Leim Siar B&B

The warm welcome from Hannah and Gerry made us feel at home as soon as my family and I arrived at Leim Siar. They were so kind and genuine, and did a lot to make our stay special. They suggested local attractions, things to do, and places to eat in the nearby town of Belmullet. Una’s pub is only a two-minute walk away if you fancy a drink. The guesthouse was comfortable, cozy, and beautifully kept. It felt like a proper B&B, with attentive hosts who clearly care about their guests. I left feeling inspired by their warmth and spirit, and I’d happily stay at Leim Siar B&B guesthouse again next time I get the chance. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a home-away-from-home with fabulous hosts.

We ate before arriving, as there isn’t a restaurant nearby. The location is right near the end, with stunning views. The rooms were lovely and clean, and seemed fairly new. There’s a large guest lounge with the same great outlook, and breakfast was yummy with plenty of fresh options. The host was lovely to chat with and had good recommendations. We stayed in 13 different B&Bs during our 13 days in Ireland, and this was the best by a long way.

The location is a long way from any big town, which made it a lovely place to take a few days off and unwind. There’s a shared room where guests can sit and play board games together, and plenty of hiking trails nearby, including routes along cliffs and beaches. The beaches are nice too, though the Atlantic is very cold. Dolphins and whales aren’t unusual to spot, so a beach trip is still worth it. The weather changes quickly, so keep a jacket handy. The rooms are spacious, the beds are comfortable, and there’s a TV in each room. Everything was very clean, especially the bathrooms. Hanna, the host, looked after everyone like a full-time grandma. One breakfast kept me full for the rest of the day. Their dog Solas is gentle, very active, and always up for a cuddle. I was really pleased with my stay, 10/10.

I’m speaking only about what happened to me, not about specific experiences of other people. This was two years ago. At first, things seemed fine. Hanna came across as kind and friendly. I was a young Ukrainian refugee teenager, one of the few who had come to her house. Along with the other refugees, I tried to help out: planting vegetables, tending seedlings in the greenhouse, and cleaning rooms before new people moved in. We did this voluntarily, even though the landlady was receiving money for my stay. I even spoke well of her when I was invited on the radio. Over time, though, things changed. She was extremely focused on sorting rubbish. We don’t have that system in Ukraine, so it was difficult to adjust in a day. We tried, but sometimes made mistakes. If someone put even a small piece of plastic in the wrong place, Hanna would call the whole house to a two-hour meeting. This happened repeatedly over little things. She didn’t seem to care about our time or health; we had to attend and lose two hours. Hannah also bought lots of food with her government payments for refugees. With so many people in the house, we couldn’t keep track of everything, and sometimes one or two items went bad. Sometimes she bought food we didn’t eat, then made a row about it being left uneaten. When her friends gave us gift vouchers, Hannah said, “You don’t deserve that.” I tried to help her and build relationships as much as I could, but she still treated me and many others like rubbish. She told her friends how wonderful and good she was, because she wanted them to see her that way. One day she called me and told me to pack my things and leave because, “I don’t want to see you here anymore.” She started screaming. I cried and asked where I was supposed to go and what to do. I was in a foreign country with nothing and nowhere to go. She answered, “I don’t care, it’s your problem.” I was severely depressed and dealing with serious psychological trauma from the war, the falling bombs, and losing everything. Hannah smiled at her friend and said, “Oh, she’s such a baby! Such a crybaby!” She brought me to tears, pushed me into “gloomy thoughts,” and mocked me. I felt bad for days. I had a terrible migraine, felt so sick that I threw up, and my eyes hurt in the light, so I had to see a doctor. A few days later, after shouting and threats, she put me and my belongings out on the street. She didn’t care what happened to me next. She also lied about me to her friends, and people I’d been good friends with blocked me. Hannah, you want to seem nice to everyone, but you put on a fake smile and talk badly about others behind their backs. You can blame other people’s actions, but I didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe you thought no one would find out what happened. I always tried to help you, Hannah. What did I do to deserve this?