Hostels in Ireland are on the opposite end of the spectrum to country hotels. With the increasing number of budget tourists touring Ireland budget accommodation mushroomed in this form. Old buildings were converted into basic rooms sleeping up to eight or twelve people, sharing bathrooms and small kitchens. The standard of hostels can vary dramatically, especially in the urban areas - soiled bedsheets and massive cobwebs are not unknown.
Some hostels offer private rooms with en-suite facilities for two people. Prices for these rooms (that are still within the often noisy and sometimes plain unsavory environment of the general hostel) tend to be near the price for a decent B&B. You would be far better off with a B&B in this case. The oft-cited advantage of being "near the busy nightlife" can also turn out to mean a way back through dark alleys full of drunks and drug-addicts.
Find out more about other types of accommodation in Ireland:
