We arrived a bit late to Gortnadiha Lodge, but our hostess, Eileen Harty, was most welcoming.

She was eager to advise us on sights to see, and even hauled out a road map to recommend better, more scenic routes for the next day's travels.

The B&B's Web site advertises Gortnadiha Lodge as a "country house," but we were still surprised at how much in the country it actually was! That's not a bad thing, though. It was peaceful and very quiet, and the trip into nearby Dungarvan was short. Plus, its location in Ring gave us a chance to explore that Gaeltacht region.

Eileen encouraged us to make ourselves comfortable, whether in our good-sized room or in a downstairs lounge, and she insisted we sleep in and have breakfast as late as we wished.

And oh, what a breakfast! Toasted muesli with yogurt and gooseberries from the garden, breads, Irish farmhouse cheeses, fresh-squeezed (really!) orange juice, and -- and this was the best part -- hot-from-the-oven scones. And, of course, a cooked breakfast if we desired.

As far as the rooms go, they were tastfully decorated and well stocked with whatever item a guest could need - books, magazines, travel information, shampoo, soap, and other toiletries. The beds were a bit soft, but that's just a personal taste.

One recommendation: Bring a travel alarm clock! This, like several Irish B&Bs we encountered, did not have one in the room. (Eileen, however, was more than willing to wake us with a knock on our door.)

This B&B was so welcoming and homey that it really did make us feel like we were staying with a friend or relative.