A Community-Run Hostel in the Heart of South Kerry
Open the curtains here and you wake up to the MacGillycuddy's Reeks across the fields, sheep on the green slopes, and the River Inny running quietly past the door. Brú na Dromoda sits deep in the Dromid Gaeltacht on the Iveragh Peninsula, a cluster of white-walled, slate-roofed cottages on one of the most beautiful and least-crowded corners of the Ring of Kerry. You can walk to the Inny Tavern and a small shop in a couple of minutes, and from the car park you are a short drive from the wild Skellig Ring and the boats out to Skellig Michael.
What sets this place apart is that the village owns it. Built in 2001 and run by the local community, the hostel pours every booking back into Dromid, and guests notice the difference, describing in review after review the warm welcome and the feeling of being looked after by the people who actually live here. You sleep cheaply without feeling like you have cut a corner: rooms run from a bed in the dormitory to an en-suite Double or Twin with mountain views, all with parquet floors, fresh linen and garden, river or mountain outlooks.
The other quiet headline is the sky. The hostel sits inside the Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve, one of only four Gold-Tier reserves in the world, and on a clear night you can pick out the Milky Way with the naked eye, with stargazing equipment available on site. Add a big shared kitchen, a games-and-books lounge and free use of the community sports hall next door, and Brú na Dromoda works beautifully for Ring of Kerry road-trippers, Kerry Way walkers, stargazers and groups who want peace, scenery and real value over a polished hotel.
Dorm Beds, Private Rooms and a Whole Cottage
The rooms are simple and homely rather than designed, which is exactly what most guests come here for. Bright bedrooms have parquet floors, fresh linen on every bed and a window onto the garden, the river or the mountains, with a couple of the upper-floor rooms wearing the hostel's cheerful cobalt-blue doors. You will find everything you need and nothing you do not.
There is a room to fit how you want to travel. Solo walkers and cyclists take the bed in the seven-bed dormitory; couples who want a private bathroom and a view book the en-suite Double or Twin; families and groups spread out into the family room, the doubles, the single, or the self-contained three-bedroom house. The heart of the building is the large, well-equipped shared kitchen that reviewers single out again and again, with a lounge full of games and books, a games room and an indoor play area to keep a wet Kerry afternoon easy.
Where to Eat, Walk and Watch the Stars
You will want to bring some cash and a bag of groceries, because the pleasure of staying here is how far you are from anything hurried. The Inny Tavern and a small shop are a couple of minutes' walk for a pint, light bites and a Sunday-night traditional music session, while Waterville, around 10 km away, has the restaurants, pubs and seafront. The shared kitchen means you can cook a proper dinner after a day on the hills, and groups can arrange meals on request.
By day this is walking and water country. The Kerry Way long-distance trail passes about 1.6 km away, Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain, is roughly 40 minutes' drive to a climb start, and you can kayak at Waterville, Ballinskelligs or Valentia, all 15 to 20 minutes away. When the light goes, the reserve takes over: clear, crisp autumn and winter nights here are some of the best in the northern hemisphere for seeing the Milky Way, meteors and, on the right night, the aurora.
Why Book Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel?
Brú na Dromoda is strongest for travellers exploring the Ring of Kerry, the Skellig Ring and the Kerry Way who want a peaceful, good-value base run by the local community rather than a chain.
Community-owned
Built and run by the village of Dromid, so your booking supports the local Gaeltacht community, and guests consistently describe a genuinely warm, looked-after welcome.
Dark-sky stargazing
Inside the Gold-Tier Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve, with stargazing equipment on site and the Milky Way visible to the naked eye on clear nights.
Value with free WiFi
Dorm beds, an en-suite mountain-view Double or Twin, free private parking and reliable free WiFi throughout.
Best-fit guests
Best for walkers, cyclists, Skellig and Ring of Kerry road-trippers, stargazers and groups who value peace and scenery over a full-service hotel.
