The Irish Inn

What a pleasant way to celebrate our 43rd wedding anniversary and to have our very first full Irish breakfast prepared by a great Irish cook! This may be the best bed and breakfast experience we have ever had, and we have exeperienced quite a few. Thanks for allowing us to share your home with you, and we appreciate the many courtesies and gentility of the staff. Thanks for all the ways you made our anniversary special: the wine, the hand-made chocolates, and a very delicious dinner! So glad we found this part of the boondocks. Our best to you both from Nashville, Tennessee.

Dear Brian & Lynn - Your hospitality was wonderful. We have never experienced a bed and breakfast before, and our experience for the first time was better than we could ever imagine. You made us feel like we were home. From the time we got here, our wedding day, and the time we were getting ready to leave we just can't thank you enough! Brian, your breakfasts are wonderful, and you are a very interesting man to talk to. Oh, and tell Rev. Murrell Hazel that he was wonderful and an interesting man, too. We have been very blessed to have met you all. Thank you so much! P.S. - Brian, your pictures of our wedding are just great.

Thank you again! This was a grand way to celebrate our first anniversary back where we married.

Our first experience at a bed and breakfast was nice thanks to your hospitality. We enjoyed the conversation about the differences between living in the USA and Europe. Thanks for letting our dog, Magnum, be here with us. It was just like being home with him...only better!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! We will always remember my 60th birthday at The Irish Inn. What a beautiful chalet, good food, and great conversation!

Dear Brian & Lynn: Thanks for your wonderful hospitality! We so enjoyed our rest and tour of the area (even though the weather would not cooperate). The breakfasts were wonderful, and we hope to visit you again in the near future!

We truly enjoyed our visit with you. The Tunnel Hill bike ride was beautiful, and like you said the tunnel was really spooky! Next time we'll try to make it to the Little Grand Canyon.

We thought that you have the gift of humor, so we had to send you this card to commemorate your 62nd birthday. To us, at 67, 62 seems still young. We also want to thank you for the wonderful hospitality at The Irish Inn. The way that you carried the wheel chair down the stairs, we think you are strong and fit! We sure hope you stay that way. All the best.

We are holding such fond memories of our time at The Irish Inn B&B! Haven't had an Irish breakfast since we left. Jim makes me good egg McMuffins - HA! We appreciated all your help and hospitality. It was so fun to get back and see our lovely little granddaughter, but also fun to have a romantic break. Thanks again for sharing your lovely B&B with us. Since we heard that you will be cooking for vegans, we wondered if you have found a source for tofu bangers yet. Thank you for a lovely time!

Thank you very much for making our wedding day the best!!! We had such a relaxing weekend, and The Irish Inn exceeded all our expectations!! Thank you for the wonderful breakfasts and for making us feel at home. We enjoyed sharing stories from here and my new husband's home in the Czech Republic. Best of wishes, and we will be back to stay again!! Also, thank you, Brian, for taking beautiful photos of us and the awesome food!

Thank you so much for making our wedding day perfect! We had an amazing time. Your kindness and hospitality were outstanding. We loved the atmosphere (especially your stained glass windows). We hope to be back soon. Love and all good wishes!

The Irish Inn and surrounding area were just beautiful. Neither of us had ever enjoyed a full Irish breakfast before, so what a delicious surprise. The countryside, nature areas, and wineries are just amazing. Thanks for a beautiful holiday!

We SO enjoyed our stay at The Irish Inn. The mild winter in Southern Illinois allowed us to tour the area extensively, and we were so impressed with all the vineyards. Everyone was so friendly, and the food at The Irish Inn was just wonderful!

Lynn & Brian are two of the most kind-hearted people that we know. Thank you both for all of your hospitality and everything that you have done for us to make our stay special.

If you were any sweeter, you'd cause cavities! Thank you for making our Halloween wedding dreams come true! Can't wait to return and do some more ghost-hunting with you. Many thanks from Chicago.

If you're sailing the asphalt seas of the Midwest, you will find a most welcoming port of call at The Irish Inn. Wandering spirits can find warmth by the fire, a good cup of tea, cheering conversation, and a fine night's rest. We had a fun time! The food was great -- loved the full Irish breakfast. The paranormal tour was SPOOKY! Everything was grand, and we will tell our friends.

Brian is a great chef! Lynn is a fantastic hostess! Thank you, thank you, thank you! May you get a few days off and be treated as well as you have treated us. This was such a delight!

Thank you hardly seems enough to express our gratitude for a truly marvelous weekend! Your hospitality is truly over the top. I felt absolutely spoiled. The Irish Inn was wonderful and your company even moreso. I will never forget Lynn telling the story of the "Beast of New Burnside" by the fireplace. The tale gave me a delicious set of chills and golly-wobbles! Luckily there was enough friendship in that great room to chase away the heebie-jeebies before we went to bed! Thank you again for the lovely time, and we look forward to coming back soon.

Thank you so much for a lovely stay, and we just love that you accommodate pets so that we were able to bring one of our Shelties, Bear! We had a great time exploring Garden of the Gods, Cave-In-Rock, Trigg Tower, as well as sharing ice cream at The Chocolate Factory and having fish sandwiches at the E-Town cafe (a barge floating on the Ohio River). The pulled pork from the Ozark General Store was really great, too! We enjoyed all the fall colors, and are glad we waited to spend our sixth wedding anniversary at The Irish Inn. The real day is September 5th, but waiting until October in Ozark was a really good move! Thanks for a memorable time.

We had a great time, and we loved The Irish Inn. Our dogs (two little shit-tzus) felt at home, and we really appreciated you dog-sitting for them and for us!

Vielen herzlichen Dank für die schöne Anpassung, die nützlichen Tipps, das leckere Frühstück, die gemütliche Atmosphäre, gute Nahrung und Ihre sehr freundliche Unterstützung bei der Organisation unseres täglichen Zeitplanes. Wenn wir nur ein wenig länger hatten verweilen können. Dresden, Germany

Thank you so much for the fabulous weekend. We were so excited to bring our friends down with us for our anniversary weekend. We were talking about The Irish Inn for weeks, and you didn't disappoint us. Can't wait to come back next year!

Thank you both for the wonderful weekend at The Irish Inn! We loved the Native American Way fires Brian built for us each evening. The breakfasts were also completely fantastic! Some of us also really appreciated the ghost stories you regaled us with about the surrounding area and cemetery's paranormal activities. We are very glad that our good friends invited us here to spend their anniversary weekend with them, and we hope to return again with them next year. Melina, Adam, Geoff, Jill, Eric & Ericka

Your thoughtfulness shows that hospitality to you is more than just a word. Thank you for a lovely time, delicious meals, and chocolates. Hope to visit you again soon!

We had a blast while at your place celebrating our first anniversary! After choosing your B&B carefully, what a coicendence to find out that we are related!! And from such Noble origins!! We'll be back for sure to celebrate some of the holidays you mentioned.

Gabriel and I wanted to thank you for everything you did for us back in April. We are celebrating our six month wedding anniversary on October 23rd and were thinking of you, so wanted you to be able to celebrate with us remotely. This is why we have sent you this special bottle of gold medal winning Kentucky wine which was just released this year. We plan to return to The Irish Inn this summer, but could not wait that long to tell you how happy we sill are and to thank you for making our wedding day so special! (This note was delivered be special messenger with a bottle of special vintage wine to The Irish Innkeepers.)

Lynn & Brian -- In close to 29 years of marriage we had never stayed at a B&B. We're campers. Quite frankly, we had no idea what to expect. We were overly impressed with your hospitality, welcoming our dog, Duke, and making us feel at home. And poor Brian had to get up early to fix those wonderful breakfasts for us early risers. Everything was delicious, and the dinners were amazing! Lynn, thanks for sending the information on the day tours. Despite the rainy weather, we still enjoyed the nearby sites and scenery. The local winery (Hogg Hollow) provided the perfect wine, and you even made a special trip to get my husband sugar-free chocolates. That was above and beyond! Thanks for making our little getaway enjoyable and very relaxing. We'll tell our friends back home about you both, and we hope to return again in the near future. Good luck with your business, and we wish you both good health. Thanks again -- everything was just perfect!

We cannot say thank you enough for helping to make our honeymoon special and romantic. From the minute we arrived, you've taken care of us -- from chocolate gifts to full Irish breakfasts to recommendations on what to do and where to eat. We will never forget this fantastic trip and what you've done to make this the perfect honeymoon. What a great way to start our life as a married couple!

Your warm hospitality and delicious Irish breakfasts made us feel like we'd come to spend the weekend with good friends in Ireland. Thank you for opening your home and hearts to us. Blessings to you both in your marriage and this very special business. Thank you for a lovely romantic stay!

Where do we start? We can't praise Lynn and Brian enough for a most wonderful weekend. We decided to elope to The Irish Inn, and expected a quiet, simple experience. However, it turned out to be the most wonderful wedding all thanks to our fantastic innkeepers. Rose petals in our bed, flowers everywhere, a lovely old traditional preacher, the yummiest cake, and the nicest witnesses in the world!! Can't thank you enough. It was an unforgettable experience for us, and where in the world could we have expected to get a proper Scottish wedding but at this special place?

Thank you for a great 20th anniversary holiday at The Irish Inn. We had such a wonderful stay with you, and enjoyed the beautiful nature areas, countryside, and many vineyards and wineries. We look forward to seeing you again -- maybe this time next year!

Thank you for helping us celebrate our anniversary in style. The chocolates, wide selection of locally-produced wines, and flowers in our room made for a romantic weekend. Since we also got married here, it was wonderful for us to return to our place of beginning!

Thank you so much for the wonderful stay. This is such a beautiful place where the spirit of romance is alive and well. Look forward to coming back to The Irish Inn.

We enjoyed our stay at The Irish Inn. The breakfast was delicious! Thanks for the wine, chocolate terrapins, and rose petals in our bed and room -- what luxury! There were so many nice touches in our great room. We really enjoyed the huge selection of Irish meats at breakfast, and plan to come back again and again.

Dear Brian & Lynn: You have made me feel so special! I've never gotten so many roses at one time in my life. When I woke up this morning, they were the first things I noticed. The bed was very comfortable, and afforded me a good night's sleep, which I always cherish. Your warm hospitality and lovely environment were just perfect. Thank you for the gift of friendship and making our 38th wedding anniversary one to remember. The rose petals in our bed was particularly romantic, and what a surprise! The full Irish breakfast was a delight.

Cradled among majestic trees in the bosom of Southern Illinois rests an oasis from the world. The Irish Inn feeds your soul and your belly with lusciousness. There was a bed I never wanted to leave, views I wanted to paint, and a breakfast that was worth waking up for. We had a spacious room that suited our desire to relax and spend time together. Our well traveled hosts were charming and we learned that there are many delights to be experienced in the area surrounding the inn—on our next visit!

Thank you to our great hosts, and especially to Brian who added eggie bread (French toast) to the menu just for me on Sunday morning! It tasted great, and the whole weekend was good fun.

This was our second trip to The Irish Inn. This is an awesome place to be! You are both perfect innkeepers. The full Irish breakfast and home-made potato bread were great! Thank you for your hospitality, and we will be back again -- probably in June!

This is a wonderful and unique place with the friendliest proprietors!

We had a wonderful time! Thanks for taking us on the ghost tour. The chalet is just beautiful, and the food was great!

We were on our way home to Iowa, and found The Irish Inn at the last minute. So glad you had an opening! We thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality, location, and most of all the opportunity to make new friends. The chats with other guests and the innkeepers made our nights sparkle and was a benefit we never expected.

There is no warmer hospitality in the Midwest that I have found than what you offer here at The Irish Inn. As a single traveler, it is easy to feel lonely or excluded, but I never feel like this at your place. It is always like coming home, which is why as long as there is this wee bit of Ireland in the Shawnee forest, I'll be back!

This was the most perfect weekend I could imagine. We felt so at home and comfortable in your caring presence. The food and hospitality were amazing. I can't wait to come back here. Most of all we want you to know that this was a place of great understanding and growth for our relationship. That was an unexpected benefit, but something tremendously important to us.

We really had a great time. The food and hospitality gets an A+ from these two teachers. Hopefully we can return in the winter to enjoy the frost and warm fires and maybe some home-made Irish stew. Your Irish tea and breakfasts reminded us of our childhoods!

Thanks for a level, peaceful, and enjoyable retreat for us to enjoy our anniversary weekend. The Irish Inn is a wonderful B&B for us to celebrate our first 25 years together. You made it all very special and memorable for us.

What a wonderful stay we all had. This is a great place to use as a home base when touring the Shawnee National Forest and Southern Illinois Wine Trail. We felt like we were in a second home, and I am a person who travels for my work 60% of the time. This was not like my other trips, but actually like coming home to cherished friends or family. Thank you so much for bringing back that feeling.

What fun hosts you both are! The chalet is beautiful, and our stay was so relaxing and comfortable. The breakfast was magnificent. Your kindness, hospitality, and Irishness was a great change from the usual hustle bustle of our daily lives.

We enjoyed the company of the Irish Innkeepers, the stories, this chalet, and the beautiful scenery everywhere we looked. We plan to experience winter and spring with you as well. Thanks for providing the magic, romance, and friendship of Ireland. We have had a few days filled with charming and delightful memories which we will always cherish.

It is so beautiful here in autumn! Thank you so much for your hospitality, the interesting conversations, and this incredible country atmosphere. We'll tell all our Irish friends they don't have to fly home for a superb full Irish breakfast and a European experience.

What a great time, beautiful chalet and setting, delicious food, and wonderful hosts! What restful sleeps we had here and breakfasts just like we had in Ireland only much larger portions. We will recommend to family and friends.

Wonderful time, excellent food, and a very beautiful B&B. We really enjoyed our silver wedding anniversary at The Irish Inn. We had a great time hiking, and the warmth of your inn was so comforting to return to at night. You have a beautiful chalet here in the Shawnee National Forest, and we love that a truly Irish experience is available in middle America!

We loved the ghost stories on your website, but going on an actual haunted holiday was the most! We enjoyed climbing Trigg Tower, the floating orbs we caught on our film in the train tunnel, and the orange orbs that seemed to stare us down in the forest. This was a spooktacular time!

The Irish Inn offers such a unique experience. The house and countryside is beautiful and the rooms so well-decorated and comfortable. Brian and Lynn are wonderful innkeepers. We had such a great time, and are so happy to have found a place like this just a couple of hours from St. Louis.

We loved our stay at your beautiful B&B. We're so happy our family members who stayed here before made the connection for us!! The breakfast was superb, dinner delightful, and the host and hostess so enjoyable! God bless you, and may we meet again.

We loved everything about our stay, especially the WONDERFUL full Irish breakfasts! The food made it worth the trip from St. Louis, not to mention the little bit of blarney that we heard that made it even more enjoyable. Thank you both for a great time!

Thanks for a wonderful girlfriends' retreat. I now have a hankering to return to Ireland!

WOW! Lots of beautiful wildlife to be seen - green tree frogs, peepers, orange-striped box turtles, wolves, deer, and birds galore! The cypress swamp (Heron Pond) was a real treat, as were all the vineyards with the air of Tuscany and the taste of Illinois grapes. It was a very peaceful weekend to reconnect with nature and my soul!

We had an absolutely wonderful first anniversary here at The Irish Inn! Thanks for the great hospitality and a BIG THANK YOU for being so welcoming to our beagle, Parker. We couldn't have asked for a better getaway with the "whole" family. Love from St. Louis, Missouri.

We had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect; the hospitality even better; and the conversation better still! Brian's Irish breakfasts were over the top. It was so nice to be able to talk about Ireland and to be made to feel so much at home. Let us know next time you are in Evansville, Indiana.

We love The Irish Inn! This has been just what we needed: a quiet night, very comfortable room, and delicious breakfast. It was all very relaxing.

Thank you so much for your hospitality while we were here!! Brian was a wonderful chef, and we enjoyed eating our delicious breakfasts with him. We so enjoyed talking to both innkeepers and hearing all the stories and sharing some of our own. We'll certainly recommend The Irish Inn to all our friends.

We really enjoyed our time here! The food and beauty we shall never forget. Staying at The Irish Inn was a gift from our daughter for my 80th birthday. Thanks for the day tours and for excellent hospitality!

What a great weekend! You definitely started our climbing day out right with the full Irish breakfast and attentive hospitality. The day ended with marvelous Irish tea and a delicious home-made cake. Everything you put in front of us was devoured with delight. Thanks again for such a wonderful weekend.

Thanks for a very relaxing respite from the city. The atmosphere at The Irish Inn competes with any we've experienced in both the U.S. and Europe. Loved the Irish stew, which was a special unexpected treat, and the full Irish breakfasts -- Wow! A special thanks from our two dogs for welcoming them and giving them treats. Hope to visit again.

What a lovely chalet, delightfully comfy bed, and great food! Life doesn't get much better than this. Thanks for sharing fun stories and your friendly pets with this weary traveler.

I enjoyed the warm feeling of being home in Ireland at The Irish Inn. It was fun meeting the two of you, and enjoying a wee bit of my home country in Southern Illinois. The fires, music, and full Irish breakfasts really pulled at the heartstrings. Thank you so much for creating this wee bit of Ireland in the Shawnee Forest.

It is a lovely place you have here. It reminds me of a Japanese Ryokan. I hope my wife's parents can stay here next time they visit from Japan. It was such a wonderful surprise to find a place like this in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest. We were also surprised that my wife was not your first Japanese visitor, but can see why people from Japan would be attracted here. Good luck with The Irish Inn, which is a good place for all nationalities.

Thank you for being the light in the storm. What a wonderful surprise and a nice respite from daily strife. Thank you for your gracious hospitality and conversation. I am going to miss awakening to the delicious full Irish breakfasts and the music of Ireland -- so much better than an alarm clock! You have created something truly special here at The Irish Inn.

