Weekend in Ireland...

[DSM]

I am looking to go away for the weekend to Ireland with a friend (no children!)

We are looking for a hotel, country pub style, nice warm friendly (preferably independently owned..HATE chains) in a nice little village where hopefully there might be a nice roaring fire, and some live irish music on in the evening..

We've stayed places like this before but for some reason are struggling to find somewhere this time!

Does anyone have any suggestions? We were thinking Clare, maybe Galway, Tipperary, Limerick.. but we are not that fussy. Preferably not more than 4 hours drive from Dublin.

Any advice at all would be VERY greatly appreciated.

Well, the friend I am going with lives in Dublin, so there is no point flying into Kerry! Plus, its booked

That Parknasilla and Sneem both look amazing.. we're kind of looking for something a little less 'spa resort', less fancy, more traditional, roaring fire, everyone singing along to irish folk music and people drinking Guinness til they can't stand up anymore type of place!

We've had a good few weekends in places like that.. there must be some down there!

What about Donegal? maybe a little more than 4 hours depending on how you drive etc.

Donegal is a no.. we've been there 3 times already! We really want to go South, the south west is really the only area we've not 'explored'..

Parknasilla does look lovely, as does Muckross. Would be great for a romantic weekend.

This 'live trad music in dinky pubs' thing sounds hopeful!

Killarney seems a good idea as the weather is a bit miserable. It has a few shops and pubs if it is too awful to go out, but various good walking spots if fine. Great Southern Hotel is nice (cousin honeymooned in it and went back 10 years later), they were changing hands so check it is open. It is in the town centre. West Cork takes ages to get to, as there are so many penninsulas.