About an hour from the city of Sligo along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, we spent two nights by Killala Bay at the Diamond Coast Hotel. At first, I was disappointed that this hotel was not closer to the city. I had envisioned an exploration of the place associated with the poet WB Yeats. Upon descending from our tour bus in the vast parking lot of the Diamond Coast Hotel, I thought, “Well, this is not close to much.” I was wrong.
This expansive hotel offered the chance to dive into one of Ireland’s vacation hotspots. Stunning scenery mixed with a bit of folklore gave me plenty to explore.
Diamond Coast Hotel is Along the Wild Irish Way
Similar to historic Route 66 in the U.S., which boosted road trip travel, particularly between Chicago and Los Angeles, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way connects towns along the west coast. These 1600 miles go between Derry to the north and Cork to the south.
About the Hotel
The Diamond Coast Hotel is well-equipped to handle vacationers of all ages. Our check-in at the large lobby was seamless. Several in my tour group immediately headed to Inishaven Bar, the hotel’s gathering spot for watching sports, on one of the bar’s TVs. We joined in the buzz of folks cheering on Armagh or Galway in the All-Ireland Football Final. Armagh narrowly won.
The bartenders deftly handled orders as people lingered to visit once the game was over. Because the groupings of comfortable couches, armchairs, and tables are hanging-out-perfect, people don’t feel rushed to move on. The dark blue walls, recessed ceiling, polished hardwood floors, and the light blue and tan patterned carpet create a classy, restful space for relaxed enjoyment.
Other areas of the hotel are equally able to handle large groups of people and still feel spacious. In the evening, some from our group hung out in the lobby playing cards. One night, a musician entertained guests on the patio outdoor patio.
Along with keeping adults happy, the Diamond Coast Hotel has plenty for children to do to have a fun-filled vacation. At Little Diamond’s Kid Club, trained staff entertain children with a variety of activities. There is also a Game Zone with PlayStation consoles and a pool table. Both areas have a fee for each visit. Outside, there is a playground, tennis court, basketball court, and Astro pitch. These are free. Although the hotel does not have a swimming pool, Astro Park nearby has a swimming pool, a water slide, a jacuzzi, and more.
Dining at the Diamond Coast Hotel
We ate breakfast and dinner at the hotel’s Coral Restaurant, another well-designed, lovely space. Partition walls with open shelves for glass vases and bottles provide visual interest and create separate dining areas. One section of the Coral Restaurant has a small bar. We ordered drinks here, although the wait staff also took drink orders. Menu options are mostly upscale Irish cuisine like Shoulder Shank of Irish Lamb and Roasted Salmon Darne. Breakfast options included eggs made to order, Irish-style bacon, various breads, fruit, and cereal.
Diamond Coast Guest Rooms
Our two-bed guestroom was spacious and modern, with a predominately grey and white color scheme and an unusual configuration. The two beds were on opposite walls. The head of the single bed was under the TV. If one was traveling with a child, this could have an advantage, perhaps. A young child who is supposed to be going to sleep would have a hard time watching TV while the parents indulged with the volume turned low.
Like the rest of the room, the bathroom had an unusual design. This was the most handicapped-accessible bathroom I’ve ever seen. The bathroom was one big room without a bathtub or shower stall. There was a shower stool plus wall grips on the side of the room with the shower head and also by the toilet. The floor beneath the shower head slanted towards the drain.
Unfortunately, my husband didn’t know how to direct the water when he showered, which meant using the bathroom afterward required a bit of wading. I put down a towel outside the bathroom to dry our feet. All was well with shower etiquette the 2nd day. None of the other people in our group had a bathroom like ours.
Room Amenities
Although the room’s configuration was a bit unusual, it was clean, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and functional. The wall light fixtures on each side of the double bed’s headboard, plus plug-in spots for electronics, are well placed. Other furnishings–the small table with two chairs and the desk with another chair added to the room’s modern ambiance and function. A kettle for heating water for tea or coffee, plus coffee packets, cream, and tea bags, a hair dryer, and a small refrigerator, came in handy. And the free Wi-Fi worked well.
What is Nearby
- Get a Car Rental
- Search for Great Tours HERE
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Get an eSim to be able to use your smartphone abroad.
- Get a universal plug adapter
As with our other Ireland stops, I headed out of the hotel on foot to see what I could see before dinner. The walk took me past the entrance of Atlantic Caravan Park to Enniscrone Beach. This particular caravan park is filled with owner-occupied mobile homes of vacationers who want easy access to the beach and the Enniscrone golf course. The golf course is another feature that Diamond Coast Hotel points out as a reason to stay at the hotel.
As for Enniscrone Beach, it is a gorgeous slice of the Wild Atlantic Way. Because the tide was so low, the ocean’s waves seemed far away. Along the ripples of tide-packed sand, pools of water created interesting patterns and visuals before the ocean met the sky. A friend and I walked here along the beach the next evening until we hit the small, picturesque town of Enniscrone before sunset. At the beach, you can rent a surfboard, hire a surfing instructor, and snag a coffee and snacks.
The Black Pig
Of course, I had to show her the statue of the black pig off the road just past Diamond Coast Hotel. As the legend goes, there was a big black boar covered with bristles that killed everyone in its path. The pig was said to have magical powers, which allowed it to go into the ocean and rise to kill again. The people eventually figured out how to kill the pig and buried it. The statue is where the pig is said to be buried. There is signage about the legend in its small park. Each July, Enniscrone has The Black Pig Festival, which is a music, food, and activities festival. We just missed it.
Our room price was included in our tour total. Check the hotel’s website for deals. At Hotels.com, rooms range from $77 for a single to $173 for a room that can sleep 8 people. Taxes and fees bring the total from $177 to $394.
_Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Post and photos by Jamie Rhein
