Handy to the town but away from the through traffic, and conveniently located for visitors to the Old Midleton Distillery, Gordon and Alison Callinan’s café, foodstore and bakery has earned a following for its good traditional cooking and ... more...
Located in the former McIntyre Hog and March shirt factory, dating back to the 19th century, this historic building was restored by the current owners Carol Meenan and Kieran Davis in the early ‘90s and opened as the Yellow Pepper in 1994.
Since ... more...
Arriving on Inis Meain in the Aran Islands by boat, you will see Tig Congaile on the hill above the original harbour. It is a lovely pale primrose painted, green-silled house with a perfectly manicured lawn surrounding it, and it’s just a 3-minut ... more...
Built in 1853 as a coastguard regional headquarters, this fine property on the edge of the wonderfully away-from-it-all village of Ballycastle was later acquired by the Sisters of Mercy, who named it Stella Maris.
It now makes a very special small hot ... more...
This opulent 19th-century hotel on St Stephen’s Green (Europe’s largest garden square) dates back to 1824 - and, in new ownership since 2015, a major facelift was completed just in time to cerlebrate its 195th anniversary in 2019. The chang ... more...
Situated just outside Ballina amidst 1,000 acres of woodland and forestry, on the banks of the River Moy, Paul Doran’s castle was the ancestral home of the Earl of Arran and, with a 16th century armoury, big open fires and massive chandeliers amo ... more...
This informal restaurant and fish shop is owned by respected chef Andy Rae and business partner Bob McCoubrey, of the original Mourne Seafood Bar in Dundrum, Co Down (see entry), who have their own shellfish beds on Carlingford Lough, and it has become ... more...
Tucked into a side street in Rathmullan village, Martin Kelly and Monica Santos’ long-established restaurant has real draw-you-in appeal from the road – and if that doesn’t work, their interesting menu will always do the trick. It fir ... more...
Anyone wondering whether Ireland has a culinary heritage should make a beeline for Andrea Hussey and Stephen McAllister's deservedly popular restaurant, The Pig’s Ear. Flying the flag for modern Irish cooking since 2008, chef-proprietor Stephen M ... more...
The Guide is not generally a fan of roadside B&Bs but this smart modern house, set reasonably well back from the Rosslare Road just outside Tagoat, is an exception that is well worth knowing about.
Eileen and Chris Hadlington both have over 30 yea ... more...
The first year of spontaneous travel since the beginning of the pandemic, 2023 may have had its ups and downs - including some challenging weather - but overall it was a joy, thanks to the freedom to move around, re-visit old haunts and discover a surprising number of new ones.
Travelling the roads of Ireland more than most, we know what a difference a good journey break can make - and we have dozens of favourite pit stops dotted around the country. As many are on much shorter hours this year, we’ve picked some of the best that open every day or are managing keep to something like pre-pandemic hours for those relaxing en-route meals.
Summer in Ireland and seafood is at its best...With dozens of seriously good speciality seafood restaurants around the country, our selection below is just a drop in the ocean. Better get started with this little taster then – always remembering there are plenty more (including many deservedly famous places) to choose from as well...
You can’t beat the enjoyment of a bracing walk along a sandy beach before breakfast, or the pleasure of a sea view from our dining table for that away-from-it-all feeling when on holiday. We all love to stay and eat beside the sea...
Georgina Campbell suggests some interesting destinations for an off-season break at this time of plenty. These are just a few of the places where nature's bounty is celebrated in wonderful ways: foraging expeditions, cookery courses and, of course, delicious seasonal meals that make the most of the harvest - often with a special focus on vegetarian cooking
Although always popular, Sunday lunch has moved into a whole new phase of late and it can be a seriously classy outing, where the venue is chosen with care so that family members of all ages can get together in lovely surroundings and enjoy the very best of food - and at a more reasonable price than is usual at dinner. It’s an especially appealing proposition in spring too, as the days are lengthening - perhaps a voucher could be the perfect treat for Mother’s Day. And accommodat ...
We have long been fans of Loop Head: right in the middle of the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ - between the Atlantic Ocean and the Shannon Estuary - this stunning West Clare destination is an environmental wonderland offering spectacular scenery similar to the Cliffs of Moher - but without the commercialisation.
No surprise that Kerry came top of a recent survey polling favourite counties for Irish holidays - sure wasn’t Queen Victoria herself a fan? August is a time for casual dining - out of doors if you're lucky - so this month we’ve picked some great summer pubs to enjoy in the top ten 'staycation' counties
Discerning diners are always interested to know where their food comes from, and what could be more delightful than taking a stroll around the garden where it was growing just hours - or minutes - before it landed on your plate. More and more restaurants are taking ownership of their fresh produce supplies now, and these are just some of the most interesting kitchen gardens.
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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 ...