Check Availability at Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel
Interesting Points About Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel
- Owned and run by Dromid Community Development, the hostel is part of a community complex that includes a hall, a sports hall guests can use free, and the gteic digital hub, so a stay here puts money straight back into an Irish-speaking village
- It sits inside the Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve, awarded Gold-Tier status in 2014 as the first of its kind in the northern hemisphere and one of only four Gold-Tier reserves on Earth, and Dromid is named explicitly among the reserve's villages
- Groups expecting a shared dorm are sometimes given a whole self-contained cottage to themselves, a recurring surprise in recent guest reviews
- The Inny Tavern next door runs a Sunday-night traditional music session, putting live trad a short walk from your room
Rooms & Accommodation at Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel
Double or Twin Room with Mountain View
Sleeps 2 · 18 m² · Private bathroom · Mountain/river view · Upper floor
The top room at the hostel and the one to choose if you want privacy and a proper view. Best for couples who want their own en-suite walk-in shower and a window onto the garden, river and mountains, with a seating area and a fold-up bed available. It is on an upper floor reached by stairs.
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Bed in 7-Bed Dormitory Room
Sleeps 1 (in shared dorm) · 28 m² · Shared bathroom · Garden/mountain view
The cheapest way to stay and the choice for solo walkers, cyclists and backpackers. Best for budget travellers happy to share a clean, bright dorm with a garden and mountain outlook and use the shared bathroom and the big communal kitchen. There are no lockers, so bring a small lock if you want to secure valuables.
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Three-Bedroom House
Sleeps up to 4 · 35 m² · Entire home · Private bathroom · Garden view
A self-contained holiday home across three bedrooms, the pick for small groups and families who want their own space. Best if you would rather have a private cottage with a dishwasher, washing machine, oven and seating area than share dorm facilities, and it is the room that lucky groups sometimes find they have to themselves. Beds are arranged as four singles across the three rooms.
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Family Room
Sleeps 3+ · 14 m² · Shared bathroom · Garden view
A practical family room with a garden outlook and a shared bathroom. Best for families who want everyone in one room and are happy to use the shared facilities. A reviewing family praised its comfortable beds and tidy bathroom.
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Double Room
Sleeps 2 · 14 m² · Shared bathroom · Garden view
A simple private double for couples who want their own room at the lowest price and do not mind a shared bathroom. Choose this over the en-suite Double or Twin if budget matters more than having your own bathroom and a mountain view. It opens onto the garden and uses the shared kitchen.
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Single Room
Sleeps 1 · 12 m² · Shared bathroom · Garden view
A cosy single in one of the small cottages, the choice for a solo traveller who wants a private room rather than a dorm bunk. Best if you are travelling alone and value a quiet, peaceful room with a garden view and your own door, with a shared bathroom close by. One solo guest called it a single room with everything you could need.
Check PricesIs Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel Right for You?
Best Suited For
- Ring of Kerry and Skellig Ring road-trippers who want a quiet base off the main tour-bus circuit
- Kerry Way walkers and cyclists: the long-distance trail passes about 1.6 km away and the shared kitchen and drying room make multi-day legs easy
- Skellig Michael visitors: Portmagee, the boat departure point, is roughly a 25-minute drive
- Stargazers: the hostel is inside the Gold-Tier Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve, with equipment on site
- Solo travellers and groups on a budget: dorm beds, private rooms and a whole cottage, with reliable free WiFi throughout
- Families who want space and self-catering: a family room and a three-bedroom house with garden, river and mountain views
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You want to pay by card: the property is cash only on site, so bring cash for any extras
- You need someone at a desk when you arrive: check-in is self/remote and there may be no staff present, though a caretaker assists after-hours arrivals
- You want an on-site restaurant or breakfast: there is neither; the Inny Tavern pub and a shop are next door and Waterville is about 10 km away
- You need a step-free, ground-floor or accessible room: no ground-floor rooms are available at present and several rooms are reached by stairs, so confirm your needs with the property first
