Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

These Sligo and Antrim B&Bs were named among the best in the world

“It’s like having a dinner party every morning at breakfast”

sligo b&b Tripadvisor Tripadvisor

B&BS IN SLIGO and Antrim have been named as two of the best bed and breakfasts in the world.

Down Yonder, which is in Rosses Point, is ranked number one when it comes to Sligo B&Bs, and number 10 in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice 2015 awards for B&Bs and inns.

Meanwhile, Shola Coach House in Portrush, Northern Ireland, scooped the number two spot.

shola coach house Tripadvisor Tripadvisor

“We are over the moon,” said Eavan O’Hara, who runs Down Yonder with her husband Ronnie. The couple have four children and built their B&B home 10 years ago – but it took them almost eight years to find the right time to get the business up and running.

In March 2012, they opened the doors to Down Yonder, and Eavan said they aim to make it a friendly, family experience. “We are doing it for pleasure,” she said.

We always were very sociable people and always loved having people to eat. It’s like having a dinner party every morning for breakfast. We made some great friends. A lot of people are coming back to us.

Rosses-Point-bed-and-breakfast-drawing-room Down Yonder Down Yonder

Every morning, the guests gather around the dining room’s large table to eat breakfast, where they are joined by either Eavan or her husband.

“We enjoy getting to know our guests,” said Eavan. “It’s a home from home for people rather than a disjointed feel, like a hotel. Everybody settles in and feels very comfortable.”

The couple first tried to buy a B&B 16 years ago, but it didn’t work out. Eventually, they built their own. But with small children to raise, they decided to wait until they were older before they opened.

Now the kids help out around the B&B. “It is very much a family business,” said Eavan. “The kids partake in it and I think people who come to visit us love to meet the kids and love to see it as a family-run business.”

Read: These are some of the things TripAdvisor is cooking up in its new Dublin office>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
4 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan Stokes
    Favourite Ronan Stokes
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 7:59 AM

    Have a great day all!!

    148
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lang
    Favourite Lang
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 8:18 AM

    Hope everyone has a fan-bloody-tastic day!!

    128
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noble Gas
    Favourite Noble Gas
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 8:00 AM

    I am the only gay in the….no wait. Have fun everyone!

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joanne Champ
    Favourite Joanne Champ
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 8:28 AM

    Have a fantastic day everybody xxx

    105
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Clinton
    Favourite Mike Clinton
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 9:23 AM

    Happy Pride day folks. This is your day and I hope you enjoy it.

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fognostical
    Favourite Fognostical
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 8:25 AM

    Enjoy yourselves :-) , as the late Larry Grayson always said “What a gay day!”

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maria Dardis
    Favourite Maria Dardis
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 8:43 AM

    Good stuff, fair play to all of you! Have a gteat day. M.

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kingstown
    Favourite kingstown
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 9:22 AM

    Bet David Quinn and Breda O’Brien will be seething in their pews waiting to scribble down their anti-gay hatred or as they call it -their sincerely held beliefs’

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Deegan
    Favourite John Deegan
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 9:29 AM

    It’s your day today. Shouldn’t you be happy? I suspect you’re not.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noble Gas
    Favourite Noble Gas
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 9:31 AM

    It’s all a misunderstanding. They think gay people are a great bunch of lads , but only an invisible man told them that gays were against the natural order of things and shouldn’t have the same rights as straight people. No offence intended – it’s the invisible mans fault really.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny Rigg
    Favourite Danny Rigg
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 7:52 AM

    I’m already on the train to Dublin. I hate crowds

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mad Taoiseach
    Favourite Mad Taoiseach
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 8:01 AM

    Let them March. What harm can be done?

