Aherne’s

Youghal (pronounced “you all” with an American southern drawl), a workaday fishing port, is beginning to flaunt its historic past: drab, gray buildings are being restored, empty shopfronts are coming to life. Standing amongst them, Aherne’s old-world pub exterior is decked out in shiny new paint. Owned by the Fitzgibbon family since 1923, Aherne’s includes a seafood restaurant and bedrooms. There’s an old-world, traditional atmosphere in the bars where you can enjoy a pint with the locals and an array of tempting bar food. The restaurant specializes in locally caught seafood and the menu changes daily, depending on what is fresh and available. In the guests’ sitting room, a cozy fire is flanked by comfortable sofas and a coffee table stacked with books on all-things Irish. Three ground-floor bedrooms offer easy access, with one specially equipped for wheelchairs. I particularly enjoyed the upstairs rooms, which have little balconies facing the courtyard. All guestrooms have attractive decor, antique furniture, and large firm beds, each accompanied by an immaculate bathroom. For a stay of longer than a couple of nights the Fitzgibbons have two studio apartments adjacent to the hotel and a luxurious, two-bedroom penthouse apartment with breathtaking views of the harbor.