Travel ireland magazine volume 1 issue 2

Travelireland Volume 1 Issue 2 June 2014

Fermanagh a lady of beauty KBC Great Music in Irish Houses

The Irish Open swings into action at FOTA ISLAND

magazine

Go Racing at the Irish Derby Sunrise at Newgrange Getting Arty in Carlow

contents...

Welcome to our June issue, Welcome to Travel Ireland magazine which we hope you will enjoy reading during your stay. We also hope you will visit the places we recommend and explore our beautiful island as a whole.

Ireland is full of history, myth and legends.

It is a place full of historic sites to visit including castles, monastic settlements and museums yet modern and forward looking in its present day facilities and ethos. We are a fun loving nation who bids everyone a ‘Céad míle fáilte ‘or one hundred thousand welcomes and we hope you enjoy your stay and come back again soon.

Publisher/Managing Director John Carey

Director Paul Daly

Design and Art Direction Tim Evans

Credit Control Manager Nichola Thomas nichola@ellenmediacom.ie

Advertising

John Carey john@ellenmediacom.ie 0879113732 Contributors: John McCurdy, Stephen Walker, Anthony O’Keefe, Paula Moore, Patrick O’Neill, Pauric O’Donnell We wish to record our thanks to Failte Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, The National Trust-Giants Causeway (NI) and Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism, for their help and guidance in the production of this edition.

Ellen Media Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Ellen Media Communications Limited does not accept responsibility for any advertising content. All unsolicited manuscripts will not be accepted or returned. No material may be used in whole or in part without the publishe’rs prior consent. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of all the events information or recommendations on this site, no responsibility will be accepted by Ellen Media Communications Ltd, its editorial team, designers, authors or agents acting on their behalf for alterations, errors or omissions which may occur.

05 - WELCOME TO LEINSTER 06 - EXPLORE LEINSTER 08 - Great Music in Irish Houses 10 - THEATRE 12 - Irish Derby 14 - Carlow Arts Festival 16 - Glasnevin 18 - Newgrange 20 - LEINSTER RECOMMENDED 21 - WELCOME TO MUNSTER 23 - Killarney National Park 25 - Dingle 26 - Everyman Theatre 27 - EXPLORE MUNSTER 28 - Foynes Flying Boats 30 - Irish Open 33 - MUNSTER RECOMMENDED 35 - WELCOME TO CONNAUGHT 36 - Galway 38 - EXPLORE CONNAUGHT 40 - Kylemore Abbey 41 - CONNAUGHT RECOMMENDED 42 - Sligo 43 - WELCOME TO ULSTER 45 - Fermanagh 47 - Antrim 49 - Donegal 50 - Belfast

Open 7 days Lunch: Mon-Sat 12-5pm, Sun 2-5pm Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 5-11pm

Menus: Great Value Lunch Menu served til 5.00pm everyday - Lunch specials from €5.75 Early Bird Menu: 2 courses €16 or 3 courses €20 (available from 5-7pm Sun-Thurs) Kids Menu €7

Welcome to Leinster

L

einster is the most easterly of the four provinces of Ireland and is the most populated with the city of Dublin at its heart.

The province is made up of counties Dublin, Louth, Meath, Carlow, Kildare, Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Kilkenny and Wexford. These counties have a host of historic monuments, a picture perfect coastline and cities and villages thronged with things to do and see.

Powerscourt Gardens

County Dublin is the home of

the capital city by the same name. Dublin is the administrative, cultural, and economic capital of the country. It is one of the most exciting places to visit with a thriving arts, musical and theatrical nightlife to rival London, Paris, Rome, or Amsterdam.

County Meath formerly known

as the Royal County is the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland who were based around the Hill of Tara. Meath is also one of the most archaeologically important counties on the island with its Neolithic sites at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. These ancient religious sites (built before the Pyramids) have been excavated and restored in recent years making them some of the busiest visitor’s attractions in the country. The sites are all only less than an hour’s drive out of Dublin and are accessible through the Bru Na Boinne Visitors Centre. The county also features the site of the Battle of the Boyne which was the last great battle fought on Irish soil. For horse racing lovers Meath has the wonderful Fairyhouse Racecourse and there is also summertime horse racing on Laytown Beach.

County Wicklow has several world

famous sites and attractions from the Glendalough monastic settlement with its Abbey and Round Tower to the fabulous Powerscourt House and Gardens. The Wicklow Hills rising majestically over the county and the seaside town of Bray are just some of its many attraction. Offaly is situated in the centre of Ireland. Nestling between the Shannon River to the west and the Slieve Bloom Mountains to the east, Offaly is one of the lowest lying counties in the country. Any visitor should

travel the Royal Canal where one can experience a peace and tranquillity little known in our busy world.

Kildare

is the home of the National Stud, Newbridge Silverware and Maynooth College.

Couple all these with Mondello Park motor racing, Naas horse racing course and Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park and there is something for everyone.Westmeath is a county which has at its heart the town of Athlone which is exactly situated in the middle of Ireland. It is home to the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival, the oldest pub in Ireland and some of the finest golfing, fishing and health spas on offer throughout the land. Louth is known as “the wee county” as it is the smallest county in Ireland but what it lacks in land mass it makes up for in places to see. It is the home of the Cooley Mountains, the Boyne river which is famous for its salmon fishing and the beautiful Carlingford area. If it is a leisurely drive you seek Louth is the place to go. Carlow is where you will find three of Ireland’s key national walking routes – the South Leinster, the Barrow and the Wicklow Ways –Carlow is blessed with hundreds of miles of excellent and varied walking trails. Carlow also hosts a wonderful arts festival every June.

Town in Ireland at end of 2013 by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL), and has also been voted 9th friendliest city in the world by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. The city was in addition voted Most Friendliest City in Europe. Couple all these awards with a huge countywide cultural heritage trail and it is a must see destination for any visitor.

Longford is situated in the basin of the

River Shannon and the upper catchment area of the River Erne. It is ideally located in the heart of the Lakelands region within easy reach of many stunning and historic tourist attractions. The county’s accessibility to many of Irelands main towns and cities make it a prime location as a holiday base.

Wexford

Finally, is famous for its glorious sandy coastline and together with County Waterford is known as ‘The Sunny South East’.

You can also visit the oldest lighthouse in Europe which stands on the Hook Peninsula. So now you know, whether you are a family group, a couple, or a single traveller, there is something for everyone in Leinster!

Laois

is where you can try your hand at a range of activities from paintballing in the Stradbally Woods to western-style riding at Fossey Mountain, bowls at the only indoor bowls stadium in the Republic or tie a fly at the unique Irish Flyfishing and Game shooting Museum .

Kilkenny City was voted Irelands Top Tourism Town for 2013 by Failte Ireland which is Ireland’s main tourism body. It was voted Cleanest

JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 5

Explore Leinster

Ardgillan Castle and Demesne Ardgillan Castle and Demesne is situated in North County Dublin on an elevated coastline between Balbriggan and Skerries, 20 miles north of Dublin City. The demesne is well signposted off the M1 motorway.The park consists of 194 acres of rolling open grassland, mixed woodland and gardens..The gardens are in three main parts, the formal Rose Garden and the Potentilla collection to the west of the castle, and the walled garden to the north-west which contains herb, vegetable, fruit, and ornamental sections. To visit: email ardgillancastle@fingalcoco.ie or phone 01 849 2786.

Phoenix Park The Phoenix Park in Dublin is one of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in any capital city in Europe. Stretching over 1, 752 acres the park hosts an eclectic mix of beautiful landscapes, historic buildings, the home of the President of Ireland and Dublin Zoo. It also has herds of elegant fallow deer roaming its pastures. The Phoenix Park Visitor Centre has a historical interpretation and an audio-visual presentation of the Phoenix Park throughout the ages. For details or bookings the centre can be contacted on 01 677 0095 or via email at phoenixparkvisitorcentre@opw.ie A truly remarkable place for a stroll during your stay in Dublin.