Thank you so much for including me in the birthday party for the other guest at The Irish Inn. Seems like there is always something fun and delightful going on at your B&B! The conversations with the two of you and other guests were animated and elevated. The food was first class, and so were all the amenities. You really know how to make a woman traveling on her own feel welcome!

Thank you so much for making our wedding and stay at The Irish Inn so special. We enjoyed it so much. In fact, we are already talking about coming back next spring. You really went out of your way to make everything perfect for us and gave us a day to remember the rest of our lives.

Thank you for the gift of The Irish Inn. You touched my heart in a wonderful way. My husband and I had been married for 59 years and were planning our big 60th wedding anniversary party when he passed away. I miss him so very much, and didn't think I would be up to traveling on my own when the kids bought me a gift certificate for The Irish Inn. I'm so glad I came though. Your hospitality, personal attention, and genuine caring meant a great deal to me. The Shawnee National Forest was a wonderful place to begin the healing process. The ambience of your B&B, the delicious food, and the jovial company was just what I needed. May God Bless!

We had such a wonderful time at your B&B this weekend! We were a little disappoined that we didn't come across any ghosts, but that meant that we could sleep more soundly. Dressing up for the James Bond dinner was so much fun, and the food was delicious! Thanks again for all your hospitality, and we can't wait to come back again!

Thank you so very much for sharing your beautiful home with me. I have relaxed and enjoyed the weekend so so so much! You both are wonderful people. I am glad that I met you both and came to this beautiful place. Brian, your breakfast was the best I have ever eaten! I mean that!

What a wonderful weekend! You both are great hosts, and Brian is a great cook full of interesting stories. I really relaxed and enjoyed myself!

Beautiful chalet in a gorgeous setting. Absolutely relaxing for our third anniversary! The breakfast was a great start to a great weekend. Thank you so much for opening your home to us and telling us some great tales.

Thank you so much for your hospitality. We loved your sharing your beautiful home with us. Everything was just so wonderful. The bed was very comfortable, and the breakfast was outstanding! We also enjoyed talking with Brian and hearing his stories during breakfast. We hope to see you again.

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us. We enjoyed our time with you so very much. A beautiful room, delicious breakfast, and such warm hospitality! We could not have asked for more. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

What a sight when we drove up to your beautiful inn. We immediately relaxed on the sprawling porch sipping some locally-produced wine. Going in and out of the door smelling the wonderful aromas of coq au vin was very comforting and appealing. What a feast and a great time to get to know one another. The beautiful room we had with the layers of bliss made us sleep like babies. I loved the Bee Kind lotion from Gilchrist & Soames of London. It smelled and felt great. But oh! What fantastic breakfasts you prepared for us, Brian -- all the delicious little things made us really feel at home. We loved the many stories, and will definitely be back. We live in Delaware, and were travelling back to Illinois to reconnect with old friends and attend festivities at SIU - Carbondale. Thanks for your hospitality!

WOW! What a wonderful place! Your log chalet is the perfect home in perfect surroundings with the perfect host and hostess, and the most perfect food! Thank you so much for everything. You have outdone yourselves for us on this special getaway we needed so very much. We don't think any other B&B will be able to top this!

We loved being able to bring our dog to The Irish Inn. She was right at home and enjoyed the forest, pond, and nature sites so much. Your B&B is the best we have ever stayed at!

Thank you for opening your lovely home and sharing our wedding with us. Brian, a special thanks for the beautiful pictures, exciting Irish tales, and the splendid breakfasts both mornings! You are a star! Best wishes and success with The Irish Inn, and we will see you again.

Thank you so very much for sharing your piece of Heaven on Earth with us for our wedding day! We enjoyed the wonderful breakfasts and great conversations with Brian. Our wedding day could not have been any more perfect! Thanks for your hospitality.

Thank you so much for making our 15th anniversary so special! Wonderful meals, great conversations, perfect accommodations, everything was delightful. So glad we learned about The Irish Inn two years ago and were finally able to experience it first hand.

This was just what we needed! The room was perfect; the hospitality great; and we especially enjoyed the stories and conversation with Brian at breakfast. We will be back, and will tell all our friends about the wonderful Irish Inn!

Thank you for two wonderful days and nights. We will remember your breakfast meals and carry the recipes home with us. We were able to relax from our everyday routines. Thank you for the delightful hospitality.

My husband surprised me with a romantic evening at The Irish Inn for our one year wedding anniversary. We both really enjoyed the beauty of the place. The breakfast was more than anyone could eat, and gave us plenty of energy to explore Bellsmith Springs. We also enjoyed listening to all the tales the innkeeper had to tell. It was very relaxing and full of great moments to remember!

We can't thank you enough for the wonderful time we had here at The Irish Inn. The food was amazing; the room so comfortable; and the company was very relaxed and enjoyable. It felt like we'd already been here many times before. Special thanks for welcoming Buddy into the inn as well! That really meas a lot to us, and we were so glad to meet Gus. We look forward to returning soon!

Thank you for making our 53rd anniversary so enjoyable! We love The Irish Inn. It is so beautiful, and you have made us feel so welcome! This visit was just as romantic as our wedding night, and after so many years that is saying something. This was such a treat!

Thank you for a wonderful time, and your breakfasts were awesome. We enjoyed the company and stories. Thanks for going with us on the ghost hunt, and we definitely heard voices we could not explain! It was a great home away from home, and a wonderful holiday.

Thanks so much for the wonderful weekend. The accommodations and food were great in such a beautiful setting. We loved hearing the stories about this area, your ancestors, and the many adventures associated with The Irish Inn! We wish you well in all that you do, and know that anyone who visits here will always have a memorable time.

I have stayed at many hotels over the years, but this was the first time I ever stayed at a bed and breakfast. I was very pleasantly surprised! Thank you for being so nice and making us feel at home. I will never forget our spooky experience of the orange light, a voice we could not explain, and the dark running shadow on our ghost tour!

Thank you for a wonderful time. In spite of our getting lost twice, we had a great time. We should have followed your directions! The food was awesome, and we hope to see you again soon.