- You are travelling with a pet: pets are not allowed
Amenities & Facilities
Communal Spaces
- Large shared self-catering kitchen, fully equipped
- Lounge with games, books and a TV
- Games room and indoor play area
- Free use of the adjoining community sports hall
- Garden and outdoor seating
- Not available: On-site restaurant
- Not available: Breakfast service
Room & Bathroom
- Free WiFi throughout the property
- Parquet floors and fresh bed linen on all beds
- Garden, river or mountain views
- Heating, wardrobe and clothes rack
- En-suite bathroom in the Double or Twin and the three-bedroom house
- Towels included in the family en-suite rooms
- Fold-up beds with linen available
- Not available: Lockers in dormitory
Services
- Reception/office 09:00-17:00 weekdays; caretaker assists after-hours arrivals
- Self/remote check-in with emailed instructions
- Luggage storage
- Laundry service and drying room
- Meals on request, especially for groups
- Stargazing equipment available on site
- Not available: Room service
Parking & Transport
- Free private on-site parking, no reservation needed
- Bicycle parking
- Kerry Airport, about 57 km (roughly 1 hour by car)
- Waterville, about 10 km, the nearest practical transport hub
- Not available: Airport shuttle
House Rules
- Cash only on site (no cards)
- Non-smoking throughout
- Minimum check-in age 18
- Children welcome (those aged 6 and over charged as adults)
- Quiet at night
- Not available: Pets
- Not available: Cots or extra beds
On the River Inny, Between the Ring of Kerry and the Skellig Ring
Brú na Dromoda stands in the Dromid Gaeltacht on the Iveragh Peninsula, on the banks of the River Inny and ringed by mountains, rivers and lakes. It is on the famous Ring of Kerry where it meets the wilder, quieter Skellig Ring, with the Inny Tavern and a small shop a short walk away and Waterville around 10 km off. Cahersiveen is roughly 12 km away, and the Kerry Way long-distance walking trail passes about 1.6 km from the door.
This is a base for the big South Kerry days out. Portmagee, the departure point for the boats to Skellig Michael, is about a 25-minute drive, and the Kerry Cliffs just beyond it stand higher than the Cliffs of Moher. Closer still are Ballinskelligs and its Blue Flag beach, the Skellig Experience Centre on Valentia, and Derrynane House and beach at Caherdaniel. Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain, is roughly 40 minutes' drive to a climb start.
The single thing to plan for is the journey in. There is no direct public transport, so most guests drive, and the approach runs along single-track roads that are scenic but tight in places. The simplest no-car option is public transport to Waterville and then a short taxi for the final 10 km or so. However you arrive, the reward is a corner of Ireland that feels genuinely remote.
- Inny Tavern & local shop: About 170 m · short walk. The social hub next door, with basic provisions and a Sunday-night traditional music session.
- Waterville village: About 10 km · 10–13 min drive. The seaside Ring of Kerry village that was Charlie Chaplin's favourite holiday spot, with a beach and restaurants.
- Ballinskelligs: About 15 min drive. A Blue Flag beach and the 16th-century Ballinskelligs Castle ruins built by the MacCarthy Mór clan.
- Portmagee (Skellig Michael boats): About 25 min drive. The departure point for the roughly 45-minute crossing to Skellig Michael, running mid-May to late September.
- Kerry Cliffs: Just past Portmagee. The cliffs stand 305 m above the Atlantic, higher than the Cliffs of Moher, a 10-minute walk up from a free car park, with entry around €5.
- Skellig Experience Centre, Valentia: About 30 km. Interprets the 6th-century monastic settlement on Skellig Michael without taking a boat.
- Derrynane House & Beach, Caherdaniel: Ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, with dunes, woodland trails and a Blue Flag beach.
- Carrauntoohil: About 40 min drive to a climb start. Ireland's highest mountain, in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks.
Getting to Key Locations
Skellig Michael
45 min ferry
The UNESCO-listed island monastery rises 218 m out of the Atlantic about 12 km off the coast, reached by a roughly 45-minute boat crossing from Portmagee between mid-May and late September. Landing involves climbing 618 uneven stone steps, and the well-preserved 6th-century monastic settlement at the top is one of Ireland's most extraordinary sights.
View on Map
Photo: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kerry Cliffs
Just beyond Portmagee, the Kerry Cliffs drop 305 m straight into the Atlantic, higher than the Cliffs of Moher, with views out to the Skelligs on a clear day. It is a 10-minute walk up a gravel path from a free car park, with entry from around €5, and it is one of the easiest big-hitter coastal views to reach from the hostel.