Kilkenny City

Glendalough

Kilmainham Gaol (Jail) Kilmainham Gaol may seem like an unusual place to spend a morning or afternoon but despite its sometimes grim past it is a very interesting place indeed to visit. Built in 1796, Kilmainham Gaol situated at Inichicore Road, Kilmainham Dublin served as a prison for 128 years and tours detail some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland’s emergence as a modern nation. The tour of the prison includes an audio-visual show. Tickets are sold on a first come first served basis and cannot be booked in advance. Tel: 01453 5984.

Kilkenny City is definitely one of the finest arts centred places on our island. In June the city hosts the International Gospel Choir festival.

This festival brings the best gospel choirs and musicians from all over the world to Ireland.

This year, choirs from the US and Europe will gather in Kilkenny City and County and the South East for a feast of the best gospel music. However there are lots more sights to see in Kilkenny with its Castle, theatre, medieval cobbled streets and old world charm. Visit the 13th-century Black Abbey for a world of candlelit serenity, with the largest rosary window of its kind in Ireland. For more information contact the Kilkenny Tourism website.

6 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

The National Museum of Ireland

The Museum is recognised as Ireland’s premier cultural institution and home to the greatest collections of Irish material heritage, culture and natural history in the world. Admission to the museum is free and there are numerous exhibitions talks and tours, visitors should contact the museum at Telephone Number 01 6777444.

This beautiful glacial valley in County Wicklow is renowned as the place where Cistercian monks settled in the sixth century and the remains of the monastic priory including a round tower can still be seen today. Known locally as “the valley of the two lakes” , the locals also say it will still your mind, inspire your heart and fill your soul. The early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed the “Monastic City”. To book a tour of the Monastic Site – contact the Visitor Centre on 0404 45325/45352. Please note that bookings are only taken by telephone or fax – not by e-mail.

KBC Great Music in Irish Houses Festival

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10th-15th of June

he chamber music festival –‘Music in Great Irish Houses’- is the longest running chamber music festival in Ireland. Founded almost 40 years ago in Castletown House, Co. Kildare, it has since then been enjoyed by audiences who have had the unique experience of hearing some of the world’s leading musicians play masterpieces from the chamber music repertoire in the intimate settings of the country’s splendid historic homes and buildings. These architectural gems, many of whom were built in centuries past for wealthy Anglo-Irish families, provide exactly the kind of environment for which much of that music was originally written. The KBC (KBC have sponsored the festival for the past 14 years) Music in Great Irish Houses Festival has become one

of the most popular and important events in the Irish classical music calendar.

It returns this year with 12 stunning performances by internationally acclaimed artists from home and abroad and it takes place from 10th – 15th June in venues across Dublin, Kildare,and Wicklow. The opening performance is at the magnificent Killruddery House on June 10th with violinist Arabella Steinbacher, who will be partnered by pianist Robert Kulek. Arabella is renowned as one of the world’s leading violinists and her career to date boasts collaborations with, amongst others, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

A special feature of this year’s festival will be The Dublin Musical Saunter, a day-long series of concerts in old Dublin, celebrating the rich heritage of classical music composed in Ireland by Irish and international composers. All concerts are in venues within easy walking distance of each other and include performances from such musical luminaries as sopranos Lynda Lee and Anna Devin; flautist William Dowdall; harpist Andreja Maliř and pianist Michael McHale.

Speaking at this year’s launch, Aidan Power, Head of Marketing at KBC said, “This Festival has helped establish Ireland as one of the great homes of chamber music on the international stage.

KBC Great Music in Irish Houses offers a remarkable musical experience from a group of remarkable performers and with such a diverse programme, there really is something for everyone.

I would encourage anyone who loves music to pay a visit to this year’s Festival where I think they will be both surprised and captivated. This is a very special event and a sponsorship of which KBC is very proud.”

This year’s Festival will see the introduction of a Support Act Residency Programme, which is sponsored by KBC and will help young Irish ensemble players to hone their skills as chamber musicians, under the tutelage of leading musicians in a Residency Programme at the National Botanic Gardens in June.

Tickets are priced from €10 to €50 and include a free concert on Sunday, 15th June.

Tickets are available from the National Concert Hall Box Office www.nch.ie and by telephone on 01 417 000

The complete programme Tuesday, June 10th, 2014 at 8.00 pm. Killruddery House Arabella Steinbacher, violin and Robert Kulek, piano

Saturday, June 14th at 12.00 Noon. Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre. Michael Collins, clarinet. Giovanni Guzzo, violin. Michael McHale, piano

Wednesday, June 11th,

2014 at 8.00 pm. Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Richard Goode, piano

Saturday, June 14th at 8.00 pm. Castletown House Apollon Musagète Quartet Macdara Ó Seireadáin, clarinet Sunday, June 15th – The Dublin Musical Saunter 11.00am – The Little Museum of Dublin. Annette Cleary, cello Aisling Drury Byrne, cello continuo.

David Adams, harpsichord 12.00noon – Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane. Free Concert Michael Collins clarinet and Michael McHale, piano

Thursday, June 12th, 2014 at 8.00 pm. Smock Alley Theatre.

Heath Quartet, Olwyn Fouréré

3.00pm – Smock Alley Theatre Lynda Lee, soprano and Andreja Maliř, harp

Friday, June 13th, 2014 at 8.00 pm. National Botanic

5.00pm – Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle Music for Dublin Castle, William Dowdall, flute.

Lisa Dowdall, viola.

David Adams, harpsichord

Gardens. Cuarteto Casals

Persian Cuisine

7.30pm – Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle Anna Devin, soprano and Irish Baroque Orchestra Chamber Soloists Established in January 2000 Zaytoon restaurants have

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Theatre Cathy Belton John Kavanagh and Tadhg Murphy in Abbey Theatre’s new production of Aristocrats Pic Ros Kavanagh

The Abbey Theatre

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he Abbey theatre in Dublin first opened its doors on the 27th of December 1904 and was founded by W.B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory. It is thanks to the patronage of Miss Annie Horniman, a pioneer of modern theatre (who later founded the Gaiety Theatre in Manchster) that the premises in Old Abbey St were purchased.

Tragically in 1951, the original buildings of the Abbey Theatre were damaged by fire. The Abbey re-located to the Queen’s Theatre. Fifteen years to the day later, on 18 July 1966, the Abbey moved back to its current home, designed by Michael Scott, on the same site. Today it remains a landmark theatre for some of the most exciting plays around.

This month the Abbey are proud to present: Aristocrats by Brian Friel. …this has always been a house of reticence, of things unspoken From Philadelphia, Here I Come! to Translations, Brian Friel’s plays have delighted generations of Abbey Theatre audiences. This summer the Abbey returns to the village of Ballybeg with Aristocrats.

The once influential O’Donnell family have gathered to celebrate a wedding in their crumbling home, Ballybeg Hall. They recount memories and stories from the past for the enlightenment of a visiting American academic, Tom Hoffnung.

The father, Justice O’Donnell is on his deathbed. This upper class family has survived wars

and famine but the old order is collapsing. Can they forge a new life for themselves?

Patrick Mason, the acclaimed director of the world premiere of Dancing at Lughnasa reunites with Ireland’s formidable story-teller for this revealing family drama.

Booking Details Live from 18 June – 2 August on the Abbey stage.

Times: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Sat matinee 2pm .

Prices range from €13 – €25 Previews: 18 – 23 June Tickets: €13 – €45 / Concession.

There is always a welcome at THE GATE!

T

he Gate Theatre based in Dublin’s Parnell Square has been, artistically and architecturally, a landmark building for over 250 years.

