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Moorings, The

Overlooking the harbour in this attractive little fishing port, The Moorings has been run by Gerard & Patricia Kennedy since 1994 - and it’s pretty much the one-stop shop in Portmagee these days, as they work hard to provide everything the visitor to this could need.

The Bridge Bar is a popular place to drop in to for a wholesome bite to eat when touring this beautiful area - meals are usually available all day, but a phone call to check times is advised. It’s also well known for music and craic, with traditional Irish music (Fri & Sun), set dancing and Irish songs on various evenings.

Bar food served noon-8.30pm daily.

Then there’s the Moorings Guesthouse, which offers appealing accommodation including four superior rooms and some family rooms; many rooms have a sea view and all are very comfortably furnished with phone, TV, tea/coffee making facilities and full bathrooms.

They offer attractive packages, notably a 2-night Skelligs Package (April-September) which includes a pre-booked boat trip to the islands with packed lunch, then dinner in the evening, and an Irish Weekend with traditional music, set-dancing and traditional Irish food.

Rooms 16 (all en-suite, 4 junior suites, 1 shower only, 8 family, 2 ground floor, all no smoking); children welcome (under 3 free in parents' room, cot available without charge, baby sitting arranged). B&B from €50 pps, ss €15-20. No pets.

Evening meals are served in The Moorings Restaurant, where there’s a natural emphasis on fresh local seafood - starters like Skellig crab cakes, Cromane mussels and oysters, Caherciveen smoked salmon, for example, and main courses often including a hot seafood platter, pan-fried scallops monkfish with mussels and, perhaps, lobster (at a reasonable €30 per lb); non-fish eaters don’t do badly either, with fillet steak and rack of Kerry lamb among the choices (also vegetarian specials), and the unpretentious ‘good home cooking’ style suits the cosy atmosphere and maritime theme very well.

Seats 50; reservations recommended; children welcome (high chair, childrens menu, baby changing facilities); D Tue-Sun, 6-9.30pm. Closed Mon.

And, most recently, they have a lovely gift shop, Cois Cuain, next door, selling unusual quality items that you won’t see elsewhere.

Establishment closed 19 Dec - 9 Jan. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Turn right for Portmagee 5km outside Caherciveen on the Waterville Road (N70) onto R565, bear left after 10km before bridge.