View on Map
Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Waterville
About 10 km away, Waterville is the seaside Ring of Kerry village that was Charlie Chaplin's favourite holiday spot, with a long beach, a clutch of restaurants and pubs and the seafront promenade. It is the nearest place to stock up, eat out or catch public transport, and a natural first stop on a day's drive around the peninsula.
View on MapHow to Get to Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel
- Plan to drive, or take a taxi from Waterville: There is no direct public transport to the village. Most guests drive; without a car, take public transport to Waterville (about 10 km away) and then a taxi for the final stretch, which is roughly €20.
- Follow the Ring of Kerry toward Mastergeehy: From Waterville or Cahersiveen, follow the Ring of Kerry road toward Mastergeehy and Killeenleagh. Check your exact route on Google Maps before you set off, as the final approach is rural and signed locally.
- Take the single-track roads slowly: The last part of the drive is on single-track roads that are very scenic but tight in places. Drive carefully, use the passing places, and allow a little extra time.
- Tell the property your arrival time: Because check-in is self/remote, let the property know when you expect to arrive. You will be sent instructions, and an on-site caretaker assists after-hours arrivals. Phone +353 66 947 4782 or email bainisteoir@dromid.ie.
The Skellig Ring & Ring of Kerry
Brú na Dromoda sits in one of Ireland's most spectacular and least-crowded corners, where the famous Ring of Kerry meets the wilder Skellig Ring on the Iveragh Peninsula. This is a living, working Irish-speaking community on the banks of the River Inny, with the Atlantic and the MacGillycuddy's Reeks close at hand. May to September is the prime season for Skellig Michael boat access, the longest daylight and the best walking weather, while crisp autumn and winter nights are unbeatable for stargazing.
The area is part of the Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve, awarded Gold-Tier status in 2014 as the first of its kind in the northern hemisphere and now one of only four Gold-Tier reserves worldwide, alongside NamibRand, Aoraki Mackenzie and Central Idaho. Dromid is named explicitly among the reserve's villages, and on a clear night you can see the Milky Way, meteors and even the aurora with the naked eye, harder only when the moon is full. By day, the Kerry Way passes close by, Portmagee and the Skellig boats are about 25 minutes away, and Waterville, Ballinskelligs and Valentia line up a string of beaches and kayaking spots within easy reach.
The Skellig Ring Scenic Drive
A drive along the Skellig Ring, the wild coastal route the hostel sits on, useful destination context for the Ring of Kerry and Skellig Michael side of a South Kerry trip.
Is Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel worth it?
Yes, if you want a peaceful, genuinely affordable base for the Ring of Kerry, the Kerry Way and Skellig Michael, run by the local community and sitting under some of the darkest skies in the northern hemisphere, with free parking and reliable free WiFi. Skip it if you need card payment on site, a staffed reception desk on arrival, or a restaurant and breakfast on the doorstep.
What Guests Say About Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Fabulous
Recent guests love the peace, the scenery and the value, praising the remote countryside setting with views of the Reeks, the big clean communal kitchen, spotless rooms and the friendly community-run welcome that makes it an easy base for the Ring of Kerry, the Kerry Way and Skellig trips. The free WiFi is the part guests rate most highly, with the location and value both drawing solid marks too. The main things to plan for are the single-track approach roads and the self/remote check-in, both easily handled with a little pre-arrival guidance.
Stayed almost a month for work. The best place to stay whether you are a solo traveller or a group on holiday.
Surya
Loved the very rural setting, with a shop and a little bar just next door and gorgeous views of the Reeks. Would stay again.
2026-06-14Stayed almost a month for work. The best place to stay whether you are a solo traveller or a group on holiday.
2026-06-14Clean rooms and washroom, a seamless check-in and an easily reachable location, with a pub nearby. Good value.
2026-06-03A simple hostel in a small community surrounded by beautiful nature and away from the tour buses, exactly the base wanted for the Ring of Kerry, clearly cared for by local community members.
2026-05-31An idyllic, peaceful setting with spectacular views, and a cosy single room within the hostel complex that had everything needed.
2026-05-29A superb place; the only wish was for lockers to secure personal belongings. Nothing else to report.