This month The Gate features:

Elizabeth Moynihan, Maeve Fitzgerald and Mart Rea in An Ideal Husband at the GateTheatre.

Photo by Daragh McDonagh.

Wilde about finding ‘An Ideal Husband’!

The Gate Theatre is delighted to currently present -

An Ideal Husband By Oscar Wilde

Regarded by many as one of Oscar Wilde’s most outstanding works An Ideal Husband is a comedic stage play which revolves around blackmail and political corruption, touching on the 10 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

themes of public and private honour.

Directed by New Yorker and Irish Times Theatre Awards Winner for Best Director (of A Streetcar Named Desire) Ethan McSweeny. We are also thrilled to announce the collaboration of Costume Designer Peter O’Brien and Set Designer Francis O’Connor.

Cast includes: Aoibheann O’Hara as Mrs Cheveley, Lord Goring will be

played by Marty Rea. Playing Miss Mabel Chiltern is Siobhan Cullen.

Garrett Lombard takes one of the main male leads of Sir Robert Chiltern. Lorna Quinn once again takes the part of Garrett Lombard’s wife. And Marion O’Dwyer co-writer of Payback, plays the part of Lady Markby.

Tickets: Monday & Matinees: ALL TICKETS €25 | Tuesday-Thursday: €32 | Friday-Saturday: €35 |For further information please contact Aisling Quigley on 01 874 4368 or email: aisling.quigley@gate-theatre. ie Booking www.gatetheatre.ie or 01 874 4045.Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Gatetheatre

Castleway Golden Lane, Dublin 2

236 Lower rathmines road, dubLin 6 teL: 01-49770

236 Lower rathmines road, dubLin 6 teL: 01-4977057

236 Lower rathmines road, dubLin 6 teL: 01-4977057

The Irish Derby

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here is only one place to be this summer and that’s the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh Racecourse in Co. Kildare. This three day racing festival promises to be a spectacle of fashion, entertainment, food and the finest horse racing in the world from June 27 – 29.

The Derby is the ultimate destination to be enthralled and allow yourself to be swept up in the magic of an unmissable summer celebration with friends! Held across three days in the height of the summer, it is unrivalled in its prestige and tradition and is most definitely the social occasion of the year.

We BET You’ll Win! Family Race Day on Sunday Sunday will feature top class racing and a variety of FREE entertainment for children in the Aviva Health Kids Zone including special guests Mickey and Minnie Mouse and a host of other well known Disney cartoon characters.

Hector to host Derby Music village Racing enthusiast and media star Hector O hEochagain will be hosting and MC-ing live entertainment throughout the festival in the Derby Music Village.

Most Stylish Lady to win 20,000 euro prize This year’s Most Stylish Lady prize is worth almost €20,000 and will see the winner walk away with a holiday of a lifetime to Dubai where she will stay at the 5 star Jumeirah Creekside Hotel courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, a spectacular 18 carat gold diamond pendant from Boodles, a shopping spree & personal styling consultation at the famous Brown Thomas department store in Dublin, as well as a stay at the Five Star Marker Hotel in Dublin.

Derby Food Paddock Some of County Kildare’s best food producers will be at the races over all 3 days with a mouth watering selection of dishes to select from in the Derby Food Paddock.

Transport to the Curragh : For further information, and to find out more about the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby including great value admission and dining packages, call 045 441205 or visit www.curragh.ie Like The Curragh on Facebook at ‘TheCurraghRacecourse’ or follow @curraghrace on Twitter using #Irish Derby to join in the conversations.

12 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

By Car – turn off at exit 12 of the M7 motorway between Newbridge and Kildare Town. Free car parking

By Bus – Dublin Coach provide a race day service – see www.dublincoach.ie

By Train – trains to Kildare Town are met by a free shuttle bus to the races.

Nathan Carter to perform on Derby Friday Top Irish Country Music Star Nathan Carter will perform a concert following the final race on 27th June. Don’t miss the Nathan Carter show at the Curragh on Friday 27th……even if you haven’t had a winner on the day, Nathan is sure to be a winner on the night, he is the hottest ticket in town……It’s going to be a great night of good ole country music, book your tickets now to avoid disappointment.

“Raises the ceiling on Dublin dining” Tom Doorley

23 Pembroke Street Upper, Dublin 2 01 676 1494 | olivier@dax.ie | www.dax.ie

Carlow Arts Festival 2014

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arlow is one of Ireland’s least known and most beautiful counties, offering a vibrant and dynamic arts programme which culminates in a ten-day celebration every June.

Carlow Arts Festival (also often referred to as Éigse), showcases a diverse range of arts and cultural events over 10 days each June, and it does so across the county of Carlow.

Carlow Arts Festival was founded in 1979 by six members; Fr. Caoimhín Ó Néill, Pádraig Ó Snodaigh, Deirdre Brennan, Bríde de Róiste, Séamus Mac Páirc and Séamus Murphy. The founding members chose the word Éigse for the festival name (Irish for ‘poetry gathering’), in order to have a strong focus on poetry and the Irish language. It started with two local painter’s group exhibitions, two regional history lectures, poetry, a walk, and a Céilí na nÓg (Dance for the young). What was once a local endeavour and a simple weekend event in April 1979 grew to become Ireland’s fourth largest Arts festival and a credit to both the founders and the region.

Over the years it came to host world famous performers such as Eric Clapton and Billy Connolly, and it gained a reputation for its incredible visual arts programme, which was essentially a forerunner for the building of the Visual Centre, which is the largest purposebuilt gallery in Ireland. In 2014, The Carlow Arts Festival will celebrate its 35th year, and it now includes two ground breaking literary/spoken word events. These are the Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas and The History Festival of Ireland.

However, it remains at its heart a celebration of Carlow Town and the River Barrow, the Blackstairs Mountains and the villages that perch on the banks of the Slaney.

Whether your interest is in largescale visual art, street carnival, a strong literary and historical strand, or a riveting music and theatre programme, the festival has it all. That is why this is one of the cornerstones of the Irish cultural calendar.

We have decided to highlight a few of the events that are happening during the festival and we hope their descriptions will make you decide to visit this fabulous festival during your stay.

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Carlow Arts Festival 2014

June 6th to 15th

Saturday 7th June 8pm THE GOOD THIEF

by Conor McPherson TBA (Time-Based Art) Pop-Up 59 Dublin Street, Carlow

Performed by Wayne Leitch and directed by Audrey Devereux, The Good Thief is like a fly in amber, a snapshot of Ireland 20 years ago. The drama is hard boiled, gripping, fastpaced, tense, but wonderful.The venue is a 17th century coaching inn. It is fully licensed and serves locally produced craft beer and exceptional wine.

Sunday 8th June 8pm SILVER CLOUD LOUNGE CLUB TBA (Time-Based Art) Pop-Up 59 Dublin Street, Carlow

will bring together some of the most intriguing international minds - novelists, journalists, film makers, poets, theatre directors, war correspondents, biographers etc, for a weekend of stimulating dialogue and discussion. The speakers this year include TV star Mariella Frostrup.

If you love the arts-you will love Carlow Arts.

For lots more information contact the festival HQ which is based at 9 Dublin Street, Carlow Tel..059 9173381 / 9173380

www.carlowartsfestival.com info@carlowartsfestival.com

Do not miss the sounds of broadcaster, writer and DJ, Billy O Hanluain, who worked as a resident DJ in Dublin’s ‘Sin E’ for seven years.

He is Mr. Silver Cloud Lounge Club, playing the best in Jazz, Funk and Soul. Billy O will be diggin’ deep into his vinyl collection for the tastiest vintage grooves.

