North Cork is one of those areas that we too often fly through en route to somewhere else – Cork city, perhaps, or the holiday hotspots of West Cork - without pausing to think what we may be missing. For it’s a lovely unspoilt place of pros ... more...
Just 10 minutes' walk up the hill from the bustle of Baltimore village and the harbour, Rolf's Country House and Restaurant is an oasis of calm. Established by the Haffner family in 1979, it is set in several acres of lovely mature gardens, with views ... more...
Set in fine rolling countryside in its own farmland and grounds, Breda Thomas’s lovely 18th century house overlooking the River Nore is blessed with an utterly restful location.
Breda is a relaxed host who enjoys sharing her home with guests, an ... more...
This pleasant country hotel lays claim to the title of Ireland’s oldest hotel, with a history going back to 1608, when it was first licensed as a coaching inn on the old Dublin-Wexford highway - and later came to prominence when gold and copper w ... more...
Brian Wickham’s fine old house is just across the bridge from Dungarvan town centre - it is of great historical interest, and set in wonderful gardens, right on the water.
The house has a homely feel with lots of local information, and a lovely ... more...
It is the quality of their products that lead many to Pat and Miriam Mulcahy’s home, Ballinwillin House: delicious, tender Ballinwillin venison and free range wild boar features on many leading hotel menus, including those at the Maryborough and ... more...
The O’Crowley family has owned this characterful bar and restaurant since 1979: it’s always been a friendly, well-run place and, although it can be very busy at times, their reputation for good food is generally well-deserved.
An Sugan is ... more...
Both locals and holidaymakers enjoy visiting Brian and Teresa Kennedy’s farm guesthouse which, unusually, not only offers good food and accommodation, but also Leitrim’s only museum.
For a token entrance fee you can revel in Glenvi ... more...
This imposing city-centre hotel next door to the Everyman Palace Theatre and backing on to the River Lee, celebrated its centenary in 1998.
Always popular with those connected with the arts and entertainment industry, there are many displays (photos a ... more...
The Glasshouse Hotel in Sligo is the only large, modern hotel located in the middle of Sligo town.
It is a contemporary hotel with glass featuring heavily to take advantage of the 140 metres of frontage on the Garavogue River and is a short walk from ... more...
Autumn is perhaps the loveliest time of the year to enjoy gentle outdoor pursuits like woodland walks and foraging, and there are plenty of tempting places to stay that are surrounded by wonderful forested grounds or with parkland or gardens and beaches to visit nearby - and, perhaps, more challenging routes for dedicated walkers. Here are just ten of our favourites to think about…
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….
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.
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.
What could be better than a delicious Sunday Roast and an overnight stay, then waking up on Monday morning in a comfy hotel bed and heading to the spa? Introducing Goff’s one-of-a-kind Perfect Sunday Package
Boasting one of the most inspiring locations of any hotel in Ireland, situated on the water's edge of the River Slaney, and with every one of the hotel's 102 rooms offering a view, Ferrycarrig Hotel is an ideal place to enjoy some respite and relax.
Park Hotel Kenmare provides a serene place to escape from the demands of everyday life and connect with nature. From meandering cycles along the roads around Kenmare, walks in the gardens and ancient woodlands to sea swimming in the Atlantic there is so much to discover.
Get away with the family this summer and discover County Kildare's top Family Attractions with the Clanard Court’s special guest discounts including the Irish National Stud - there is a FREE Kids Sundae per child too!
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 ...