Very close Lough Gur and the Ballyhoura Mountains (popular for cycling and walking breaks) Bruff is a lovely village within easy driving distances of a lot of interesting places and Miriam Sadlier Barry's unusual and very hospitable B&B would ... more...
The Tannery Cookery School and the adjacent Glanbia organic garden, which supplies both the restaurant and the school, is just around the corner from Paul and Maire Flynn's renowned restaurant The Tannery.
Paul Flynn is an acclaimed chef, who has long ... more...
Jackie and Joe O’Connors’ beautifully located hideaway is right on the sea on the northern edge of Skerries town, and it is truly unique – how often do you wake up to the sound of waves on the rocks outside your bedroom window?
It&rs ... more...
Noel and Lorna Bourke relocated from London to start a new business here on the Sheeps Head peninsula, where their boutique B&B, Gallán Mor (named after a standing stone in their garden), is perched high on a hill with stunning views over Du ... more...
Established in 1885, this centrally located pub on the corner of Pearse Street and Shaw Street is easily recognised by the well-maintained floral baskets that brighten up the street outside.
Inside, this cosy bar has kept its Victorian character and c ... more...
Both the house and garden at the Shelswell-White family’s 18th century mansion overlooking Bantry Bay are open to the public – and a visit to their Tearoom is highly recommended while you are there.
The Tearoom is set in three interconnect ... more...
Bright, spacious and welcoming, Patrick and Anna Casey’s well-named B&B is quietly situated close to the beaches and good walking that bring so many people to the area, but it’s also very handy for dining in Ballycotton and for anyone a ... more...
Dromineer is one of the Shannon’s most visited places - the harbour is popular with cruisers, anglers and sailing folk alike, it's also a great destination for a day out from Limerick.
And, right beside the harbour at this charming lakes ... more...
This attractive family-run bar in Doonbeg village is run by the energetic Hugh McNally, who has upped the ante in recent years.
While retaining some of the charm of the old bar, he has given this lively seafood bar and grill a refreshing more c ... more...
Situated on a quiet road just off the centre of Adare village, and within easy walking distance of the Heritage Centre, shops and restaurants, Bridie Herlihy’s B&B is set well back from the road and offers a quiet and comfortable base for vis ... more...
A short break can do us all a power of good, and picking a destination that's only an hour or 90 minutes from home means less stress, more chilling time - and better value all round. So, especially if you're based in Dublin, why not try one of our picks for a quick break within easy striking distance of home?
With lengthening days and spring in the air, a short break away from cities can lift the spirits without breaking the bank. A hotel is a good bet early in the year, offering plenty of comfort and facilities if the weather is disappointing. To get the best rates, travel midweek if possible, give the special offers pages on hotel websites a good browse - and book direct. Here are some of our favourites to try.
Spring may be a clichéd time for all things romantic, but there can never be a bad time to plan a twosome break. Here are just a few of our favourite romantic destinations in Ireland to get you thinking...
Whether for Christmas, New Year or that lovely Twixmas gap between them, this can be the perfect time for a short break with - or as a respite from - family and friends. That in-between time often offers great value for a refreshing post-Christmas recovery break and some hotels have interesting pre-Christmas packages on offer too. Extra high demand this year means that some venues may be heavily booked, especially for the main Christmas break, but it is always worth calling to check availabi ...
While many are open all year, this is perhaps the perfect time for garden visits - and some of Ireland's loveliest gardens offer accommodation too, so why not try one (or more) of these gorgeous garden getaways this year...
Thinking of a family get-together in Ireland, or want to meet up somewhere interesting with old friends? Destinations that can cater separately for families and other groups often offer a particularly relaxing stay. Here are just a few of our favourites to tempt you…
10 of the very best places to eat, drink & stay throughout Ireland. We are blessed with some outstanding places to eat and stay in Ireland and these are unquestionably some of the very best – and they’re all beautifully located too.