VALQUÍRIA ENXOVAL (2009) -BY JOANA VASCONCELOS – CURATED

BY ENRIQUE JUNCOSA In the MAIN GALLERY, VISUAL CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART 7TH JUNE – 31ST AUGUST

Ten years ago Joana Vasconcelos initiated a series of works inspired by the Valkyries.

These female characters of Norse mythology, in charge of shaping the destiny of men by selecting the bravest and most valiant warriors killed in battle, fly over the battlefields riding on winged horses, recruiting the future warriors of Odin. Suspended from the ceiling, Valquíria Enxoval, is a spectacular and majestic textile sculpture which seems to hover over the gallery prospecting noble matter for divine tasks.

Mariella Frostrup

JACK L AT THE TOWER AT THE DINN RI. FRI 13TH JUNE | 9PM | €20

Jack Lukeman, aka Jack L, was born (and still resides) fifteen minutes from Carlow Town.

He is one of Ireland’s most respected and best loved performers. He began his career covering songs by Jacques Brel, before becoming a solo artist in the 90s and finding immediate success.

He most recently toured with The 27 Club, and subsequently with Jools Holland. He will perform with this band in his new show The Great Wall of China—a potted history of his extraordinary career to date—to a delighted home crowd.

THE FESTIVAL OF WRITING AND IDEAS The weekend of 14th and 15th of June 2014

Jack L JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 15

The Glasnevin Museum

1.5 million stories to tell

Did you know?

- A guided tour of the cemetery includes a visit to Daniel O’Connell’s crypt - Glasnevin is home to the largest collection of Celtic crosses in the world - City Sightseeing Bus tours now provide a hop on hop off bus service from the city centre.

- Guided tours all year with additional summer times, re-enactments, and special events

For Booking contact: booking@ glasnevintrust.ie

A

s winners of Tripadvisor’s Traveller’s choice award in 2013, and listed as one of Dublin’s top 3 attractions, Glasnevin Museum proudly tells the story of modern Ireland through interactive exhibitions and engaging cemetery tours and all delivered by personable, well informed guides affording visitors a heightened sense of understanding, and a deeper appreciation of its never forgotten residents.

Known locally as “The Dead Centre of Dublin”- Ireland’s largest Cemetery is where the social, political and historical timeline of this great city is carved in stone. Irish icons like Michael Collins, Eamonn de Valera, Charles Stuart Parnell, ‘Big Jim’ Larkin, Countess Markievicz, 16 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

Brendan Behan and Luke Kelly rest peacefully in this original 1830’s Victorian garden cemetery.

Glasnevin is linked via a gateway to the Botanic Gardens and was voted number 1 attraction in Dublin (2013, Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award), there are over 17,000 plants and 200 acres of beautiful parkland to enjoy.

Key to Glasnevin’s success is the popularity of the tour guides whose enthusiasm is compelling. With one and a half million stories buried in Glasnevin there’s no shortage of tales to tell.

Learn about the harsh realities of life in Dublin in the past, eavesdrop on the stories of former gravediggers, touch the casket of Daniel O’Connell, or simply ponder the fascinating lives of those who walked these streets before us.

Construction is underway to

rebuild the winding wooden staircase that once ran up the centre the 168ft O’Connell tower monument in Glasnevin cemetery the tallest of its kind in Ireland. Visitors to the top will witness spectacular views of Dublin.

There are over 1.5 million people buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. Delving into this rich resource Glasnevin captivates the curious through special events, tours, re-enactments, orations, lectures, festivals, commemorations, exhibitions, and poetry readings, bringing legend to life in a dramatic fashion. A visit to Glasnevin is a must for anyone interested in the rich cultural texture of Dublin.

Celebrating history, heritage and culture, join this intriguing journey through Ireland’s past.

5,000 YEAR OLD NEWGRANGE Our World Heritage Site

N

ewgrange in County Meath is one of the wonders of our land which was constructed over 5,000 years ago (about 3,200 B.C.), making it older than Stonehenge in England and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Newgrange was built during the Neolithic or New Stone Age by a farming community that prospered on the rich lands of the Boyne Valley. Knowth (the largest) and Dowth are similar mounds that together with Newgrange have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. However throughout the region there are as many as 35 smaller mounds.

Newgrange is a large kidney shaped mound covering an area of over one acre, retained at the base by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. The 19 metre long inner passage leads to a cruciform chamber with a corbelled roof. The amount of time and labour invested in construction of Newgrange suggests a well-organized society with specialised groups responsible for different aspects of construction.

For many years Archaeologists classified Newgrange as a passage tomb, however it is now recognised to be much more than a passage tomb and the term ‘Ancient Temple’ is now seen as a more fitting classification. It is a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance, much as present day cathedrals are places of prestige and worship where dignitaries may be laid to rest.

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Winter Solstice Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter solstice sun. Above the entrance to the passage at Newgrange there is a opening called a roof-box. This baffling orifice held a great surprise for those who unearthed it. Its purpose is to allow sunlight to penetrate the chamber on the shortest days of the year, around December 21st, otherwise known as ‘The Winter Solstice’.

At dawn, from December 19th to 23rd, a narrow beam of light penetrates the roof-box and reaches the floor of the inner chamber, gradually extending to the rear of the chamber. As the sun rises higher, the beam widens within the chamber so that the whole room becomes dramatically illuminated. This event lasts for 17 minutes, beginning around 9am.

The accuracy of Newgrange as a time-telling device is remarkable when one considers that it was built 500 years before the Great Pyramids of Egypt and more than 1,000 years before Stonehenge in England. The intent of its builders was undoubtedly to mark the beginning of the New Year. In addition, it may have served as a powerful symbol of the victory of life over death.

Each year the winter solstice event attracts great attention at Newgrange. Many gather at the ancient tomb to wait for dawn, as people did 5,000 years ago. So much is the demand to be one of the few inside the chamber during the solstice that there is a free annual lottery (application forms are available at the Visitor Centre). Unfortunately, as with many Irish events that depend upon sunshine, if the skies are overcast, there is not much to be seen. However all who have been at Newgrange on ‘Solstice Morning’ agree that it is an extraordinary feeling to wait in the darkness, as people did so long ago, for the longest night of the year to end.

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Dillingers

W

hether it is for an evening meal, a light snack or just a lunch, Travel Ireland recommends the following eateries in the Leinster area for their value for money, quality of service and superb cuisine.

Recommended Restaurants in Leinster

47 Ranelagh, Dublin 6, Tel 01 4978010. American bistro style fare extremely well cooked and presented.

King Sitric

E Pier, Howth, County Dublin, 01 8255235. One of the oldest seafood restaurants in County Dublin and it is very popular with the locals.

Yindees Downtown

Pichet

John St., Kilkenny City, Tel : 056 7794614. The best Thai food in County Kilkenny.

14-15 Trinity St., Dublin 2, Tel 01 6771060. Classic Bistro food in the Modern style with Master Chef Ireland’s. Nick Munier at Front of House.

Langton’s Restaurant & Bar

Chapter One

19 Parnell Sq., North Dublin 1, Tel 01 8732266. Nestled on the Northside of the city this is fine dining at its best. Awards galore for this Michelin star restaurant.

John St., Kilkenny, Tel 056 7765133.

This famous Kilkenny Hostelry has won numerous awards.

Roly’s Bistro

Supermisssue

Whitefriar Grill

Peploes

Unit 2-3 Drury St., Car Park Dublin 2, Tel 01 6799009. Probably the best seafood restaurant in Dublin.

7 Ballsbridge Terrace, Dublin 4, Tel 01 6682611. One of the oldest most prominent eateries in Dublin.

16 Aungier St., Dublin 2, Tel 01 4759003. Certificate of Excellence Winner 2013 and the best Brunch in Dublin on Saturday and Sunday.

16 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Tel 01 6763144. One of Dublin’s most popular eateries and great for those pre -Theatre meals.

