We stayed here in April due to a family bereavement. If i am being completely honest it wouldn't have been my first choice! However, it was really our only option at such short notice.

From the outside it does look like it needs a good lick of paint and the same can be said for the inside too! However, the rooms were clean and tidy and had the amenities we needed. My husband and I had a double room which had 2 double beds in it! Must say that the shower was good and lots of hot water!! Anything we didn't have (drinking water) they were happy to bring to our room. There were only a handful of residents staying here alonside us and this did mean it was lovely and quiet.

All staff we met (including the cleaner) were very friendly and the breakfast was certainly adequate. Again anything we needed (warm mlik) they were very happy to supply us with. We were staying with my 86 year old father in law and throughout our short stay they were extremely kind and patient with him. The food in the bar area is great and really exceeds itself! Many locals eat here and this is obvious testament to a great menu!!

Bearing in mind this is in the middle of Ireland, and i suspect that there is a struggle for business - there was a hotel there a couple of years ago that has since shut down- this is an 'ok' guesthouse. Other relatives of ours were staying at a different place and said the water was really cold as were the rooms! This really can't be said of Durkins!

Would I stay here again in future? If there was no other option then yes I would, only because of the super food, friendliness of staff and the fact you can have a drink in the bar and then walk to your room!! However, if one of the big chains decided to open a place here (which I can't see happening - not enough business) then Durkins would become my second choice!!

We had a weekend stay and found the staff to be very welcoming and courteous throughout our stay. The food was superb and the accommodation was of a good standard. The location was also great - right in the middle of town. I would strongly recommend Durkin's if you need to stay in Ballaghadereen.

We spoke to Andrew Durkin (the owner) about our requirement (6 nights accommodation) some months before our trip, he was very helpful in telling us of the current offers. The room we received was enormous, modern, clean and well equipped, all the staff were helpful and friendly.
Being in the town centre, the view from our room was not important but the quiteness was, we were not let down once.
The meals (breakfast, dinner, and bar lunches) were excellent, piping hot with prompt friendly service.
The bar was a pleasant place to enjoy a drink and the friendly banter of the locals, particularly after chatting with them making the purpose of our visit (family history) known to them and the local library. As a result, a number of local people came to see us, helping to add to our family history knowledge and to illustrate the old ways and places through photographs and documents.
If there is a weakness, it is the lack of signage (to the dining room and around the accommodation), this problem is soon overcome by the helpfulness of the staff.
We have no hesitation in recommending this hotel for anyone that wants to enjoy Ireland and its people and a good place to stay. What it is not, is a cold, swish top market Dublin Hotel.

We stayed at Durkin's during the town's traditional music festival held during the first week of July. Andrew was our point of contact during the planning of our trip, and he was efficient both on the phone and in e-mails with handling are room reservation and explaining options for getting to Durkin's (e.g., how to rent a car and bus service to ballaghaderreen).

We were warmly greeted upon our arrival, and a room matching our request was presented to us. The generously sized family room held comfortable beds with good linen and cozy duvets. The room was very clean, with good lighting and ventilation. I would only improve on the room's refrigerator (which needed to keep at a cooler temperature) and would request a few extra towels (in addition to those already daily replaced) be left in the bathroom each morning.

The food in the downstairs restaurant is tasty, and very satisfying. It's Irish fare and suits the climate well with a nice daily soup on offer, and main dishes whose ingredients are locally grown/raised.

Lastly, I emphasize that the staff is friendly, helpful, and hardworking. It was a pleasure to spend the week at Durkin's.