What better way to spend a few days away in some of Irelands most stunning landscapes than a short break at one of our famous fishing hotels? And, by a happy chance, they are all lovely places for non-fishing partners to visit too….
Not quite decided on your holiday plans yet? Consider the simplicity, relaxation and - if chosen wisely - better value, that airport-free home holidays offer. Parents holidaying with their kids will find there is plenty to choose from in many of the most beautiful and interesting areas of Ireland, and you’ll be made especially welcome this year.
A bold modern boutique hotel overlooking Ardmore Bay, this chic five-star bolthole draws guests as much for the culinary offerings as the setting - and The Well spa, with its stunningly positioned outdoor infinity pool.
While mainly modern, this restored Victorian castle surrounded by beautiful woodland and formal gardens is a relaxing place to stay, and has wide appeal for a short break.
Two iconic houses of great taste create the perfect blend this March when The K Club hosts a very special Laurent Perrier Champagne Dinner in the Barton Restaurant
Famed for their value breaks together with great food and service, the Dunraven Arms always has some excellent short breaks on offer, including in Spring 2024
It’s not too late to bag a festive treat at this special rural destination. Set in a secluded County Wicklow Valley, BrookLodge & Macreddin Village promises a ‘haven of tranquillity’ at any season...
Denotes genuine Irish food culture, ie special Irish food products/companies/producers, and highlights the best places to shop for regional and artisan ...
With a rich historical and maritime legacy, East Cork has a truly unique variety of attractions to offer the visitor.
It is a haven for family holidays with a huge range of activities and attractions to keep the whole family entertained for hours.
In this extensive county, the towns and villages have their own distinctive character. In West Cork, their spirit is preserved in the vigour of the landscape with the handsome coastline where the light of the famous Fastnet Rock swings across tumbling ocean and spray-tossed headland. The county is a repository of the good things of life, a treasure chest of the finest farm produce, and the very best of seafood, brought to market by skilled specialists.
The town of Killarney is where the Ring of Kerry begins and ends for many, among the lakes and mountains where they are re-establishing the enormous white-tailed sea eagle, has long been a magnet for visitors. Across the purple mountains from Killarney, the lovely little town of Kenmare in South Kerry is both a gourmet focus, and another excellent touring centre. As one of the prettiest places in Ireland, Kenmare puts the emphasis on civic pride.
That Galway Bay coastline in Co. Clare is where The Burren, the fantastical North Clare moonscape of limestone which is home to so much unexpectedly exotic flora, comes plunging spectacularly towards the sea around the attractive village of Ballyvaughan.
Connemara, the Land of the Sea, where earth, rock and ocean intermix in one of Ireland's most extraordinary landscapes, and is now as ever a place of angling renown - you're very quickly into the high ground and moorland which sweep up to the Twelve Bens and other splendid peaks, wonderful mountains which enthusiasts would claim as the most beautiful in all Ireland. Beyond, to the south, the Aran Islands are a place apart.
Rivers often divide one county from another, but Fermanagh is divided - or linked if you prefer - throughout its length by the handsome waters of the River Erne, both river and lake. Southeast of the historic county town of Enniskillen, Upper Lough Erne is a maze of small waterways meandering their way into Fermanagh from the Erne'e source in County Cavan.
Co Cavan shares the 667 m peak of Cuilcagh with neighbouring Fermanagh. No ordinary mountain, this - it has underground streams which eventually become the headwaters of the lordly River Shannon, Ireland's longest river that passes south through many counties before exiting at the mighty estuary in Limerick. A magnet for tourism now with boating, fishing, cycling and walking-a-plenty.
Between the sheltered bays at the foot of the Glens of Antrim, the sea cliffs of the headlands soar with remarkable rock formations which, on the North Coast, provide the setting for the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Giant's Causeway.
A selective companion guide to our famous broad-based online collection, the ‘glovebox bible’ includes a uniquely diverse range of Ireland's greatest places to ...