I chose the hotel for the character of the property, and it did not disappoint. The rooms very nice and seemed to have been upgraded fairly recently. However, it was the common areas that set the hotel apart. The vaulted dining room and bar area were charming and gave a sense of what the building was like when it was originally built. Also, the old-school keys were a nice touch.
The compromise for this charm was location, not being in the center of Dublin. Still, the 20-minute walk to Trinity college was not bad since the weather during our stay was cooperative. I can also recommend the gastropub. We thought we'd just make use of the restaurant for breakfast but at the end of a long day of sightseeing we chose to have dinner at the hotel several nights. A good meal and then straight to bed!