witnessed anything like this. To call it a hostel is doing a grave injustice to all decent hostels around the world. A hovel is a better description. First impressions from the outside give the indication of a near derelict building. On closer inspection the windows are rotting and impossible to close — providing you with an all-night-long opportunity to inhale the cold Atlantic sea breeze. The bedding is questionable and if you are lucky you won't get to see the "other" inhabitants of the dorm (not of the human variety). All in all it was an experience, one I would not like to repeat and would not recommend to anyone. Basic, sub-standard, poor.
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