We enjoyed beautiful fall weather, sight-seeing, and great Irish hospitality. Thank you for the delicious breakfasts, and making our first wedding anniversary so special!

Thank you so much for the beautiful night's stay at The Irish Inn. We would like to come back some time for a whole week. There is so much to do in Southern Illinois, and we had no idea! This morning's breakfast was wonderful. Just so you know that the first night of our honeymoon was perfect. The way you set up the flowers and candles was just amazing! We will not forget your kindness and hospitality. This is such a beautiful setting, and we are so grateful!

Thank you for such a great weekend. It was so nice, and we enjoyed it greatly. It was lucky that our family of seven found The Irish Inn -- your chalet was perfect for our big robust family. The girls got a good scare in the cemetery smelling the lady's perfume, and now they want all their friends at school to read the ghost stories on your website!

You are wonderful hosts! We have never had an innkeeper plan a whole weekend's activities for us, make all the reservations, and have it all be perfect! Thank you for the moonlight ghost tour. It was wonderful and spooky at the same time. Everyone around here says this is the most haunted area in many states. We will see you again.

Thank you for an incredible weekend! The food and accommodations were excellent and so memorable. We look forward to coming back in years to come. This was an unforgettable honeymoon, and much more than we ever imagined!

Such a pleasant surprise to find this wonderful hospitality deep in the Shawnee National Forest. We hope to return some time to spend several days. With all the beauty of nature you have to offer down here, we are looking forward to a much longer stay. Thanks for the delicious food and all the super Irish hospitality! Thanks for everything.

We enjoyed a taste of the Emerald Isle in Illinois. The surroundings, the company, and the authentic Irish foods were all delightful. Thank you so very much!

Thank you so much for opening your lovely home to us and our furry daughter. Even though we were only able to stay for one night this time, we thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks for including us in your three year wedding anniversary party; your friends and family are a delight, and made our stay even more enjoyable. We are delighted to report that we watched and loved "The Quiet Man" together. What a great movie to watch at The Irish Inn. Looking forward to our return.

This was just what we needed! The room was perfect (we were in the Dublin Castle Suite); the hospitality was great; and we really enjoyed the breakfasts. The conversations with Brian were enlivening. We will be back and tell all our friends about The Irish Inn.

All four of us have had a delightful time with you at The Irish Inn. You have made our trip so much fun! Thank you for babysitting Saffron and Linsey, so we could have a delicious meal. We loved your delectable breakfasts, and the peace and quiet of the Shawnee National Forest. This has been perfect. Thanks to you and for your doggie Ambassador, Gus!

I really loved staying here! I liked seeing Gus, Cleopatrick, and Seamus. Thank you for having us, and I hope to come back again next year. I missed seeing the bobcat, but I definitely heard it at night! I loved fishing. Thank you very much for the great breakfasts, too.

Thank you for everything at The Irish Inn. The canyon was a nice surprise for both of us. Until next time, we say thank you and that we love The Irish Inn.

Thank you for making this weekend so special. This was the perfect getaway in the country! The Irish Inn is a treasure. You catered to all of our needs and made this graduation/Mother's Day weekend one that we will never forget. The delicious full Irish brunch was very elegant! Until we meet again....

Thank you for making this weekend a special time I will always remember. The Irish Inn is filled with warmth and coziness. Having both Mother's Day and my son's graduation day all in one weekend, and staying at The Irish Inn was everything a family get together could hope to be. I will recommend your beautiful B&B to all my family and friends. Thanks again!

I am lucky enough to have met you and to find this beautiful home away from home. I will be counting the days until I can be back. There are so many things I want to see in Southern Illinois that you told us about. We will have to come back for a longer stay to do all the fun activities. Be well, and thank you for the great hospitality!

This was the greatest bed I have ever slept on! Kudos to the companies that make your linens, mattress, and cushy top pieces and duvets! We have to come back just for another great night's sleep. This was the best therapy for my bad back. Love The Irish Inn!

Thank you for opening your home to guests like us. You have a very nice place here, and made us feel very welcome. Thank you for speaking to us about Bellsmith Springs. We had a very exhausting, but enjoyable and magical hike there. I will make sure to tell others about your hospitality!

We have really enjoyed this beautiful chalet and unequaled hospitality. We look forward to returning soon. The breakfasts were great -- loved all the special things you can get nowhere but The Irish Inn!

We had a wonderful time here. Thanks so much for your hospitality. We will definitely be back for another holiday to The Irish Inn.

Thank you so much for the wonderful weekend. We had a very relaxing and enjoyable time. The Irish breakfasts were so tasty! We also really liked the art collection at The Irish Inn. Next visit maybe we can try your Asian Indian style food. Hope to get to see you again soon.

Our first B&B experience was just wonderful. Thank you for being such lovely hosts. We had a great time, and look forward to coming back for an even longer visit.

Thank you for a lovely time! The Irish Inn is just beautiful. The area is so pretty, and the air so fresh. I enjoyed riding the horses at Honey Bee Stables, which was a fabulous experience. Thank you for setting it all up!

Thanks for the nice getaway from our busy lives. It was just what we needed. Great to have our honeymoon, and it was such a super break from reality. We will never forget you or The Irish Inn.

We went swimming at Lake Glendale, and I went deep. I want to say I loved climbing -- it was goody-good! I did the whole hike and got some chocolate coins. We like how we got to stay in our own rooms. I had the flower princess bed with three mattresses high off the floor. I liked the jelly beans. When I'm sitting on the couch, I nibble on them and say "yum yum." Thanks for a great school vacation!

We drug our four and one year old along on our climbing trip to Jackson Falls, and they were amazing troopers. Thanks to this awesome chalet, Lake Glendale, and the Chocolate Factory, they ended up having as much fun as we did. We climbed Trigg Tower, too, which was a thrill for all four of us.

We loved our time in Southern Illinois!!! Thanks so much for a relaxing and wonderful summer vacation. This chalet is beautiful, and the ambience is so refreshing. You've given us very special memories!

