Originally Capella Castlemartyr, this luxurious East Cork hotel is now run by an Irish team.
It is a fantastically spacious, well-appointed hotel, built around a 17th century manor house and the ruins of an adjacent castle that belonged to the Knights ... more...
Just outside Westport, heading out west from the harbour, this old world thatched pub overlooking Clew Bay enjoys an almost-waterside location just across from the foreshore on the Louisburgh road.
Owned by the Cronin family, it is one of Westport's b ... more...
Anyone visiting Sligo should make a point of calling into the magnificently traditional Lyons Department Store, in business since 1835 and still with its original shopfront. It’s a joy to find a quirky owner-run store these days and, on the first ... more...
Set in pretty gardens on the edge of Lisdoonvarna town, this old hotel was re-opened by Aidan McGrath and Kate Sweeney in 2009. They renamed it The Wild Honey Inn, and the world wasted no time in beating a path to their door.
A well known chef, Aidan ... more...
McHugh’s Wine & Dine is a smart neighbourhood bistro that really knows its market. By offering tasty cooking in a relaxed dining room, and placing real emphasis on value for money, they’ve built up a loyal following since opening in 200 ... more...
Just down a side street from the City Hall (turn off at Jaeger), this quirky Belfast restaurants formerly a posh menswear shop - and, as they boast, very near to the Northern Bank of robbery fame.
It is the culmination of a dream for Londoner Emma Bu ... more...
At the Dublin end of Main Street, just across from the gates into Carton House and its beautiful tree-lined avenue, Robert and Bronagh Kennedy’s two-storey restaurant has earned a loyal following.
With a strong team, including head chef John Col ... more...
Families self-catering in the area, especially, will be pleased to find Antonio and Julie Pisani's reasonably priced and authentic Italian restaurant on the main street.
A real Italian family offering real traditional food of the Romano region, all fr ... more...
The smartly presented traditional frontage of The Spinnaker would draw any hungry passer-by in to Niall and Maria Edmondson’s attractive neighbourhood pub/restaurant. And once inside the little porch it’s a welcome sight, with its rustic na ... more...
Long-time customers of La Pizzeria in Drogheda breathed a sigh of relief when Jian Carlo reopened his restaurant in nearby Clogherhead. It’s a testament to how loyal his customers are that even in this quiet fishing village 15km up the coast from ... more...
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.
It has been an exhilarating year in Irish food and hospitality, with visitor numbers surging and a host of exciting new openings - sometimes hard to keep track of in fact, in the cities especially. Here are just a few of the new places that we particularly enjoyed this year, some a little newer than others but all well worth a try.
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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 ...