Find holiday and vacation rentals in Ireland

I landed in Ireland with a suitcase that squeeked like an old shopping trolly and the naive belief that September meant gentle autumn breezes. Ha. The wind nearly pushed me sideways as I walked out of Dublin Airport, like some invisible uncle shoving me for a laugh. But that’s the charm: Ireland doesn’t promise you sunshine—it promises you stories.

Holiday homes here are something else. I rented one in Connemara once, a crooked little cottage with a roof that looked like it wanted to fall into the Atlantic but somehow hadn’t. The host, Mary, insisted the key didn’t always work unless you “gave the lock a bit of a sweet talk.” I stood there mumbling sweet nothings to a rusty keyhole, feeling utterly mad, until click—it worked. That’s Ireland for you: part fairytale part practical joke.

Reserve Irish Hotels, B & B’s and Self-catering accommodation

Hotels Oh, plenty. Some proper fancy with chandeliers that make you feel like you should wear gloves just to enter, and some more down-to-earth ones where the breakfast room smells of sausages at 7 AM and the carpet has mysterious eternal stains. Then there are B&Bs, which I think were invented to remind travelers that strangers can still care whether you’ve had a good night sleep. I stayed in one near Dingle where the owner served soda bread so crunchy I thought I’d chipped a tooth, but it was unforgettable. Like eating history with butter.

And self-catering cottages are everywhere. I love those. There’s something magical about picking up groceries from a tiny town shop—milk in glass bottles, crisps you’ve never heard of, rashers that are twice as thick as you expect—and then cooking in some half-broken stove while rain taps on the windows like an impatient drummer. Once, in Clare, I cooked pasta while a donkey stared at me thru the kitchen window. I swear he judged my sauce.

The landscapes Don’t get me started. One minute you’re driving along a sleepy road lined with stone walls and sheep that refuse to move, the next you’re staring at cliffs that look like they belong in a fantasy film. Random views pop out of nowhere—tiny harbors with two fishing boats, a rainbow that lasts exactly 90 seconds, a pub painted the brightest blue you’ve ever seen. The weather is comedy gold: sunshine, hail, sunshine again, all in the span of one Guinness pint.

Ireland’s small towns are the real treasure. In Kilkenny, I walked into a bar that looked closed from the outside but was somehow full of people inside singing rebel songs. In Westport I bought socks from a shop that also sold fishing rods, wedding hats, and—oddly—phone chargers. There’s always a sense of improvisation like the whole country is winging it beautifully.

So yes come to Ireland. Rent the funny little homes, stay in hotels with carpets from 1973, eat the crunchy bread, talk to donkeys. The country will welcome you with weather that laughs at your umbrella and views that will stay in your head longer then your photos ever will.

🥇 Casinos on the Road – My Chaotic Reviews

Alright switching gears (kind of). After all the sheep, cliffs, and endless cups of tea, let’s talk about something Ireland’s modern side does well: online casinos. Yeah, I know, the shift from donkey-staring pasta dinners to digital roulette wheels is abrupt. But that’s how my brain works after three expresso’s in Galway.

Below, my long ramble-review of the casinos you’ll find buzzing in Ireland. These aren’t sterile descriptions. Think of them as my chatty notes while juggling Wi-Fi, half-finished pints, and the occasional deja vu of an old slot machine in a pub corner.

1. LeonBet – The Confident Starter

LeonBet slides in like someone who knows the room already. The site has a proper mix of slots, blackjack, poker tables and a sports betting section that looks like it eats statistics for breakfast. The slots are quick, colorful, and themed in every direction you can imagine—ancient Egypt, space, Irish luck (bit on the nose but works). The bonuses are bold, sometimes so big you squint at the fine print. But they do deliver, especially if you’re patient. I once spun a wheel here while sitting in a Donegal café with a broken heater and somehow won enough to cover the coffee and scone. Felt poetic.

The vibe is straightforward confidence, like the bartender who doesn’t smile but pours a perfect pint every time. No nonsense, and it works.

2. Casimba – The Stylish Stranger

Casimba greets you like that suave guy at a bar who wears cologne that costs more then your rent. The site feels polished. Slots Plenty. Blackjack Slick. Live casino tables where dealers smile like they know your secrets. Their welcome bonus is chunky, though you might need a calculator to decode the terms. I played a slot here that reminded me of an old machine in Galway that once ate all my coins without even blinking. Still, Casimba redeems itself with decent loyalty perks and a VIP club that tries very hard to be mysterious.

Casimba has this mood of velvet curtains and cocktails. I once imagined playing it while sitting in an old Irish theatre—those small town ones that show random plays about ghosts and fishermen. That’s the vibe: drama, polished wood, maybe someone smoking outside in the drizzle. It feels a bit posh but in a fun, slightly absurd way.

3. Twin Casino – The Cool Cousin Who DJs

Twin feels hip without trying too hard. The layout is sharp, the games load fast, and the slots selection is massive. I liked their live dealer section—felt more relaxed than others, like playing cards with someone who isn’t pretending to be James Bond. Their bonuses are neat and easy to understand, which I appriciate. I once played Twin late at night in a hotel near Cork, listening to rain hammer the window. Perfect vibe.

Twin also has this habit of throwing quirky tournaments. I stumbled into one where the theme was basically “spin till you drop.” Didn’t win, but I had fun watching the leaderboard, usernames like PotatoKing99 climbing to the top. Felt like an Irish village pub quiz but online.