Thank you so much for making my visit the most wonderful experience. I really love this log home and compliment you on the true Irish hospitality. I should also mention that we eloped here, and you tell me I am now the oldest groom to marry here -- age 81! Loved every minute.

We so enjoyed our stay with you, and didn't even hear the coyotes at night. Beautiful house and surroundings -- much more gorgeous in actuality than your pictures could portray. We stole Brian off his tractor to set up our barbeque, which was a delightful dinner. Thank you for the wonderful Irish and country hospitality!

This was our first B&B experience, and even though short, was just wonderful. We will love to visit The Irish Inn again. This was a great way to celebrate our anniversary of twelve years! Thank you for a wonderful experience, and for making it all so special.

We have much to remember about our stay here. We certainly feel lucky to have found you. Tomorrow is our tenth anniversary. The log home, irish breakfasts, and ghost stories will bring us back someday. We even were able to watch the Cardinals baseball game at the Creal Springs VFW -- that was some experience! We enjoyed our time with you very much and wish you continued success with your B&B.

Thank you for a wonderful stay. Our room was so warm and comfortable. It made our visit very enjoyable and just what we needed. Thank you for your kindness and hospitality. You went out of your way to make our stay that much more pleasant.

Thank you so much for the hospitality and kindness you have shared with us! This was just what I needed after returning from my tour of duty in Iraq. Your B&B really brought me back to the creature comforts of life. My wife and I are very happy with the place, and the bed and loveseat were especially comfortable for her in her condition. We wish you the very best of luck, and will back. Thanks again for making my welcome home to America so precious for us both! We hope to return with our baby in the future.

This was our first B&B experience, and it won't be our last. You have made us see that staying at a bed and breakfast is completely different and so much better than going to a hotel. Thanks for all the special touches and spoiling us!

The was our second ghost tour in Southermost Illinois, and we can't believe all the paranormal activity in this area. We had a blast, and plan to return next year. Thanks for your hospitality.

Our first experience at a bed and breakfast, and what a great time! The Irish Inn is a definite keeper! We will tell everyone in St. Louis, and will definitely return!

Thank you so much for making us feel so welcome here! We dropped in at the last minute, and you were so gracious to us. It is a very beautiful chalet, and the forest surrounding the inn is amazing. The full Irish breakfasts were just wonderful. My husband is definitely a meat and potato man, and he loved the meats and potato bread. We are B&B owners ourselves, and you get top marks from us. We look forward to seeing you at our place one of these fine days!

Thank you does not express our appreciation for your gracious hospitality. Your composure while being invaded by six unexpected guests was amazing! You rose to the occasion, and have given us all a very relaxing vacation -- one we will remember for a very long time. The accommodations are so comfortable, and the surroundings are beautiful. We will certainly be back -- next time with advance reservations! You are a super innkeeper. Thanks again.

Thank you for your hospitality. Your chalet is very comfortable and relaxing. I love all the windows and the beautiful views. The food was delicious. Thank you for everything!

We had a great time! The Irish Inn is very beautiful, and thank you for sharing it with us. It was such fun to find out we share people in our lives, which made us feel even more at home.

Our first bed and breakfast adventure was made truly magical by your hospitality. It was important for us to experience such a wonderful time on our first weekend together as newlyweds! Thank you so much, and we will be back again soon. We will never forget this truly wonderful weekend, not to mention the fabulous food and conversations.

You know how much we love it here! That is why we come back every chance we get. We love that our poodle is always welcome and so spoiled at The Irish Inn. Thanks for the pure joy, unequaled hospitality, and relaxation!

Thank you so much. The Irish Inn was a fabulous and relaxing way to unwind after busy days on the Southern Illinois Wine Trail. We even visited some of the wineries on the Shawnee Wine Trail since you are so close to both trails. Your hospitality has been spectacular, and your Irish breakfasts were phenomenal! We'll be back soon to enjoy the views next autumn and more of your superb Irish tea.

Thank you so much for all of your hospitality. This place is just beautiful! We will be back. We just love it here!

Thank you so much for your hospitality! We enjoyed these relaxing days at your place, the wonderful breakfasts, the interesting conversations, the Irish tea, and the cozy firplaces in every room! There are so many things to do around the Shawnee National Forest, and The Irish Inn is right in the middle of all of it. Horseback riding, hiking, biking, the two wine trails... I wish we could have stayed the whole week! If only the rest of Illinois had these hills! Coming from Austria, we especially appreciated the cozy atmosphere and international art collection here. Vielen herzlichen Dank!

Thank you for everything. The Irish Inn was amazing. I'm going to miss those sausages for breakfast. We went horseback riding, and of course to the Chocolate Factory in Dixon Springs. It was so yummy, and all the food at the B&B was delightful! We still have to check out the Tunnel Hill State Bicycle trail, so we will be back with our bikes next time. Thanks again, and good luck. We will definitely be seeing you again.

Greg selected the perfect place for our first anniversary. The Irish Inn reminded me of our honeymoon in Ireland with everyone sitting around the fireplace in your Great Room at night, the Irish music, and super full Irish breakfasts in the mornings. We also really enjoyed horseback riding on the trails in the forest. Thank you for a memorable anniversary -- it will be hard to top this one!

It was a sincere pleasure spending four days with you! The rooms are tastefully decorated, and the company so delightful. Both Brian & Lynn are so helpful and willing to go the extra mile to please their guests. Thank you again for making us feel like family!

What a wonderful find! So glad that The Irish Inn was easy to find on Google, because it really lives up to its promise: "This is as close as you can get to Ireland without boarding a plane." We enjoyed the Irish films, books, hosts, and superb Irish breakfast. This gem of an inn is filled with antiques and artifacts from around the world. What a pleasure.

Thank you both for a perfect ending to a great weekend. We just loved our stay, and the Shawnee National Forest is simply magic! What a bed! What a breakfast! We look forward to staying with you again, and are already checking our schedules.

Simple acts of kindness make this world a better place. We knew The Irish Inn would be a great place to start our married life, but didn't count on making two wonderful new friends. You have a marvelous way of making people feel special and at ease. We will never forget this day or the two of you, and we will visit many times in the future.