Café Topolis

Kilkenny Design Restaurant

Parliament St., Dublin 2, Tel. 01 6704961. The home to the best Pizza in Dublin.

777

7 Castle house, South Great Georges St., Dublin, Tel 01 4254052. Mexican food is taken to another level in this chic Dublin restaurant.

“Raises the ceiling on Dublin dining” Tom Doorley

Dax

23 Pembroke St., Dublin 2, Tel 01 6761494. Beautiful French cuisine in Dublin’s Georgian quarter. Only 5mins walk from St Stephens Green.

Juniors

2 Bath Ave., Dublin 4.

This little Deli/Bistro is a gem…. if going at lunch time be prepared to queue.

Zaytoon

Kafka

14/15 Parliament St., Dublin 2, Tel. 01 677 3595. If you are looking for somewhere quick to sit and eat this place has the best kebabs in town, cooked in a clay oven.

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Kilkenny Design Centre, Castle Yard, Kilkenny City, Tel 056 7722118. Overlooking the magnificent Kilkenny Castle this restaurant is perfect for couples looking for great food and wonderful ambience.

236 Lower Rathmines Rd., Dublin 6, Tel: 01-4977057. This little gem cooks high quality bistro food at very affordable prices

23 Pembroke Street Upper, Dublin 2 01 676 1494 | olivier@dax.ie | www.dax.ie

Welcome to Munster

• • • • •

Music Castles City of Culture Rose of Tralee Waterford Crystall

Blarney Castle

M

unster is the most southerly of the four provinces of Ireland and stretches from Tipperary in the South Midlands to Waterford in the South East and from Clare Limerick, Kerry and down to Cork in the South.The entire area is famed for Irish traditional music, song and dance. There are many ancient castles and monasteries in the province; this coupled with the vast green countryside and three cities (Limerick, Cork and Waterford) makes Munster a must see destination for tourists.

Bunratty Castle in County Clare is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland.

Built in 1425 it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour and now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art which capture the mood of those times.

Browse the castle and marvel at the finest collection of medieval furniture in the country which brings to life a vital part of our Medieval past. You can explore at your own leisure or join in a guided tour with our experienced guides. At night time the castle is the impressive setting for the medieval castle banquets which are held all year round.

Travelling down the coast and Limerick is the next port of call. This year Limerick has been designated as Ireland’s first City of Culture and it is all happening this year. From theatres to outdoor music events, museums to festivals, Limerick has an eclectic mix of sights and sounds to suit all tastes.

County Limerick also incorporates the Foynes Estuary with its world famous Foynes Flying Boat Museum. The museum tells the story of the Pan Am Clipper aircraft which brought commercial flights from America to our shores, landing in the estuary itself. It includes the only full-scale model of a Boeing B-314 Flying Boat anywhere in the world.

The Rose of Tralee is the most famous Festival in Kerry this year and this internationally acclaimed festival comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a truly Irish experience. The festival celebrates its 55th year this year and commences with the International Rose Ball on the 15th of August and culminates in the selection of the 2014 Rose of Tralee in the magnificent ‘dome’ four days later. There is a packed programme of events during the week for

City of Limerick

Sea Kayaking in Cork

all to enjoy.

One of Munster’s most famous landmarks the Rock of Cashel, in County Tipperary is the historical seat of the Kings of Munster. The outcrop on which the Castle and grounds stand is one of the most photogenic scenes in all Munster.

The spectacular group of medieval buildings are set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century Castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars Choral. Contact : Telephone No: 062 61437. Fax No: +353 62 62988..E-mail: rockofcashel@opw.ie.

County Cork is well worth the drive as it has sandy beaches, The wonderful Blarney Castle, Foto Wildlife Park, the world famous Fota Island Golf course, wonderful coastlines and a City nightlife to rival any of that in Europe. Travel from East to West or North to South in this sprawling county and there is a view, an historical point of interest or an adventure to explore.

Finally at the extreme South East of the island of Ireland is Waterford. Which although it may be the last county on the eastern seaboard, it certainly is well worth the visit. Waterford is the capital of the ‘Sunny South East of Ireland’ and Ireland’s oldest city. The city and county is famous throughout the world as the home of Waterford Crystal. A visit to the House of Crystal visitor centre includes an opportunity to choose from the world’s largest selection of Waterford Crystal. The factory tour offers first hand access to all areas of traditional crystal production. County Waterford offers a dazzling 147 kilometres coastline, with 49 beaches, beautiful river valleys, lakes and two dramatic ranges of very accessible mountains. Visit Munster- you know it makes sense!

JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 21

GROGANS Where time stands still Host to a continuous changing art exhibition

15 South William Street Telephone 677 9320

CashmereIreland.com

by Sue Designer Knits 20 Henry Street, Kenmare, Ireland Email: info@cashmereireland.com Tel: 064 6648986

20 Henry Street, Kenmare, Ireland Email: info@cashmereireland.com Tel: 064 6648986 22 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

Killarney National Park

K

illarney National Park was Ireland’s first National Park. It lies to the south and west of Killarney town at the foot of Ireland’s highest mountain range, known as MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. The park today covers an area of 10,000 hectares (0ver 26,000 acres).The park boasts the three world famous Lakes of Killarney where the lower wood clad mountain slopes fall to meet the lake shores.

In 1932 the former Muckross Estate, which included Muckross House, was presented to the State by Senator Arthur Vincent and his parents-in-law in memory of his late wife Maud. Although open to the public during the early years of its existence the park was managed primarily as an extensive farm. It was not until later that its value for nature conservation was realised.

However since the 1960s considerable emphasis and effort has been made to conserve and protect the natural features of the Park. Muckross House, which had been empty and unused since the 1930s was, in 1964, leased to a group of local people as a centre and museum of Kerry folk life. Today the House is presented to the public as a late nineteenth century mansion. It is jointly managed by National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Trustees of Muckross House (Killarney) Ltd, and forms the focal point of the National Park while also serving as a major tourist attraction for the area.

Adjoining the House are the world famous Muckross Gardens and Arboretum.

During the 1970s Killarney National Park was greatly extended in size both by donations and by a series of land purchases by the State. Vegetation Killarney National Park contains the most extensive areas of natural woodland remaining in Ireland..

For more information contact: Tel.:064 6631440 or Fax.:064 6637565

www.Theskipperventry.com, Ventryskipper@hotmail.com

Tel: 085 27 87 958 / 066 91 59 853 Open 7 days a week From noon to 9h30ish SEAFOOD Specialist Meat & vegetarian options available Set menu 3 course meal (16.50â‚Ź) From noon to 18h30 A la carte available all day Teas, Coffees

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Out of the Blue - Half Page.indd 1

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24/04/2014 17:19:46

Dingle Dingle -- My My Kingdom Kingdom For For AA Dolphin Dolphin

Words: John Carey

Words: John Carey

I

t takes four and a half hours of driving from Dublin, but well worth every minute as the scenery is spectacular.

The first thing that spreads across the horizon is the sheer gargantuan beauty that is the Magillacuddy Reeks, a mountain range that stretches into the Kerry terrain like a swan stretching out its wings upon a sleepy landscape. Every bend in the road heralds a new breathtaking scene change.

We arrive in Dingle about tea time and promptly proceed to our lodgings, the popular Dingle Skelig Hotel on the edge of town and only a five minute walk to the Harbour.

The view from the spacious room out on to the bay is nothing short of spectacular.

After a nice relaxing jacuzzi in the leisure centre we put on our glad rags and head for the dining room. Dinner is a superb quality of fare to suit all tastes and great value.

In Dingle there is a bar every ten yards you walk in any direction and these are no ordinary bars as they double up as grocery stores, so you can go do your food shopping and have a pint at the same time.

