TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe Aer Lingus has announced its Winter 2013/14 schedule from George Best Belfast City Airport, which continues to offer the two key routes for business, leisure and transfer traffic, in and out of London Heathrow and London Gatwick. There will be three return flights daily to each airport with 84 weekly departures and arrivals, amounting to over 12,000 seats each week. Summer sun destinations to Faro, Malaga, and Palma have proven particularly popular with Northern Irish customers as passenger numbers continue to grow. From Dublin they have increased services to Aberdeen 10w (up 3), Alicante 3w (up 1 ), Boston 11w (up 4), Budapest 5w (up 1), Cardiff 17w (up 4), Faro 4w (up 1), Geneva 9w (up 2), Hamburg daily (up 2), Lanzarote daily (up 2), Lisbon daily (up 2), Malaga 8w (up 1), Munich 12w (up 1), Nice 5w (up 1), Paris 4 daily (up 7), Zurich 9w (up 2). They have added capacity to Paris (Air France dropping a daily CDG flight in March). Flights to Alicante, Zurich, and Hamburg have been tweaked to offer better trans-Atlantic connections. Some Bristol flights have been transferred to Cardiff. Unlike 2013, there is no reduction to New York from Dublin in January 2014. www.aerlingus.com
Weekend Hotspot – The Gibson Dublin www.thegibsonhotel.ie
Chic, understated, and located in the heart of the Docklands cultural hub the Gibson Hotel captures the vibrancy, and buzz of Dublin. Subtle yet surprising, understated yet complex, this stylish property draws inspiration from its central location and unique design - it is the ultimate urban retreat. Coda is the hotel’s all-day eatery serving a wholesome breakfast buffet each morn-
n Executive Room
n Gibson
Hotel, Dublin.
ing with Mediterranean and continental favorites for lunch and dinner. The Hemi bar is abuzz in the afternoon and evening with guests and trendy locals enjoying an espresso or sipping cocktails. The atmosphere is akin to a New York or London hotspot rather than a hotel lobby thanks to minimal furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows. The outdoor terrace has views of Dublin bay and tables for al fresco dining or smoking and spotting celebrity arrivals at the nearby 02 area. The guest rooms are equally stylish with high-end platform beds topped with duvets and large pillows and contemporary furnishings. A side table and two chairs face the windows looking towards the interior courtyard or River Liffey. Plentiful closet space is available and includes extras like safes, umbrellas, and coffeemakers. Flat-screen cable TVs, built-in workspace, complimentary wireless high speed Internet, and bedside lighting are conveniently in place. The bathrooms are cleverly designed allowing natural light with-
Pet’s Corner...
out disturbing privacy with rainfall showerheads and natural toiletries as standard. Guests can also keep in shape in the fitness center or catch up on work at the two Internet-equipped computers with printer access by the front desk. Luas public transportation access at the front door and the properties location at the entrance to the Dublin Port Tunnel is ideal for Northern Ireland or Ulster bound traffic. The only hotel right next to the 02, Gibson offers a contemporary atmosphere with a light and airy style. The helpful reception team offers the latest on what to do and see with a long list of suggestions including Guinness Storehouse, Dublinia, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Castle, Temple Bar & the new Abercrombie & Fitch store on Dawson Street. To the east of the Gibson you can explore Grand Canal Square, home to many of the world’s most innovative companies such as Google, O2 and Facebook, and showcasing the Daniel Libeskind-designed Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, a touring theatre for ballet, opera, musicals and concerts.
club. They are mostly accidents because the owners did not get their dog neutered and then it mated with another dog, not of the same breed. This is not something that you should pay for. This is the irresponsibility of the owner and they should be very happy to get the pup a good home without asking you to pay for their mistake on top of that. A Bishon Frise/Poodle cross is a mongrel dog. A Collie/ Poodle cross is the same. It is a mongrel dog. A jack Russell/ West Highland Terrier cross is a mongrel dog. Pedigree crosses have no status whatso-ever other than they are
Home & Away Deal of the Week
The elegant Crozier Lounge
Gibson Hotel,
Dublin.
