Into The West Of Ireland – Ballybunion Hotel And Activities Overview
Ballybunion is a charming seaside resort town in the south west of Ireland which has been drawing in tourists to its sandy beaches and to its golf clubs for many decades.
A key factor in the village’s popularity is that it is one of the few towns in the area not to have been over-commercialized with coffee shops and trendy bars. Instead it has retained a small traditional Irish town feel to it that foreign and Irish visitors still wish to experience.
Many visitors arrive to seek out two main activities: enjoying the beaches in the area and golfing at Ballybunion Golf Club.
The central focus of the town in summer is the main beach. It is a family friendly beach with plenty of space and good quality sand. The local surf school has become popular in recent years offering equipment rental and surfing lessons for all levels (the waves are not particularly high so it is an ideal spot for beginners).
The cliffs overlooking the beach offer good panoramic views of the sea and surrounding countryside and are well worth the walk. The ruins of Ballybunion Castle are situated on the cliff, but several sieges over the centuries have reduced the castle to being a shadow of what it must have once been. The scenic cliff walk winds its way to some of the other beaches in the area, notably, the ‘Nuns’ beach (named for its proximity to a local nunnery).
Ballybunion Golf Club is possibly the best golf course in Ireland and the Old Course is regularly placed in the top-20 lists of golf magazines. The Old course was founded in 1893 as a links style course and proves to be a challenge to most players. Given the prestige of the course it is essential to book a round well in advance and most golfers choose to play the Cashen course (the easier and newer of Ballybunion’s two courses) in preparation for the challenging Old Course.
Possibly the most famous visitor to Ballybunion has been former president, and golf enthusiast, Bill Clinton who played a round of golf here in 1998. The town was so proud of this fact that a statue now appears in the town main street of Mr. Clinton teeing off.
The number of Ballybunion hotels and accommodation options is limited. While this has helped retain the charm of the town, it does mean that visitors often need to base themselves outside the village itself. This should however be seen positively as the surrounding County Kerry countryside is a wonderful backdrop to some fine hotels, bed & breakfast guesthouses and even some castle hotels.
In summertime the town and surrounding area has a number of festivals and fares which are well worth visiting. Details are usually available from your hotel or from the Ballybunion tourist office (located on the main street).
Visit the Ballybunion Hotels HQ website for independent advice about hotels, amenities, day trips and Ballybunion Golf Club