We stayed at three different B&Bs that week in Ireland, two nights each. Breakfast was great everywhere; my mouth still waters to think about those meals. In fact, I've been thinking about posting an essay on "Breakfast: full Irish vs US diner," following up on recent threads on "American [fast-food] Travelogue" and "Comfort Food."

The place in Lisdoonvarna was less homelike that the other two B&Bs we had just visited, more like an American motel, but it was fine -- different from the other two, but not really better or worse.

The proprietor reduced our rate when we realized how early we would have to leave on our final morning, suggesting that we eat breakfast at the airport instead, on him. That turned out to be a good idea, better than rousting the missus out of bed to make us an extra-early meal that we would have to eat in a hurry. (She would have done it had we asked, but everyone was better off by their "rebating" us the price of four breakfasts.)

Our less-than-perfect final evening wasn't the B&B's fault, except insofar as it was located in the one larger town rather than lovely little Doolin.