After a nice leisurely stroll we happen upon Dick Macks pub, a quaint little watering hole with pictures of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey on the wall and old fiddles hanging from wood book cases.

There is a guy on a tin whistle and another with an accordion belting out old Gaelic tunes while in the corner there are a group of Americans munching on pizza from one of the local takeaways and quaffing down creamy pints.

The next day we head for the Slea Head Drive a ring road beginning and ending in Dingle. Taking the R559 south we arrive at Ventry harbour a beautiful horse shoe enclave with fantastic views and a long stretch of sandy beach very popular with windsurfers. Moving on from there we head west past Dunbeg Fort, with a steep cliff on one side and the roaring Atlantic on the other. We arrive at Slea Head peninsula which is marked by a stone crucifix and beautiful views of the Blasket Islands.

We drive northwards passing Coumenoole Strand where part of the famous David Lean epic Ryan’s Daughter was filmed. At Dun Chaoin you can get the ferry to the Great Blasket Island but we decide to continue on to Ballyferriter. After a scrumptious lunch in the Ceann Sibeal Hotel we head east taking in a number of Neolithic sites including the early Christian site at Reasc.

There are so many beauty spots on this drive and another must visit place is Ventry-a small village about 4 miles from Dingle. This quaint village has one pub and one shop. It also has a very nice restaurant called The Skipper and is well worth a look in-do try the mussels with a nice glass of white.

Another great place along the drive is Ballydavid as it leads out to a cliff top drive

with dramatic views and crashing waves with beautiful seabirds hovering below.

Turning south we head past the base of Mount Brandon – the second largest mountain in Ireland. This is where - if you are a keen rambler you can find a pilgrimage route to the mountain summit.

We now turn onto the main road back to Dingle and a well earned drink in the town before dinner.

If you are looking for seafood then you have to pay a visit to the famous”Out Of The Blue” seafood restaurant with its extensive seafood menu that is meticulously chosen by proprietor Tim Mason every morning from the local Fishing boats, making sure he gets only the freshest seafood just caught. A certain Paul Hewson aka “Bono” has been known to frequent this wonderful restaurant.

The highlight of this trip for me was undoubtedly the 8th wonder of the world Conor Pass. The Conor Pass is the highest mountain pass in all of Ireland and is a must visit for anybody visiting the area.

Driving up to the pass from Dingle you know you are in the lap of the Gods you might pass the odd cloud meandering around its many bends in the road. The views on the way up are simply amazing - watch out for a few dozen sheep feeding off the mossy hillsides as they sometimes tend to cross the road. When reaching the pass itself you are greeted with the most spectacular views of the corrie lakes and the glaciated landscapes. On a clear day you can see the Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway. Upon descending the other side of the pass youare greeted with a road so narrow that you can barely fit one car through and the sheer drop on the left hand side and cliff base on the other makes for a truely awesome adrenalin filled car journey you will never forget.

One thing not to be missed on your visit to Dingle is the Dingle Dolphin -or Fungie, the name given to him by the fishermen. He is a fully grown, possibly middle aged, male bottlenose, Tursiops Truncatus. He weighs in at around onequarter tonne (500 lbs.) and measures in the region of four metres (13 feet).

During the summer months Fungie is often seen taking fish in the harbour mouth. The Dingle Boatmen’s Association run regular trip out to meet Fungi all year round and he obliges with spectacular jumps and loops alongside the boats, a truly amazing sight.

The Boatmen’s Association comprises 8 passenger boats fully licenced by the Department of the Marine and manned by experienced and qualified crews. The boats leave Dingle Pier at regular intervals during the day, every day, all year round (weather permitting) on a 1 hour trip to see Fungie wild and free in his natural habitat.

Telephone: (066) 9152626 Email: info@dingledolphin.com JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 25

Theatre

T

he Everyman Palace Theatre, (known locally as-The Everyman) is a 650-seat Victorian theatre on MacCurtain Street in Cork City . It was originally opened in 1897/98, and is the oldest purpose-built theatre building in Cork. The Everyman has undergone many changes over the years, through its days as “Dan Lowrey’s Palace of Varieties”and after that ,life as a cinema, periods of disrepair, and reinvigoration as a modern theatre in the 1980s.The theatre is housed in a listed (protected) Victorian building with a large stage and auditorium, with four elaborately decorated boxes, a studio space and a patrons bar. Lovers of opera productions should not miss a night out at the Everyman where entertainment is always guaranteed.

SENSATIONAL NEW OPERA PRODUCTION

“DER VAMPYR” AT THE EVERYMAN

The Everyman and Cork Operatic Society are delighted to present “Der Vampyr” by Heinrich Marschner at The Everyman theatre, Cork this June.

The Award-winning directing duo, Michael Barker-Caven and John O’Brien, reunite following the triumph of their production of Pagliacci in 2012.

Along with the creative talent of Lisa Zagone, they will transform the Everyman into a witch’s coven of blood curdling intrigue. “Der Vampyr” opens on Saturday, June 21st and continues until Friday June 27th.

Will the vampire get his wish and find three brides about to celebrate their wedding who he can willingly ravage or will the dark lord of the underworld summon him back to the abyss forever?

Will those who know his dark plans keep their vow of silence or will he be revealed for what he is – the predator within our midst.

With a cast of international singers including Hrólfur Sæmundsson and Kim Sheehan a large local chorus and a spine tingling acting ensemble of vampires, witches and living visions of the undead, the Everyman will once again turn opera into a visual spectacle, an event that will live long in your memory. Soloists: Hrólfur Sæmundsson, Kim Sheehan, Máire Flavin, Adrian Dwyer, Michael Druiett, Emma Nash and Ryan Morgan.

Musicians: Larissa O’Grady, Violin, Kieran Moynihan, Flute, Kevin O’Hara, French Horn, Eoin Kelly, Trombone, Sinead Frost, Bassoon, Jessie Grimes, Clarinet, Nathan Sherman, Viola, Martha Hardman, Oboe, Catriona Frost, Percussion, Aoife Ni Athlaoich, Cello and Deirdre Frost, double bass.

“Der Vampyr” opens at The Everyman, Cork at 10pm on Saturday June 21st and continues , Tuesday 24th, Thursday 26th& Friday 27th June at 8pm. Booking: Online at www.everymancork.com or Box Office: 021 4501673

Explore Munster

Cliffs of Moher

The Burren

Stretching for eight kilometres along the coastline and standing at 214 metres at their highest point, the Cliffs of Moher give the visitor a panoramic view out onto the Atlantic Ocean.

It is said that on a clear day you can see the Aran Islands and Galway bay, over the twelve pins and the Blasket Islands off the coast of Kerry.

When there you really should ascend O’Briens Tower which has been used as a viewing point for centuries past.

Blarney Castle Blarney Castle, County Cork: 600 years ago Cormac MacCarthy, one of the great Chieftains of Munster built the present Blarney Castle. Although built as fortification against enemies, it is hard to believe that this remarkable piece of architecture, set in such a tranquil place would ever have been the scene of battle. Today it is best known throughout the world as the home of ‘the blarney stone,’ which, legend has it when kissed, bestows great eloquence on the recipient. While you are there you should visit the extensive gardens and grounds around the castle which help it commune with nature.

Bunratty Castle

Cobh Cobh (formerly Queenstown) is a pretty seaside town in County Cork, Ireland . It is steeped in history and is an ideal place in which to stay to explore all that the town, Cork Harbour and East Cork has to offer. Cobh was the departure point for 2.5 million of the six million Irish people who emigrated to North America between 1848 and 1950.Attractions for tourists include shore and lake fishing, sailing and water sports, bird watching and countless sites of historical interest and importance.The Sirius Arts Centre has free exhibitions throughout the year and shares the original home of the Royal Cork Yacht Club wit h the Cobh Tourist Office.