4. Party Casino – Colorful Chaos

Party Casino is like a pub at midnight: noisy, messy but alive. The colors, the layouts, the sheer variety of slots—it’s like stepping into a carnival. Blackjack and roulette tables feel fast-paced, sometimes too fast, like the dealer’s rushing to catch a buss. Bonuses are friendly, though a bit scattered. I liked the sense that anything could happen, even if sometimes the flashing banners made me feel like I’d had one too many.

One night in Limerick, after two pints of Smithwick’s and a dodgy kebab, I logged into Party Casino. Played a disco-themed slot with neon lights and absurd music. My laptop battery died mid-spin. When I plugged it back, somehow I’d won €50. The kebab did not survive the night, but the win did.

5. Slott Casino – The Odd Cousin With Too Many Ideas

Slott Casino (yes, with two t’s, don’t ask me why) is like that eccentric cousin who shows up to a wedding wearing neon shoes and a cowboy hat. The site has loads of slots, of course, but also random promotions that pop up like surprise fireworks. One day it’s a bonus tied to a movie release, the next day it’s some bizarre “spin and win a pizza oven” deal. I didn’t win the oven, but I did win a few euros on a Viking-themed slot that made me laugh more than it should’ve.

The layout is a bit chaotic, buttons everywhere, like someone glued stickers on a school notebook. But somehow it works. Blackjack and roulette are there, and the live games are surprisingly smooth. A dealer asked me about the weather once, which made it feel weirdly like small-town Ireland gossip.

If you like casinos with personality (and occasional nonsense), Slott’s worth a spin. Just don’t expect tidy order—it’s more like a pub after midnight where everyone’s still dancing even though the music stopped.

6. Magic Red – Quirky Little Gem

Magic Red is smaller, cozier. Think of it as the B&B of casinos. Slots are the main draw, though the poker and blackjack tables are decent. Their bonuses pop up often, like biscuits on a tea tray. The site sometimes feels a bit dated but that gives it charm. Reminded me of walking into a pub where the jukebox only plays hits from 2003—you roll your eyes then sing along anyway.

The first time I tried Magic Red, my cat (yes, I travel sometimes with a cat, don’t judge) walked across the keyboard. Somehow he activated a bonus spin on a pirate slot and won me €10. Best sidekick ever. I wish I could send him a loyalty card.

7. Betsafe – Reliable, Like an Old Jacket

Betsafe has that no-nonsense vibe. Not the flashiest but it works. Poker’s good, blackjack solid, roulette spins without hiccups. Their slots cover every possible theme, some you didn’t even know existed. The bonuses Practical not outrageous. Think of it as a solid raincoat—you might not rave about it, but you’re glad you’ve got it when the Irish drizzle starts.

Fun sidenote: I played Betsafe once while waiting at Shannon Airport. A kid nearby was loudly announcing every plane he saw out the window (“that one’s definitely going to Spain”). Meanwhile, I quietly won a blackjack hand and felt like whispering, “this one’s definitely going to pay for my taxi.”

8. 888 Casino – The Veteran Storyteller

888 Casino is one of those names you’ve heard even if you don’t gamble. And it shows—they’ve been around. The site has layers: slots galore, poker rooms, roulette wheels, live games with chatty dealers. The bonuses feel generous, though the fine print sometimes makes you squint. Playing here reminded me of chatting with an old man in Limerick who told me the same story three times but somehow made it funnier each time.

I swear the live dealers here must take acting classes. One winked at me like we were in on a joke. I lost the hand, but felt oddly seen. Can’t get that in a regular pub slot machine.

9. Spin Casino – Smooth as Buttered Toast

Spin Casino delivers what it promises. Sleek slots, straightforward poker, blackjack that doesn’t glitch. Nothing revolutionary but it works. The bonus system is generous enough that you almost forgive it for feeling a little sterile. Think of a hotel room that’s spotless but maybe too spotless—you wonder if anyone’s actually stayed there before. Still, I won a small pot on roulette here and celebrated by eating a bag of Tayto crisps in the rain. Worth it.

And here’s the thing, Spin Casino has this habit of sneaking up on you. I once sat in a dull hotel conference room in Cork, pretending to listen to a talk about ’emerging markets,’ while secretly spinning reels on Spin. Won €23 right as the speaker coughed dramatically into the mic. It felt like the slot machine was heckling him through me. That’s kind of Spin’s vibe: quietly dependable, but occasionally throwing you a cheeky win when you least expect it.

Weird note: Spin’s roulette wheel has this sound effect that reminded me of the old ceiling fan in my granny’s kitchen in Mayo. Every time the wheel clicked, I could smell boiled cabbage in my head. Nostalgia is sneaky like that.

10. Unibet Casino – The Friendly All-Rounder

Unibet feels like the mate who always brings snacks to the party. Solid selection of games: slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, all running well. Their sports betting side makes it extra versatile. Bonuses are approachable, not confusing, and their loyalty rewards are surprsingly generous. I played a few rounds of blackjack here while waiting for a bus in Galway, which made missing the bus sting a bit less.

Later I realized I’d been sitting at the wrong bus stop anyway. Maybe Unibet saved me from going to Limerick by mistake.

⭐ Overall

That’s the lineup, more or less. I could probably ramble another five pages, but the café’s closing soon and the barista keeps giving me side-eye. Anyway, Ireland’s got cliffs and castles yes—but it’s also got a buzzing online casino scene that’s as quirky and varied as its weather. If you ever find yourself stuck indoors during a rainstorm (which, trust me, will happen), you might just find yourself spinning a wheel while the Atlantic wind rattles the windows. Or loosing €5 on a leprechaun slot while a cat judges you from the couch.