Kells Bay Gardens hit the headlines in 2021 when the owner, the horticulturist Billy Alexander, won a coveted gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for the exotic sub-tropical exhibit that he created with plants transported from his Kerry garden.
It w ... more...
Maurice O’Donovan's well-named bar in Bantry is a cosy and welcoming place, bustling with life and ideal for a wholesome bite at moderate prices.
Maurice is the chef and takes pride in using local produce and giving value for money; his menus fe ... more...
Now in its third generation of family ownership, Aherne’s of Youghal is outstanding for the warmth of the FitzGibbon family’s hospitality and their enormous enthusiasm for the business which, since 1993, has included some fine accommodation ... more...
Nestling in an attractive wooded hamlet in the Dublin Mountains, south of Dublin city, this popular pub dates back to the eighteenth century and has numerous claims to fame, including the fact that Daniel O'Connell was once a regular, apparently, and i ... more...
Attractively situated on the waterfront, overlooking Lough Atalia, this fine contemporary hotel is more central than its scenic location might suggest, as the shops and restaurants off Eyre Square are only a few minutes’ walk. Formerly the Radiss ... more...
Beautifully situated in a courtyard just off the narrow, bustling streets of the city centre, with only the River Nore separating it from Kilkenny Castle, this fine hotel enjoys the city’s premier location, and has a lovely big riverside terrace ... more...
Baking/Bakery / Café / Character Pub / Pub / Restaurant
What could be better than nabbing a window seat in a 200-year-old pub looking out at stunning views of Sligo Bay and Knocknarea? Well, how about the fact that Austies also has a top-rate food and drink offering to boot?
Owners John and Lorna are the l ... more...
This well known restaurant in Kilmore Quay was originally established in 1991 and, has been under the direction of proprietors Shane Carroll and Gopal Kawander since 2006. Gopal is the head chef, and he is serving interesting local fish dishes with s ... more...
Situated directly opposite the National Concert Hall and just a stroll away from St Stephen's Green, this fine city centre Dublin hotels celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2005 with the completion of a €15 million refurbishment programme whic ... more...
The most spectacular pint of Guinness in Dublin - indeed, in all Ireland - awaits you in Gravity, the modern glass-walled bar providing panoramic views of the city from its unique position atop the impressive Guinness Storehouse, a handsome 1904 buildi ... more...
Featuring an eclectic range of establishments representing the very best food and hospitality throughout Ireland, the new edition of our Best of the Best guide was published in December 2022 - here's just a taste of the exciting new entries around the country in this edition, to tempt you out and about again...
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.
There’s a growing feeling that Ireland is now ready to focus on the needs of the ‘food tourist’, as opposed to the visitor who simply enjoys good food as part of the overall experience. The true food tourist (international and domestic) will choose their holiday destination specifically to explore it through its food.
Ireland's food events are currently so many and various that the following selection is just a sample of the best ones that will please visitors with a serious interest in food, its landscape and sustainability - and, in most cases, also offer fun and education for all age groups.
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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.
The ‘glovebox bible’ is back! This selective companion guide to our famous broad-based online collection includes a uniquely diverse range of Ireland's greates ...