The Burren, from the Gaelic word Boireann is an area of limestone rock covering imposing majestic mountains, and tranquil valleys with gently meandering streams. With its innate sense of spiritual peace, extraordinary array of flora and wildlife, and megalithic tombs and monuments older than Egypt’s pyramids, the Burren creates a tapestry of colour and a seductively magical aura which few people leave without wanting to experience again.

To Begin to discover the secrets of the Burren, a walk through the Burren Centre Exhibition is essential.

Fota Island Wildlife Park Fota Wildlife Park is a joint project between the Zoological Society of Ireland and University College Cork. It is an idea that was originally conceived in the 1970’s by the former Director of Dublin Zoo, Dr Terry Murphy, The park was originally opened in 1983. It has been listed as one of Ireland’s top ten visitor attractions.

Fota is a not for profit organisation, limited by guarantee, and is also a registered charity.

Bunratty Castle in County Clare is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. Built in 1425 it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour and now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art which capture the mood of those times.

Browse the castle and marvel at the finest collection of medieval furniture in the country which brings to life a vital part of our Medieval past. You can explore at your own leisure or join in a guided tour with our experienced guides. At night time the castle is the impressive setting for the medieval castle banquets which are held all year round.

JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 27

Foynes Flying Boat Museum

a piece of aviation history

N

estling in the Shannon estuary is a unique piece of Irish and world aviation history, the world’s only dedicated Flying Boat Museum. Foynes Flying Boat Museum captures perfectly the romantic era of the first transatlantic passenger flights by flying boat.

Pan-Am Airlines commissioned Charles Lindbergh who had made the first solo flight to Europe in 1927, (hot on the heels of Alcock and Brown who had beaten him to it in 1919), to find a suitable base for their flying boat service from New York to Ireland. Foynes on the Shannon estuary was chosen as the nearest European landfall.

On July 5, 1937, the first commercial passenger flight across the North Atlantic operated by Pan American Airlines departed Botwood, Newfoundland and successfully landed in Foynes, Co Limerick, the following day. The 2000 mile journey had taken just over 25 hours which was incredible compared to the 8-9 days it was taking by sea at the time. The excitement, craziness and prestige is captured in newsreel footage shown in the museums 1940s styled cinema. The Foynes Flying Boat Museum first opened in 1989 and it celebrates the long tradition Foynes has with the famous flying boats.

The famous Irish actress Maureen O’Hara was married to flying boat pilot Captain Charlie Blair who flew the last scheduled flying boat from Foynes to New York in 1945. He returned the next day in the first landplane a DC-4 to Rineanna, now called Shannon International Airport, just across the estuary. The history of Foynes, the centre of world aviation at the time, is colourfully depicted and recreated meticulously, down to the red fire buckets, in the Foynes Flying Boat Museum housed in the original terminal building.

Complete with radio and weather room, (there were no on-board computers then),visitors can try their hand at flying a flying boat for themselves. If you need to settle your nerves afterwards you can try an ‘Irish Coffee’ which was invented one night in 1942 ‘to warm’ up damp passengers on the flying boats at Foynes.

However the real jewel in the crown is the full size reproduction Boeing 314 Flying Boat cleverly displayed outside on water, as if it had just landed. You can go aboard and check out the facilities for yourself, like the private honeymoon suite at the back of the aircraft, something you won’t find in commercial aircraft today. Foynes Flying Boat museum is definitely recommended by Travel Ireland as well worth a visit. Contact tel: 069 65416

28 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

Limerick – let us take you there To Limerick Bus Station: From

Route Price*

Journey Time**

Dublin Airport Dublin City Tralee Killarney Shannon Airport Cork Galway

12/X12 12/X12 13 14 51 51 X51

3 hr 45 mins 3 hr 15 mins 2 hr 05 mins 2 hr 05 mins 30 mins 1 hr 50 mins 1 hr 20 mins

€31.35 €22.80 €32.30 €32.30 €11.68 €21.85 €21.85

*Online Adult Return Fare (includes 5% discount) ** Each-Way

Free Wi-Fi On Board

Extra Comfort Seats

Charging Points

Frequent Departures

2014 Irish Open Golf Championship

FOTA RESORT TO HOST THE

2014 IRISH OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

T

he 2014 Irish Open Golf Championship will return to Cork for the first time in 12 years after confirmation that the magnificent Fota Island Resort, which was recently purchased by Chinese investors The Kang Group Worldwide, will become an Official Sponsor as well as host venue of the Championship.

The Irish Open was last played in Cork – the country’s most southerly county – in 2002 when Denmark’s Søren Hansen took the title at Fota Island. Situated just 20 minutes from Cork City, the resort also hosted the Championship in 2001, when Colin Montgomerie won the last of his three Irish Opens.

This year from the 19th- 22nd of June the presence of the European Tour’s new generation of stars, led by Rory McIlroy, will deliver a significant boost to the region, and the World Number Six and double Major Champion is looking forward to the challenge of Fota Island’s Deerpark Course.

“I think it is great news that the Irish Open will be played at Fota Island,” said McIlroy who ended his 2013 season with victory in the Emirates Australian Open. He added, “The country’s National Open should be moved around to give everyone an opportunity to see the event, and it also gives us the chance to show the world just how many amazing courses there are in Ireland. Fota Island will be an exciting venue for the Irish Open, and exactly the kind of place to showcase what Ireland has to offer as a golf destination.”

McIlroy’s views were heartily endorsed by other leading European Tour players, including Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, who said: “I’m delighted that Fota Island is going to host the 30 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

2014 Irish Open. The players will love the golf course and everyone involved with the tournament will also enjoy the craic on offer in nearby Cork, Ireland’s second largest city.”

The Irish Open will also feature a field that includes some of the world’s best golfers. Last year’s winner, Paul Casey returns, as do Ireland’s major winners, Graeme McDowell, Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke who along with Rory McIlroy share seven majors between them! 2009 champion Shane Lowry will also make the trip to the picturesque Co. Cork course.

Jonathan Woods, Chief Executive Officer at Fota Island Resort, said: “Since the last two occasions Fota Island Resort hosted the Irish Open, back to back in 2001 and 2002, so many significant investments and developments have taken place at the Resort itself and with our golf courses and facilities.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to reintroduce the players, the public and the world’s media to Fota Island Resort, and to what is now a world-class, international golf venue. The Irish Open will be an enormously important event for tourism in Cork and the surrounding area, which is not just an added bonus for Fota Island Resort but for the whole region too.”

This year’s tournament will play host to a crazy trouser day, a champagne tent, a purpose built food

festival, and will also feature a Championship Village with an array of bars and shops for all to enjoy. Off the course there is also much to look forward to! Fancy combining world-class golf with exotic wildlife…?

Now you can, the Fota Wildlife Park offers a truly wild family experience! Or what about shaking a leg to Tom Jones or Imelda May? Live at the Marquee, Cork, takes place before, during and after the 2014 Irish Open, so you can enjoy the great golf on offer and dance the night away all on the same day. For further information tel...01 676 6650.

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hether your on a day trip or staying for longer in Munster, Travel Ireland recommends the following eateries and restaurants for their excellent cuisine , value for money and friendly efficient service.

An Canteen

Dykegate St., 086 6603778. Simple locally sourced produce at affordable prices.

Mc Leary’s High St,

Waterford City: This restaurant specialises in steak and seafood at its very finest. Its lunch menu is great value and its evening meals are scrumptious. Tel..051 853 444.

Chez Hans Moor Lane, Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Seafood at its best with that little extra that only Hans can bring to your palate...Tel: 062 61177

Recommended Restaurants in Munster

The Roadside Tavern Kincora Road

(Doolin Road), Lisdoonvarna Co. Clare. Serving a superb range of Irish fare coupled with a great traditional Irish pub atmosphere this hostelry is worth stopping off at. Oh and while your there ask to sample their own lager, it is superb as well. Tel 065 707 4084.

