Dempseys Hostel

I was comfortable leaving my bags unlocked, though they’ve recently added small lockers in the rooms for valuables. The hostel is compact and clean, with a nice lounge area out back, and it’s just a short walk into town. The staff were really friendly and suggested good places to eat and walk around.

The bed setup made for a miserable, sleepless night: people were snoring all along the floor, the sheets had several stains, and our bunk squeaked with even the smallest movement. The mattresses were worn out too. At check-in things seemed fine, but at checkout I only managed to mention the squeaking beds before the guy cut me off with “Noted, good bye,” without looking up from his desk. He wouldn’t speak to us after that. The hosts are hard to deal with and shouldn’t be customer-facing. A really shitty experience, even for one night. Avoid.

The owner clearly cares about making the hostel more comfortable and keeps trying to improve it. The staff were helpful and focused on looking after guests. Kinsale centre is close by, just down the hill, with everything around you. I had an amazing stay and would certainly come back 😊

The manager gave us helpful ideas about where to go and what to see, and getting into town was easy. We felt welcome from the moment we arrived. The hostel was clean, the beds were comfortable, and the atmosphere was great. Staff were friendly and helpful. I’d definitely recommend it.