Thank you for everything you have done to make our wedding day special and memorable. The day turned out absolutely beautiful. The attendees are still talking about how beautiful everything was and how great the food was! We were both very pleased and agree it was the best day of our life!

The Irish Inn is as charming as its name. We enjoyed dinner and our evening with you and your guests. What interesting people visit The Irish Inn! We will always remember this anniversary, and will return to The Irish Inn in another season. Many thanks.

Thank you for the wonderful arrangements for my 90th birthday party. Everything was just perfect, and all our family and friends just love The Irish Inn. I am especially grateful for the special care the two of you took to see that every little detail was perfect. I can't remember my first birthday party anymore, but this 90th one stands out as the best ever.

Thank you for amazing hospitality. This place is truly beautiful, and was the perfect setting for our Honeymoon. The Dublin Castle suite was a dream for our first night as man and wife. Your breakfasts are out of this world, and thanks for the interesting conversations. Since we have never been out of America, it is eye-opening to talk to people who have lived in Europe and other places. Thanks for the interesting conversations and for listening to our opinions, too, even though we are young and just starting out. We will definitely be back -- hopefully once a year from now on. We appreciate all the little things you did for us, and can see you love what you do. May God Bless!

Bob and I enjoyed our stay in this lovely castle. Hope we will be able to come back on our next anniversary!! Thank you, Brian, for the hospitality. We enjoyed every bit of it, and you are a great chef! With best wishes from The O'Briens

What a wonderful getaway! Great scenery, wonderful hosts, great chef -- what more could you ask for? Thanks for being so good to our little dogs, Charlie and Taylor. All good luck until we meet again.

We all had such a great time, and thanks for letting us bring our babies. The Irish Inn is a nice place to get away. I will spread the word about this great B&B, and hope to visit here again. Loved the great conversations with the innkeepers and other guests -- what fun!

This is our first time staying at a B&B, and we loved every minute of it! Love the stories, conversations, and delicious breakfasts with Brian.

We enjoyed our first visit to The Irish Inn, and seeing the many visual displays that decorate the inn. We're sure there is an interesting story behind each one. The stories we did hear were so enjoyable. The hospitality, the sparkling burgundy juice, chocolates, and conviviality made our 13th anniversary a special remembrance! We give an A+ for the Irish breakfast.

This was our first time staying here, and we absolutely love it!!! Thank you so much for your hospitality, stories, great Irish sense of humor, and delicious food. We hope to be back soon.

Our wedding was so wonderful in every way at The Irish Inn. Having the ceremony at sunset really added to the beauty and mystique of getting married so close to nature. We were so glad to have the beautiful hand-crafted mugs and Christmas ornament as souvenirs from your B&B. We will think of our happiness whenever we use the mugs and at Christmas each year from now on. Thank you for making all the arrangments perfectly and for truly providing a stress-free wedding!

I highly recommend to anyone who will listen to me planning a vow renewal at The Irish Inn. Our renewal was so very special to us, and Lynn & Brian made it so easy. Just a few phone calls and emails, and you took care of everything. The Irish Inn is so inviting. It feels like home, and the two of you feel like family. We enjoyed our stay with you and look forward to coming back for a longer stay the next time. We are "dating" again like kids, and it all started with our vow renewal at the Irish Inn!

Thank you for the lovely visit to The Irish Inn. It was truly relaxing and enjoyable. We loved going on the nature hikes, wine-tasting, and riding our bicycles on the Tunnel Hill State Trail. There is so much to see and do in your area, and you have the perfect place to use as a base. We can't thank you enough.

It has been such a pleasure to be here. Thanks for showing us the beauty of your forest, preparing delicious food, and sharing wonderful intelligent conversation. We felt comfortable and rejuvenated, and thank you for welcoming us like family.

I so enjoyed visiting with you, seeing the beauty of Southern Illinois, and simply BEING in this lovely chalet. The energy here is so light and free - a testament to your ability to effectively manage all of the varied people and animal energies that regularly fill your home. My dog loved being included in this vacation, and I was so pleased that she was welcome at the vineyards on the Southern Illinois Wine Trail and in all the nature areas we visited. Thank you for this special place and this very special week.

Your wonderful inn and hospitality was the highlight of our year. We love visiting with interesting people and the guests we met at The Irish Inn were lively, intelligent, and very interesting. Thank you for a lovely experience.

Thank you so much for a wonderful time. The Irish Inn was a good way to celebrate our anniversary and get away. God bless you both. "The memory of the righteous will be a blessing..." - Proverbs 10:7 NIV

Where do we start? The two of you created a perfect wedding for us. What wonderful memories of a wonderful day! Everyone wants to know who our photographer was, and we tell them he was one in same with our superior innkeeper. You did such an excellent job giving us photographs to remember. Everything was just perfect, and the two of you are just wonderful. Thanks for it all!

We want to say a BIG thank you for a wonderful stay. The food was out of this world! We will be back again to be sure. The Irish Inn is the best B&B we have ever visited.

Hello beautiful people! We really enjoyed ourselves at The Irish Inn. The food was so tasty and plentiful; the chalet so warm and inviting; and your company and hospitality awesome. We appreciate the time you allotted for us while we were all together -- just like old and treasured friends. May God keep you in His perfect peace!

Thanks for the hospitality. Wayne and I love The Irish Inn ambience. This is our first time to stay in a B&B. The meals are excellent!

Your hospitality was great. Thank you so much for making this experience a pleasant one. The Irish breakfast and tea were great. I drink tea often, but never had it taste so good!! Thanks again.

Our third time staying here since we discovered this jewel last December was a great family experience! This time we brought our children, Riley and Jacob, for the Superman Festival, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. We can always count on good company, food, and relaxation here. We truly love this place! Lynn & Brian are very special people, and they pour their hearts and souls into The Irish Inn. Thanks again for a wonderful stay, and we will be back.

This was our first time staying at The Irish Inn, and we absolutely love it!!!! Thank you so much for your hospitality, stories, your great sense of Irish humor, and the delicious Irish food. We were able to attend the Superman Festival in Metropolis, Illinois, which was great fun. We plan to be back soon.

