Old Ground Hotel, Ennis

The Bridgestone 100 Best Places to Stay 2007

The Old Ground Hotel

In the centre of the town of Ennis, and yet somehow set apart, The Old Ground is one of the great traditional, atmospheric hotels in Ireland.

The Old Ground Hotel is one of those few places which are blessed with an immaculate location. It's smack in the centre of Ennis, and indeed forms a large part of the definition of the town.

And yet, set in its own modest grounds, it also seems extremely private. This fabulous duality - in the centre of everything and yet set aparat - gives it a unique ambience. Some years back, Padriag Treacy of The Killarney Park Hotel revewaled to us that when he was building the KP, that this element of 'in the town but out of it' was just what he wanted to achieve, and his template for doing so was none other than The Old Ground.

Thankfully, Allen Flynn and his staff are the perfect team to further congratulate this unique setting and ambience with a quiet efficiency and personable style that makes TOG all of a piece.The newest rooms on the 4th and 5th floors are the best, we think, but whereever you find yourself in this distinguished old hotel, you feel just grand, looked after, right at home, in the centre of the mêlée, yet absolutely calm and collected.

John McKenna, The Bridgestone 100 Best Places to Stay 2007