Athlone Holiday Hostel
The Crescent, Athlone, Ireland
Telephone: (353) 0902 73399 Fax (353) 0902 73833
Email: athhostl@iol.ie
http://ireland.iol.ie/wmeathtc/athhostl
Owned/run by Séamus Mac Aogáin
A very pleasant, clean place run by a very friendly gentleman. Just a touch expensive (£8, ~$11.50), but that's about the going rate for hostels in Ireland, which range from £5-£13, with the average seeming to fall around the £7 range. Facilities are good: a ping-pong table, pool table (50p, ~70£/game) and a kitchen (though the kitchen is not very well stocked). There are more beds per room than I've ever seen before (about 20), which I think would be totally intolerable when it's crowded. My biggest gripe, though, are the showers, which are token-operated (50p for just over 5 minutes) and have no temperature control. My first shower was a fairly good temperature, my second a bit tepid.
The owner (Séamus) and his staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful; I've been told by one of the guests (who comes here regularly from Dublin) that they'll all bend over backwards to be of assistance, and based on my experience, I'd say that's probably true. They have more information pamphlets than you could shake a stick at, and can direct you to all kinds of services around town, including things like bicycle rental and boat tours. Their exchange rates are good and they also accept credit cards. Séamus is fluent in Irish (Gaelic) and is a real Irish history nut. I imagine you could spend your entire vacation just learning about all the history and mythology of Ireland, some of which is painted onto the walls of the hostel.