Ballard House
+2 photosAbout Ballard House
Ballard House is a Fáilte Ireland approved 3-star b&b in Clonakilty, on the Cork coast, listed on Fáilte Ireland’s official register of quality-assured accommodation. It is a smaller, owner-run house of 3 rooms, the kind of place where you deal with the people who actually run it.
Is this your B&B?
Claim this listingStaying in Clonakilty
A colourful, music-loving market town on the west Cork coast, best known as the birthplace of Michael Collins and the gateway to Inchydoney beach.
Clonakilty sits on the N71 about fifty minutes west of Cork city, at the head of a tidal inlet that opens onto the west Cork coast. Locals call it "the Rebel Town" for its strong republican history, and its long main street of brightly painted shopfronts, pubs and cafes is one of the most photographed in the county. It is a town that rewards simply walking around it.
For a B&B in Clonakilty, that walkable centre is the draw, but the real trump card is what lies just outside it. Inchydoney, a twin-stranded Blue Flag beach with a resident surf school, is about four kilometres away, so you can have a proper seaside afternoon and still be back in town for dinner and live trad music.
Michael Collins was born on a farm just outside the town, and Clonakilty has built a genuine heritage trail around him, from a statue on Emmet Square to the Michael Collins House museum on the main street. Add in the Model Railway Village, the West Cork Garden Trail, and a food scene that runs from the famous Clonakilty blackpudding to a working craft brewery and distillery, and there is enough here to fill several days without a car.
Things to do near Ballard House
Inchydoney beach
A twin golden strand a short drive from the town centre, Inchydoney has held Blue Flag status for its water quality and is a popular spot for swimming, walking and beginner surf lessons.
Michael Collins House
A museum on the main street dedicated to the town’s most famous son, the revolutionary leader Michael Collins, who was born on a farm nearby and remains central to Clonakilty’s identity.
The painted streetscape
Clonakilty’s main street and Emmet Square are lined with brightly painted shopfronts and traditional pubs, several with live trad music most nights, making an evening stroll part of the appeal.
West Cork Model Railway Village
A miniature recreation of 1940s West Cork towns and railway lines, built around the story of the old West Cork Railway, popular with families.
Clonakilty blackpudding
The town gives its name to Ireland’s best-known black pudding, and its food heritage extends to a local craft brewery and distillery, both open for tours and tastings.
Getting to Clonakilty
Clonakilty is on the N71, Cork’s main west Cork coast road, about fifty minutes from Cork city and Cork Airport. Bus Éireann’s Cork to Skibbereen route serves the town, and it makes a natural stop between Kinsale and the Mizen and Sheep’s Head peninsulas further west.
Booking Ballard House direct, and what the rating means
A real, assessed b&b
Ballard House holds a 3-star b&b rating under Fáilte Ireland's National Quality Assurance Framework, assessed against the bedrooms, bathrooms, breakfast and welcome rather than self-declared. It's an independent signal you can trust before you book, separate from any platform's own review score.
No fees, no middleman
Ring the owner, or use the contact details on this page, and arrange the stay with the house rather than through an app. No booking fee added to your bill and no commission taken from the owner, so the room rate you agree is the room rate you pay.
A better stay, direct
Owners answer the questions a booking platform never will: whether the room at the front is quieter, how early breakfast can be served, or where to park for a few days. Speaking to the house directly is how B&Bs in Ireland were booked for decades.
Still deciding where to base yourself? Browse more B&Bs in Cork.
Check availability at Ballard House
Send the owner the details of your stay and they will come back to you directly. No booking fee, no platform in between, just Clonakilty on the other end.
Ballard House, common questions
Where is Ballard House?
Ballard House is at Ballymacowen, Clonakilty, Co. Cork (Eircode P85 R234). Give the Eircode to your sat-nav to find the door.
How do I book Ballard House?
You contact the owner directly, by phone or the enquiry form on this page. DirectBnB adds no booking fee and takes no commission, so you arrange the stay with the house itself and pay the room rate with nothing on top.
What star rating does Ballard House have?
Ballard House is a Fáilte Ireland approved 3-star b&b under Fáilte Ireland's National Quality Assurance Framework, and guests rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 34 Google reviews.
How many rooms does Ballard House have?
Ballard House has 3 rooms. As a smaller, owner-run house it is worth booking ahead, particularly in summer and over weekends.
More in Cork
See more B&Bs in Cork
Browse every checked B&B and guesthouse in County Cork, and book each one direct with the owner.