Ballindrum Farm
+2 photosAbout Ballindrum Farm
Ballindrum Farm is a Fáilte Ireland approved 4-star b&b in Athy, on the Kildare coast, listed on Fáilte Ireland’s official register of quality-assured accommodation. It is a smaller, owner-run house of 5 rooms, the kind of place where you deal with the people who actually run it.
Basic guestrooms, a cottage and an apartment on a farm with free snacks and animal experiences.
Is this your B&B?
Claim this listingStaying in Athy
A market town on the River Barrow in south Kildare, where the Grand Canal’s Barrow Line meets the river, and the birthplace of the Shackleton family.
Athy grew up where the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal, built to connect Dublin’s waterways to the River Barrow, meets the river itself, and that junction of canal and river still shapes the town today. Boats, walkers and cyclists share the towpaths, and the wide, slow-moving Barrow gives the town a settled, working-river feel rather than a purely ornamental one.
For a B&B in Athy, the town’s biggest draw is the Shackleton Experience, a museum dedicated to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, who was born just outside the town and whose family has a long association with the area. It holds the largest collection of Shackleton artefacts anywhere, including original equipment from his Antarctic expeditions, and river tours depart from the jetty right beside it.
Beyond the museum, Athy has plenty for a quieter stay: a medieval riverside tower house in White’s Castle, the ruins of Woodstock Castle, and over 46 kilometres of walking and cycling trails along the Grand Canal Way and Barrow towpath. It also sits within easy reach of the rest of Kildare, including the county’s stud farm country further north.
Things to do near Ballindrum Farm
The Shackleton Experience
A museum dedicated to Ernest Shackleton, the polar explorer born near Athy, holding the world’s largest collection of Shackleton artefacts, including original expedition equipment and a recreation of his ship’s cabin.
River Barrow tours
Scenic boat tours depart from a jetty beside the Shackleton Experience, giving a slow-paced view of the river and canal junction that shaped the town.
White’s Castle
A fifteenth-century tower house guarding the town’s river crossing, one of the more visible reminders of Athy’s medieval origins as a fortified river town.
The Barrow Line and Grand Canal Way
Athy sits at the junction of the Grand Canal’s Barrow Line and the river itself, with towpaths offering flat, well-marked walking and cycling routes in both directions.
Getting to Athy
Athy is on the N78, with links to the M9 for Dublin, about an hour to the north, and to the wider Kildare road network. Bus services connect Athy to Kildare town, Naas and Dublin, and the town is a natural stop for anyone touring the River Barrow or the Grand Canal Way.
Booking Ballindrum Farm direct, and what the rating means
A real, assessed b&b
Ballindrum Farm holds a 4-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 Kildare.
Check availability at Ballindrum Farm
Send the owner the details of your stay and they will come back to you directly. No booking fee, no platform in between, just Athy on the other end.
Ballindrum Farm, common questions
Where is Ballindrum Farm?
Ballindrum Farm is at Ballindrum, Athy, Co. Kildare (Eircode R14 FK58). Give the Eircode to your sat-nav to find the door.
How do I book Ballindrum Farm?
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 Ballindrum Farm have?
Ballindrum Farm is a Fáilte Ireland approved 4-star b&b under Fáilte Ireland's National Quality Assurance Framework, and guests rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 53 Google reviews.
Is Ballindrum Farm suitable for families?
Yes, Ballindrum Farm is listed as family friendly. Ask the owner directly about room configurations and cots when you book.
How many rooms does Ballindrum Farm have?
Ballindrum Farm has 5 rooms. As a smaller, owner-run house it is worth booking ahead, particularly in summer and over weekends.
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