The centre is a retreat and conference house rather than a hotel. It has a chapel and meeting rooms, and the scheduled events are structured around a theme — Advent, healing, rest — with a facilitator leading sessions across the stay. Between sessions the time is your own. The beach runs along the front of the property, and the grounds include mature trees and farmland, so there is somewhere to walk without getting in a car.

What separates Ballyvaloo from a generic coastal guesthouse is the rhythm of the place. It is run for prayer, reflection and rest, and the atmosphere follows from that: quiet corridors, no pressure to fill the day, staff who help when asked and otherwise leave you to it. One visitor wrote that the peace and tranquillity were exceptional and that it was easy to forget the worries of life there. Another described the welcome as five star and the service as attentive.

Accommodation and food come in for consistent praise in the guest comments on the site, with one visitor calling the accommodation of a very high standard. Rooms are in the main house, and meals are served on site as part of the stay.

The centre also takes private bookings for rest and relaxation breaks, so you can come on your own dates rather than a scheduled event if you prefer. Conferences, meetings, seminars and day or weekend courses are also hosted here.

Prices for the scheduled events shown on the site are €365 for the three-night short retreats and the four-night healing seminar, and €255 for the two-night pre-Christmas break. Full details of what each price covers are not listed on the page, so confirm with the centre when you enquire.

What's included

- Overnight accommodation in the main house - Meals served on site - Led sessions with the retreat facilitator - Access to the beach and grounds

What's not included

- Travel to and from Ballyvaloo - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Anything not confirmed by the centre at the time of booking

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