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Samuel Ista
    Favourite Samuel Ista
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 12:18 PM

    This parade is unsuitable for a city centre in daytime due to the outfits that many of the participants wear. Grown men in leather thongs should not be allowed in public. Personally I find it stomach turning.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Travers
    Favourite Jane Travers
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 10:39 AM

    Anyone know the best spot to watch the parade? I’m dying my hair bright pink in honour of the day that’s in it :)

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
    Favourite Ailbhe O'Nolan
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 11:26 AM

    Woah Jane, nice! Good on ya

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Travers
    Favourite Jane Travers
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 11:45 AM

    Any excuse really, Ailbhe. It was blue and green last week ;)

    18
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Hogan
    Favourite George Hogan
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 12:58 PM

    @jane
    Bet you’ll look stunning Jane! Happy Pride all. Looking forward to a great day. Get involved people – share the love!
    @ Ailbhe – have a great day, even if you can’t make Pride this year! Great news about your grandparents. Older people are great and can really surprise sometimes!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Travers
    Favourite Jane Travers
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 2:22 PM

    George, what a lovely positive thing to say! I’m not sure you belong on the Journal ;)

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cian O Donoghue
    Favourite Cian O Donoghue
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 10:26 AM

    How many letters are they going to end up with??

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute significantrisk
    Favourite significantrisk
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 10:48 AM

    As many as it takes until “people” includes everyone equally.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cian O Donoghue
    Favourite Cian O Donoghue
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 11:07 AM

    Maybe just call themselves people then. No need to differentiate from anybody any other way inclined?

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carcu Sidub
    Favourite Carcu Sidub
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 12:58 PM

    Anybody else find it unusual that the parade got routed across Butt Bridge?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Hogan
    Favourite George Hogan
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 1:12 PM

    Eh, no!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe The Man
    Favourite Joe The Man
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 10:09 AM

    Looks like fun!!

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stevie J
    Favourite Stevie J
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 9:39 AM

    What does the Q stand for in LGBTQ?

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute roryboyle
    Favourite roryboyle
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 9:55 AM

    Queer, men that sleep with men but do not consider themselves gay.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Varley
    Favourite Patrick Varley
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 10:00 AM
    3
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Varley
    Favourite Patrick Varley
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 10:02 AM

    It stands for “questioning” surely…

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Varley
    Favourite Patrick Varley
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 10:05 AM
    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Travers
    Favourite Jane Travers
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 10:38 AM

    It’s “questioning” not queer.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stevie J
    Favourite Stevie J
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 12:08 PM

    Cheers

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Taxi Bill
    Favourite Taxi Bill
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 11:56 AM

    Enjoy the party, because probably in less than 50 years you probably wont be able to have one at all. As radical Islam occupies much of Europe their tolerances of ANYTHING different (cartoons) gets met with a bullet at the back of the head. (lets face it how many pride festivals are there in Saudi for example) Even now we see “women” and children (not men mind you! ) in Ireland covered from head to toe in black and people hardy bat an eyelid. LGBTQ people fought long and hard for the freedoms you have, well enjoy them while you can!!

    Of course that could NEVER happen in Ireland????

    Well add a little section of the parade to pass by the Mosque in Clonskea and see the reaction.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Fallon
    Favourite Michael Fallon
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 12:14 PM

    Down with this type of thing

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheldon Sheridan
    Favourite Sheldon Sheridan
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 2:36 PM

    40,000 in Dublin? PinkNews is saying there’s 20,000 at London’s Pride today. If the figures are correct, I’m thrilled.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mad Taoiseach
    Favourite Mad Taoiseach
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 7:19 PM

    12,488 showed up.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Samuel Ista
    Favourite Samuel Ista
    Report
    Jun 28th 2014, 12:15 PM

    This parade is unsuitable for a city centre in daytime due to pretty nasty and very sexual outfits that many of the males wear. Men in leather thongs or hotpants, it’s disgusting and perverted and doesn’t encourage respect from straight folk like me. These adult men and women obviously have a twisted sense of their place in society and relish the opportunity to parade their perversion. I guess the vast majority of mature, intelligent, and self respecting gay people stay home today and are very embarrassed by the freaks who claim to represent their sexuality.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds