Welcome to
The Best Kept
Secret in Ireland
Desmond Townhouse B&B
About Us
Your Hosts
Grainne & Paddy
Paddy and I moved into Desmond Townhouse in October 2015. We both decided on a lifestyle change from bustling busy city life to a more peaceful and enjoyable one. The beautiful fishing port of Kinsale was the decider.
My father Jeremiah (Jerry) Barnett was a Schull native and the family-owned The Barnett Hotel in Schull. Paddy’s mom Kay also owned a Georgian B&B in the heart of Dublin city. Therefore my absolute love of Georgian houses made Desmond Townhouse the perfect fit for both of us.
Desmond Townhouse was already home to visiting Americans, so we had a base to build and improve on and we did. We love our American visitors and to this day many remain friends. Other guests happily revisit and regularly recommend Desmond Townhouse.
Our ethos is to ensure that our guests experience Irish hospitality at its best.
TripAdvisor Travellers Choice voted Desmond Townhouse 3rd Best B&B in Ireland and No.1 in Kinsale
Desmond Townhouse is also recommended in Rick Steve’s Guidebook and Frommers
Our Suites
Minimum Stay 2 Nights
Charles Fort Suite
2nd Floor
Desmond Castle Suite
1st Floor
James Fort Suite
2nd Floor
Old Head Suite
1st Floor
What Our Guests Say
The Barron Family
Beautiful house, wonderful hosts, great town.
“The best B&B we have stayed in by far. Gràinne & Paddy could not have been more welcoming and made our stay even more special. Beautiful home. The bedroom was so comfortable with a large bathroom. All the furnishings were so comfortable and luxurious. A short stroll from the town center. The breakfast was incredible and delicious. Loved our stay!”
Paula M
Highly recommend.
“What a fabulous stay we had here…..didn’t want to come home. Paddy and Grainne were excellent hosts and Desmond House was fully Covid compliant without being in anyway intrusive. Organic breakfast both mornings was delicious and Grainne always added an extra little treat. Spotless and spacious room. Would definitely recommend it when exploring the Kinsale area.”
Katerina M
Amazing place to stay!!
“I found the house very randomly on the internet but turned out to be the best place I have ever stayed! The house is spotless! Clean, spacious, and comfortable. The breakfast was delicious, made with local products, and lots of love! The best part of our stay was the great hospitality of the owners. Grainne and Paddy thank you very much, you are amazing! PS. We will be back for that lovely scones:)”
Anastasisk
Excellent hospitality.
“We found this guest house online.
The rooms are beautiful. The breakfast was local, handmade, and delicious. Grainne and Patrick are so friendly and helpful.
I would highly recommend this guest house.
It is worth it.”
Chasman
Ticks all boxes
“Desmond House shows extraordinary attention to detail and created a hospitable and welcoming environment for my wife and me. We only stayed one night but it was enough to understand why this B&B is a cut above. The room was large and had a comfortable King Bed. Breakfast was remarkable and delicious. A blue-ribbon experience!”
Kathy D
Best B and B stay during our recent trip to Ireland.
“First of all Paddy and Grainne were the most gracious, hospitable hosts!
The breakfast was outstanding, my favorite was Grainne’s yogurt with special granola and oh I can’t forget the scones.
Rooms and beds are extremely comfortable.”
Hillary
Quite a Gem
“We spent a wonderful two nights at Desmond House during our trip to Ireland. Grainne and Paddy were so helpful and even made an extra effort to dry our soaked boots after we got soaked in a rainstorm. We can confirm what all the other reviews say: the scones are the best! We had a great view of the Harbor from the Charles Fort Suite!”
Jill W
Perfect B&B in the heart of Kinsale
“We had an absolutely fabulous stay at Desmond house. Grannie and Paddy were excellent hosts. Our rooms are incredibly comfortable and well-appointed. We had a Gourmet breakfast that was delicious. They were so kind and accommodating to let us arrive much earlier than normal. I would definitely stay here again.”