22 GAZETTE 19 May 2011
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Carton House is historic and stunning – honest! CORMAC CURTIS
Joe Walsh Tours group offering range of special 30th anniversary packages to visit Medjugorje ESTABLISHED in 1961, the Joe Walsh Tours group is the longest-established tour operator in Ireland and, this summer, the company is marking the 30th anniversary of Medjugorje apparitions with some special celebratory tours. June 25 marks 30 years since the first apparition in Medjugorje, and Joe Walsh Tours are delighted to join in on the festivities with a special pilgrimage to this unique and peaceful destination. Bookings to Medjugorje have increased by nearly 50%, compared to this period last year. As a result, this year, Joe Walsh Tours are offering lower prices and more availability, with weekly departures from Dublin and, on selected dates, from Cork, Shannon, Knock and Belfast. Joe Walsh Tours offered their first Medjugorje programme in 2003 and, since then, have continued to offer expert advice to ensure that pilgrims enjoy their experience. The travel experts offer accommodation in purpose-built guesthouses, which are exclusively located close to St James’s Church, making them the best-located accommodation options in town. Senior representative, Philip Ryan, who has been living in Medjugorje for more than 20 years, is always on hand with his team to offer guidance and tips to pilgrims. For those who would like to spend a few relaxing days on the beautiful Croatian coast, why not combine the pilgrimage with a relaxing sun holiday? Joe Walsh Tours offer two centre holiday options of three or four nights in Medjugorje, combined with three or four nights in beautiful Dubrovnik. The special 30th Anniversary Medjugorje Pilgrimage package departs from June 19 costing €604, inclusive, for seven nights. For full information on pilgrimages to Medjugorje, and these, and other holiday offers and packages, call Joe Walsh Tours on 01 241 0800, or see www.joewalshtours.ie.
I HAVE to admit it, more often than not, the opinions I commit to paper about Irish hotels and holidays are, at best, less than honest, and, at worst, a downright fabrication. Now, before anyone starts to tweet the good fellows of the Press Council of Ireland, or worse still, Liveline, let me state for the record that I have never reported inaccurately. My o b s e r v a t i o n s , reports, descriptions and accounts have always been beyond reproach. Confused? You should be – that’s how I’ve been getting away with this for so long! The truth is, my motivations behind a great deal of my travel pieces have, quite simply, been lies. Surely you have read the type of article I am talking about? The kind that starts off with: “For those wanting a truly relaxing weekend away with the kids…” Yeah, you know, the family-friendly, drippingly sincere account of the getaway that turned out to be the best ever, “even though I had to spend three days with the kids, all under five, as my wife had last-minute work to take care of!” Well, I’m sorry, but
a truly enjoyable family getaway is the kind where you actually get away from the family, or, more accurately (I’m always accurate, OK Joe Duffy?) away from the kids. Yes, my two angels, four and five years old, are pretty much the centre of my universe, and I would move mountains just to see them smile. But, give me the chance of a night or two at a good hotel for a little time with the luckiest woman in
– just past Maynooth, and, providing there’s no royal entourage causing traffic mayhem on the N4, it’s about a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Break out your checklist: Stunning setting: Check Award-winning golf course: Check Luxury spa: Check Great food: Check On-site activites: Check Really, what more do you need? My good lady wife,
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‘A good meal, the kind where you’re not asked to cut up chicken nuggets and fetch more tomato sauce, is always a delightful experience’
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Ireland (my wife, Susan) and you simply wouldn’t see me for dust. Nor, might I add, would Susan be seen for said dust. Take it from me, for this kind of break, it’s best to stick close to home, so, if absolutely necessary, you can get back to the kids quickly. So, by now you’re hoping I’ll get around to giving some advice and recommend a good hotel for this kind of break – and I will. Enter Carton House
was lucky enough to get to the hotel early on the Friday that we were due to arrive. An appointment with the spa awaited her, consisting of a mini-facial and neck and shoulder massage. All I can say is that, after a few very stressful months of business for her, I was greeted by a well-and-truly rejuvenated wife. The spa did the trick, and I was happy just to be able to put my feet up and browse the newspa-
XTREME.IE Xtreme.ie’s themed zone at Carton House is the first of its kind in Ireland. The unique combination of onsite, stateof-the-art team building facilities and meeting rooms will make your day at Carton House truly unforgettable. A small sample of our exclusive onsite activities include Altitude: Ireland’s newest High and Low ropes course, Survivor Challenge: A fun, high energy event suitable for all levels of fitness, Duke of Leinster Challenge: Themed Irish Games, Xtreme 4x4 driving and archery pers before dinner. The design and style of Carton House is, I must admit, right up my street. A stunning, historic mansion that has been given a thoughtful and loving makeover, Carton House brings contemporary style and chic to an atmosphere of old-world charm and elegance. For a pre-dinner drink, the foyer presents a bright, modern and relaxing environment, offering comfortable couches set against pale, marble walls and modern, subdued lighting, along with a stunning feature fireplace. We did a little peoplewatching before we took our table at the hotel’s Linden Tree restaurant. A good meal, the kind where you’re not asked to cut up chicken nuggets and fetch more tomato sauce, is always a delightful experience – more so
when the setting and food is up to the standard of Carton House. After pondering the menu, we ordered, and got stuck in. For me, I couldn’t look past the confit duck leg on spiced red cabbage and greens; it was elegant, set on a big plate, and cooked perfectly, wonderful. My good lady wife went for one of her favourites, a seared scallop, this time with cauliflower purée – seasoned to perfection, gorgeous. I often go straight for the fish course when dining out, but tonight we swapped roles as Susan ordered beautifully cooked hake with courgette, beetroot and greens in a simple but perfect white wine sauce. Admire
For a change, I went with a duo of pork fillet and belly, served with