Here's the short-hand: stay here. I'm a well traveled Londoner, 37 years old, and work in the film industry. I have high expectations. They were exceeded. It's a unique, personal, boutique experience with wonderful, impeccably clean rooms and fantastic home-made food. If you like poetry and are interested in local history then you won't find a better place to stay.... More

From the minute you step through Laurel Villa's front door, you really do feel that you have come home. Not only is it a beautiful house crammed with fascinating memorabilia about local poets and Seamus Heaney in particular, but the warm and very genuine welcome extended by Seamus and Gerardine makes it even more special. And the fact that Gerardine... More

Just returned from 2 nights at the laurel villa-absolutely fantastic service from 2 brilliant hosts. Breakfast was outstanding with scones and bread fresh from the oven!!!! was there last year and going back next year chris. More

Laurel Villa is the perfect place if you think perfection is about a warm and genuine welcome, a lovely room themed to a poet, with books to dip into - clean, airy and comfortable. Eugene and Gerardine Kielty have provided all of the above in their beautiful home. Eugene's tour of Séamus Heaney country brought a typical Irish landscape of... More

Arrived on Friday with 4 friend's for this years Cookstown 100 with a very warm welcome on our arrival now for our second stay,it is a long way to travel from Shropshire but my is it worth every mile. It was great to see another star on the sign which is everything that they deserve for the service given during... More

Laurel Villa Magherafelt, the home of Gerardine and Eugene Kielt,is the perfect base from which to explore Heaney country.The house is teeming with fascinating memorabilia of the poet's life and work ; framed poems,photos,first editions theatre tickets,posters, paintings and much more. Eugene's knowledge and love of Heaney's work became even more apparent during the tour he gave us to the... More

From the moment we arrived at Laurel Villa we were made to feel very welcome. With characterful rooms, each themed to an Irish poet - ours was the Longley room, the decor was stunning. The breakfasts were lovely, and Eugene and Gerardine expressed genuine interest in our visit, and ensuring our enjoyment of our stay. We would definitely visit again! More

Stayed here for one night with two other couples. Great location and easy drive from international airport. Beautiful place to stay and delightful hosts. Wonderful rooms beautifully decorated and really warm welcome. Highly recommended. A hidden gem, don't miss it. More

This is a wonderful place to stay. Especially if you are interested in Irish poets and Seamus Heaney. Eugene and Gerardine are most gracious hosts. Eugene is also very interested in genealogy and we had numerous excellent conversations. We plan to return there in the future. The location is right in town and Magherafelt is centrally located to get to... More