2026-05-29A very good family room with comfortable beds and a tidy bathroom. Nice rooms and good value overall.
2026-05-24Booked for a group of four expecting a shared room and ended up with a full cottage to ourselves, perfect before a big hike, with very comfy beds and great facilities. The single-track approach roads are worth checking on a map first.
2026-05-18Good to Know Before You Book
Cash only on site
The property cannot take card payments, so bring cash for any extras you pay for during your stay. Your room payment is handled when you book; the cash you need on site is for anything purchased directly from the hostel.
Self/remote check-in, so tell them when you'll arrive
There may be no staff at a desk when you arrive. You will be sent check-in instructions in advance, and an on-site caretaker assists after-hours arrivals, so let the property know your expected arrival time. Reception/office hours are 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays. Phone +353 66 947 4782 or email bainisteoir@dromid.ie.
Single-track approach roads
The final approach is on single-track roads that are scenic but tight in places. Check your route on Google Maps before you set off, drive carefully and use the passing places. Cancellation and prepayment terms vary by room, and the exact conditions show before you confirm.
Towels, linen and what to pack
Fresh bed linen is provided on all beds. Towels are included only in the family en-suite rooms, so pack a towel for the other rooms. There are no lockers in the dormitory, so bring a small lock if you want to secure valuables, and stock up on groceries before you arrive as there are no shops beyond the small one next door.
Call Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel
Want to ask about availability, group rates or arrival times? Call the hostel directly.
+353 66 947 4782Photos of Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel
Frequently Asked Questions
It is in Killeenleagh, Mastergeehy, in the Dromid Gaeltacht on the Iveragh Peninsula in South Kerry, postcode V23 RK10, on the banks of the River Inny. It is around 10 km from Waterville and roughly 12 km from Cahersiveen, on the Ring of Kerry where it meets the Skellig Ring. Some listings file it under Killarney as the postal town, but the property is firmly in the Mastergeehy/Killeenleagh area of South Kerry.
Most guests drive, and the final approach is on single-track roads that are scenic but tight in places, so check your route on Google Maps first. There is no direct public transport: the simplest no-car option is public transport to Waterville (about 10 km away) and then a taxi for the last stretch, which is roughly €20. Free private parking is available on site for those driving.
Check-in begins at 16:30, and you should check out by 10:30. Check-in is self/remote, so you will be sent instructions in advance and an on-site caretaker assists after-hours arrivals. Reception/office hours are 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays. Please let the property know your expected arrival time when you book.
There are six room types. The cheapest is a bed in the 7-bed dormitory, and there is an en-suite Double or Twin Room with Mountain View. Between them sit a Single Room, a Double Room and a Family Room with shared bathrooms, plus a self-contained Three-Bedroom House for groups. Exact nightly rates depend on the room type and your dates, and the current price is shown before you confirm.
There is no on-site restaurant and no breakfast service, but the hostel has a large shared self-catering kitchen, and meals can be arranged on request for groups. The Inny Tavern pub and a small shop are a short walk next door, the pub serving light snacks and a Sunday-night traditional music session, and Waterville (about 10 km away) has restaurants and pubs. It is worth bringing groceries with you.
Yes. The hostel sits inside the Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve, a Gold-Tier reserve and one of only four in the world, so on a clear night you can see the Milky Way, meteors and even the aurora with the naked eye, with stargazing harder only around a full moon. Stargazing equipment is available on site.
Yes to both. Free private on-site parking is available with no reservation needed, and free WiFi runs throughout the property, dorms and private rooms included.
Pets are not allowed. The minimum check-in age is 18. Children are welcome, with those aged 6 and over charged as adults. Payment on site is cash only, so bring cash for any extras, and note there are no lockers in the dormitory.
Planning a Wider Ireland Trip?
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Browse our other Ireland property guides as the collection grows, useful if your route runs beyond the Ring of Kerry to the rest of the country.
Ready to Book Brú na Dromoda/Dromid Hostel?
A peaceful, community-run South Kerry base, with free parking, reliable free WiFi and Gold-Tier dark skies, perfect for Ring of Kerry road-trippers, Kerry Way walkers, stargazers and groups.
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