is the newest addition to the Culloden Estate & Spa and is the perfect location for guests to relax in luxurious surrounding. By day guests can sit by the fire and enjoy a cup tea or coffee whilst sampling some of the delicious food on offer. By evening the Crozier transforms into a vibrant spot for guests to enjoy some exquisite cocktails, wine and range of fabulous Gins. As well as the addition of an extensive Gin Menu featuring around 14 different types from around the world, the hotel is thrilled to launch a NEW signature ‘Hendrick’s Gin Afternoon Tea’. This particular afternoon tea is served using a rare Hendrick’s tea set that the Culloden has acquired from which The Hendrick’s Gin Cocktail is served from a teapot, instead of traditional leaf tea! Originally invented to control the tempers of
detoxing diets, Afternoon Tea was once known as Afternoon Appease. Appease itself means, to relieve or satisfy a demand or a feeling. The Hendrick’s Gin Afternoon Tea, priced at £30 per person consists of a delicious selection of fingers sandwiches using locally sourced produce/ingredients, warmed freshly baked Buttermilk Scones with Cream and County Armagh Preserves, a selection of Irish Pastries and of course the Hendrick’s Gin twist! Hastings Hotels offer nightly rates at The Culloden Estate & Spa from £70 per person on a B&B basis. Visit www. hastingshotels.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network & Travel Editor for numerous print & online publications on the island of Ireland. www. robertwalshe.com
Home and Away Extra Have you invited your family and friends home this summer in the spirit of the Gathering and you are looking for something different to do with them? You don’t have a boat but would love to see our beautiful coastline from the sea and join in the camaraderie of other like-minded adventurers?
Why not join the Gathering Cruise by chartering a boat or joining a charter. You can charter a boat in Dun Laoghaire and sail to Kinsale from as little as €219pp based on 8 people sharing. Or join the party in Kinsale and set sail for 2 weeks from €335pp based on 8 people. www.thegatheringcruise.ie
with Kathleen Murray
PUPS FOR SALE
Unfortunately ads don’t always show the real situation with the pups they are advertising. There are a few things to watch out for when choosing a pup. If you are looking for a mongrel (cross breed of any kind) then you should not have to pay money for it unless you are getting it from a charity where they have spent money on it (vaccinations etc), and even then it is a small price that is asked, not hundreds of Euros. A mongrel (cross breed) is any two breeds that have produced pups. These dogs do not have papers and are not registered with any kennel
L’Gueuleton is my favorite Dublin dining experience at the moment. Located on Fade Street, just off South Great Georges Street, next door to the trendy Hogan’s Bar the menu varies from French onion soup to slow roast rare breed pork belly. All dishes are impressively presented here. This trendy spot is only three minutes walk from Grafton Street. There are many great value packages at the Gibson including an overnight B&B stay for two adults with admission to Guinness Storehouse including a pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar at the end of your tour for €139 pp For best rates visit www.thegibsonhotel.ie
Living
very pretty little dogs. If you want a poodle then buy a poodle (with papers), if you want a Bishon Frise then buy a Bishon Frise (with papers). If you are looking for a pure bred dog then don’t buy a dog that has no papers. People often advertise that the dog is cheaper without the papers. It is often too expensive in the first place with the papers. If you buy a dog without papers then you cannot register that dog with the kennel club in your name. The dog is no good to you for showing or breeding. You should not charge money for anything
that this dog produces because anything it produces will have no papers or status to prove that it is legal and above board. When you buy a pedigree pup it should have a vaccination card with it. There should be an official veterinary stamp on the vaccination card. Some breeders vaccinate the pup themselves but this doesn’t stand for anything when you bring your pup to a vet to have a booster. You will have to start over again and be charged for that. Only buy a pup that is still with its mother. Pups need
their mothers until they are eight weeks old. The mother will not be feeding them at this stage but she will be teaching them very valuable life lessons that the pups need to learn. Pups that are taken away from their mothers too young can develop behaviour problems when they are about
1 year old. Pups need to be wormed every two weeks up until they are 12 weeks. There are people that “Breed” dogs that don’t know much about dogs, but they know a lot about making money from other people that don’t know much about dogs either.