This was our first time at The Irish Inn, and we loved every minute of it! Loved talking and enjoying a full Irish breakfast with Brian.

Enjoyed our "Irish" break so very much. We visited the Superman Museum and had a great time reacquainting ourselves with our childhood hero. We had a wonderful trip, and really enjoyed meeting you. God bless you both!

The innkeepers here are truly excellent hosts. They are mindful to details of each persons liking and work hard to ensure that while you have plenty of privacy, you also have a warm atmosphere in which to stay. The dining experience is nothing short of gourmet and internationally flavored! :) The beautiful setting near the Shawnee National Forest, coupled with the hospitality of traditional Irish homes, makes this B&B my #1 choice in all categories! This is an excellent Romantic Escape :)

We had a great time this week at The Irish Inn, and there is so much to do all around Southern Illinois -- much more than we had any idea of! There was the Garden of the Gods, Cave-In-Rock on the Ohio River, the catfish barge at Elizabethtown, Millstone bluff with the prehistoric Indian relics, and wineries galore. We will be back, and loved returning to this lovely inn in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest. It is a magical place, and thank you very much.

Great place to stay. Very professional and clean. Food was fantastic. I highly recommend this Bed and Breakfast!

We made it home safely because we didn’t stop for lunch! We had a delicious big breakfast at the Irish Inn. When we stopped for gas, we brought a bag of Bugle chips. A little later down the road we stopped at a Dairy Queen for some ice cream. We arrived at our exit just south of Joplin, Missouri an hour before the tornado devastated Joplin. It must be the ”Luck of the Irish”! If we had stopped for lunch, we would have been in Joplin just when the storm hit. Besides having a great time at The Irish Inn, we learned that junk food can save your life!

Another wonderful stay at the Irish In. The Inn Keeper's always make my time there even more special than I remembered.

Thanks so much for the hospitality. The breakfasts were wonderful, the conversations stimulating, and the critters welcoming. We are such animal lovers, so it was great to be able to play with your pets who are so friendly. Best luck in all upcoming adventures and this marvelous B&B adventure.

Being from Ireland I know a good Irish breakfast, and this one was the best I have ever had. The care with which Brian prepares six meats, perfect sunny side up eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, and fried potato bread is unequaled. We had a good time with everything we did in the Shawnee National Forest, and that high protein breakfast is a great start to any day. We look forward to returning and will tell all our friends in Chicago and Dublin!

We truly enjoyed our stay and being able to be with our closest friends in this lovely chalet. The roominess of the bedrooms and openess of the great room is most comfortable, and this place seems to be a natural part of the Shawnee National Forest.

Rich and I wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed staying at the Irish Inn! LOVED Tunnel Hill Trail and all the other places we visited that you suggested. Thanks again for everything!

When we first arrived at The Irish Inn, the innkeeper came outside to greet us just as if we were old friends or family members. Then she made us a delicious cup of Irish tea as we planned our stay realizing there was so much more to do than we originally envisioned. In the evening we ventured out on a ghost tour, and had sitings! We smelled the perfume of a woman gone since the turn of the 20th century. It was a strong scent, so as I turned I actually saw the woman! She wore a long dark skirt, high necked blouse, and hair in an updo. She walked toward us with an arm out as if asking our help. We went to another site in search of Civil War ghosts, and while we did not see the men we DID see what looked like a campfire reflected in other gravestones....only there was no fire! We took off screaming. They say this is the most haunted area in Illinois, and after this trip, we believe it. There was another encounter with a ghost on a railroad long-abandoned, and we could distinctly see the man's coat and what looked like an old-fashioned railroad hat. Both garments moved as if someone in them was walking, but we couldn't see a person. Eeeeeerie! We are grown women, seniors actually, and have never been this scared in our lives or this enthralled! We enjoyed ourselves, the peaceful setting, the outstanding hospitality, delicious food, and a cruise on the Ohio River. It was one of the best vacations we ever had thanks to The Irish Inn.

What a wonderful stay! It was a nice break from the daily grind and just far enough away from Carbondale. Thank you for a lovely time.

Our kids did not want to go on a family vacation, but had a super time in Southern Illinois. Thanks for getting us all to go on the ghost tour, which was really thrilling. The hospitality was just right, too!

It was a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. You will be part of our first anniversary memories. Great conversation and food made for a wonderful experience, but the best part of all was your warmth and kindness!

Thanks for the most relaxing weekend and honeymoon ever!! We really enjoyed our stay because you are wonderful and caring. How nice to be around positive people, and what cooking!

The following comments are from our children: (1) Thank you for a great weekend. The chalet was really cool and relaxing. I've had a really nice time. (2) The weekend was very good and fun. Thank you for having us out. The food was great, and the chalet is relaxing and fishing was fun and the dog so fun to play with. (3) It was great. The food was delicious. Thank you for helping me with some of the leaves for my homework assignment. There were cool flix to watch and the whole experience was cool!

Thank you so much for a wonderful relaxing weekend with great food, sunshine, and great company. I'm learning that an interesting life is indeed a blessing, and it was a blessing finding this very interesting place. Thank you.

The Irish Inn was the perfect antedote for this overworked and stressed out couple! We had a lovely time in your home, loved the food, the surroundings, your pets, the wildlife, and peace. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I enjoyed being just another Irish man with a guitar passing through a place that allowed for total privacy.

Thank you for the wonderful weekend. You took care of us in every way, and our wedding was just beautiful. The icing on the cake was that you caught the bouquet, so we will expect an invitation to another wedding soon! Breakfasts were awesome, and we can't thank you enough.

Thank you so much for peerless hospitality! The Irish breakfasts were a dream for a man named O'Connell! Here's hoping I can come back soon. With sincere gratitude, Tim

Thank you for the wonderful breakfasts. The weekend was so relaxing, and your chalet is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for everything.

Thank you for a truly relaxing weekend. We really enjoyed the stay! Beautiful views everywhere we looked or visited, and what a fantastic breakfast. Thanks so much.