This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Lisdoonvarna.
For many years both local and foreign people have visited Lisdoonvarna (Irish: LÃos Dún Bhearna, meaning "ring fort by the gap") in County Clare for its Matchmaking Festival. No, it is not where they produce matches to light fires; it is where specially trained people -- the matchmakers -- would turn miserable single people into glorious, loving couples. The tradition is ongoing, and every September you still can come and take part in this historical event that involves a good share of drinking and socialising.
Other than that, Lisdoonvarna can attract you with its lovely green landscapes and great, colourful Lisdoonvarna hostels both in the middle of the town and out in the fields. All major and minor guesthouses are filled up during September for the abovementioned Matchmaking Festival, but during the rest of the year, you may arrive without notice and easily find a place to lay your backpack and have a full Irish breakfast.
Lisdoonvarna is a great jump-off point to visit the Cliffs of Moher, rising more than two hundred meters in height and towering above the foamy waves of Atlantic Ocean. From Lisdoonvarna, you can also organize your tour to The Burren -- one of the most exciting geological and historical sites of Ireland. There is also a site of the ruins of an old Norman castle just outside of Lisdoonvarna, which would make for a nice day trip. Ferries from the nearby Doolin Harbour travel to Inisheer and further on to the rest of Aran Islands, which are also connected by another ferry service to Connemara in County Galway.
Written by local enthusiast for Lisdoonvarna hostels
Curly