Connemara National Park Hostel

We dropped in on a whim for pizza and were really glad we did. The thin wood-fired bases came with generous toppings and tasted delicious. The outdoor seating has a quirky feel, and the service was warm, funny, and happy to help. Definitely worth a stop if you're nearby.

For €20 in June 2018, I got a bed in a four-person dorm. The rooms were tidy and the beds fine, though the walls are thin enough that you can hear people down the hall. There's a huge, well-equipped kitchen ready to use, plus a café downstairs serving non-alcoholic drinks. Staff were super friendly and helpful. The only little drawback was that the shower in room 12 could use a better clean. A nice little hostel to stay in.

Even with a buggy, the shortest route was manageable and gave us lovely views. The path was in great shape, and the children enjoyed seeing the farm animals. We had a very good visit with our 4- and 1.5-year-old, although doing the actual Diamond Hill trek wasn't an option with them. The area is beautiful and kept spotless by the friendly staff. There's also a nice playground beside the main building, probably one of very few around, and the café was open even during covid. I'd recommend coming here with small kids.

We only stopped for dinner, so I can speak to the food and service. We waited 50 minutes for two pizzas, while a table of six that arrived later got served first. It felt like we'd been forgotten. The pizzas were bland and short on flavour; the floury bases were probably the best part. The waitress offered a half-hearted apology, but we still paid full price for the pizzas, extra toppings, and our two drinks. We won't return or recommend it. Letterfrack has nicer, friendlier restaurants.