Jack Meades

Based on the outskirts of Waterford City it is renowned for its succulent steaks. Extensive lunch and a-lacarte menu from 12.30pm-9pm 7 days a week, including steak, chicken, fish and their very own traditional ribs and colcannon.

Tel 051 850950

Nash 19 Princes Street,

Cork City. Based in the middle of Cork City’s business district, only a short distance from the famed English Market. This superb restaurant has as its motto, ‘ from the heart of the land, the mouth of the sea and the hand of the producer.’

It’s cuisine prepared with such delicacy and presented with such care certainly more than does justice to the company’s ethos of sourcing only the best produce. Tel 021 4270 880.

La Cucina 5 University

Court, Castleroy, County Limerick.

Simply one of the best places for a pizza in the country.T el 061 333980.

L’arco

Based in Ballyvaughan village County Clare this award winning Italian restaurant is well worth a visit. The fare is freshly prepared by two Italian chefs on the premises with much of the ingredients sourced locally. For reservations telephone 065 708 3900.

Sol y Sombra Old

Church of Ireland, Killorglin . As the address suggests this is a unique dining experience in a beautifully renovated church in the heart of Killorglin. This Tapas Bar was the winner of the best casual dining award in Kerry in 2012 and 2013.

Tel.: +353 (0) 66 9762347.

Out of the Blue Dingle Harbour, (066) 915 0811. The most popular seafood restaurant in Dingle even Bono is a fan.

Ashes

Main St., Dingle, 066 9150989. Situated on an historical site this lively hostelry offers great food- drink agus craic.

The Ventry Skipper

Ventry, Co Kerry Tel 066 9159853 This little gem is just what the weary traveller needs after a day of sight seeing-with amazing views accompanied by great seafood and an extensive wine list you really cant go wrong.

JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 33

Welcome To Connaught

T

he province of Connaught lies in the West of Ireland with its coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. The counties of Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Galway and Roscommon make up this geographically diverse region with the Atlantic Ocean to its westerly boundary and the midlands of Roscommon to the East. It is the least populated with a population of just over 400,000.

Historically, Connaught has retained its rich Gaelic heritage and today still has communities where the Irish language only is spoken amongst them but English is the primary second language. These regions are collectively called the Gaeltacht. The remote and beautiful Aran Islands off the mainland of County Galway are also part of the Gaeltacht.

The primary business centre of Connaught, and most densely populated area, is the thriving city of Galway to the south of the province although Sligo City, Carrick on Shannon, and Boyle are all fine business and shopping centres in their own right.

Connaught has some of the most scenic and unspoilt countryside to be found in Ireland, including the spectacular mountainous landscape of Connemara, the lock gates and river banks of the Shannon Waterway, the famed Galway Bay and the historic glens of County Leitrim.

Couple these with the beautiful Ashford Castle in Mayo near to Cong where the film ‘The Quiet Man ‘ was enacted and the natural serenity of Lough Key Forest Park in Roscommon and a tour of this region is a must for all.

For those interested in a religious

experience Mayo is famed for Knock Shrine where on the 21st August, 1879, at about 8 o’clock, Our Lady, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist are reputed to have appeared. The apparition was seen by fifteen people whose ages ranged from six years to seventy-five and included men, women and children.

The shrine has become so popular in modern times that the Ireland West International Airport was built especially in 1985 to cater for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors to Connaught. The county also features the pilgrimage site known as Croagh Patrick. Croagh Patrick, which overlooks Clew Bay in County Mayo, is considered the holiest mountain in Ireland. The tradition of pilgrimage to this holy mountain stretches back over 5,000 years from the Stone Age to the present day without interruption.

Croagh Patrick is renowned today for its Patrician Pilgrimage in honour of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. It was on the summit of the mountain that Saint Patrick is said to have fasted for forty days in 441 AD and the custom of trekking up the mountain has been faithfully handed down from generation to generation.

Croagh Patrick is 5 miles from the picturesque town of Westport and its conical shape soars majestically above the surrounding countryside with magnificent views of Clew Bay beneath.

So, whether it’s water activities on the Atlantic coastline cruising on the Shannon Waterway, religious pilgrimages, chilling out amongst an unspoilt landscape or driving along roads where motoring is still a pleasure, Connaught has it all.

Benbulben

Inishboffin Cliff Ruin

Kylemore Abbey

Galway

Galway-‘The City and county of the tribes’

Galway known locally as ‘The county of the tribes’ is one of the jewels of the west of Ireland. Galway City was originally formed from a small fishing village located in the area near the Spanish Arch called ‘The Claddagh’ where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay. Galway later became a walled town in the year 1232 after the territory was captured by the Anglo Normans lead by Richard De Burgo. The town walls, some sections of which can be seen today near the Spanish Arch, were constructed circa 1270.

A charter was granted in 1396 by Richard II which transferred governing powers to 14 merchant families, known locally as the 14 tribes of Galway.

Galway Harbour

streets come to life with buskers and street performers. With Connemara on your doorstep a visit to Kylemore Abbey or Ashford Castle..The rugged scenery, clear waters, expansive mountain ranges and winds sweeping in off the Atlantic makes Galway a perfect place for lovers of the great outdoors.. For the more adventurous the Rusheen Bay windsurfing school is just five minutes from Galway City centre. The City and County have wonderful restaurants, quaint bars and lots to keep you occupied such as golf, angling, equestrian trails, and a superb number of top quality hotels and guesthouses.

For those who love the wild open spaces a visit to Connemara National Park should be on your itinerary. The park covers some 2,957 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands. Some of the Park’s mountains, namely Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanaght, are part of the famous Twelve Bens or Beanna Beola range. Connemara National Park was established and opened to the public in 1980.

Just 18 miles south of Galway City is the lovely little town of Kinvara. Dunguaire Castle is probably the most famous land mark that is associated with Kinvara. The restored tower castle was built in 1520 by the O’Hynes clan on the picturesque shores of Galway Bay, just 300 yards outside the village of Kinvara. Today, the castle is managed by Shannon Heritage, and is open daily for visitors to explore to visitors from April through to October from 10am - 5pm. (Reservations are not necessary to visit). However at night the castle comes to life in its own unique way. The castle

Inishboffin Ruin Galway City today is a thriving, bohemian, cultural city and is renowned as the party capital of Ireland. Along with being a popular seaside destination with beautiful beaches and a long winding promenade, it also has a buzzing cosmopolitan city centre. The city is a joy to explore with its labyrinthine cobbled streets, colourful shop facades and busy café/ bar culture. The city is also well known for its many festivals throughout the year with huge crowds gathering for the annual Galway Arts Festival, Galway Races and numerous other events. Old Ireland is present too with turf fires and traditional music featuring in many pubs to compliment your enjoyment of a well earned pint of Guinness.

Visitors are advised to take an evening stroll along the promenade and watch the sunset over Galway Bay or watch the salmon fishermen in the River Corrib from the perfect vantage point of the Salmon Weir Bridge. If your based in Galway City or just visiting late in the evening, take a walk down Shop Street to the Latin Quarter near Quay Street and you’ll find plenty of old world bars where you can sit by a turf fire and join in the craic.

On sunny days your options are endless in this county. The clean beaches in Salthill draw crowds of swimmers and the city

Portumna Forest Marathon

14th June 2014 Forest Marathon is a running festival in the beautiful Coillte forest of Portumna in Co. Galway. The event includes a 10k, a full marathon, a half marathon and two ultra-running events - a 50k and 100k run. more info: www.forestmarathon. com/

is the venue for the Dunguaire Castle Banquet, a luscious dining experience which takes place Mid April - Mid October at 5.30pm & 8.45pm. Reservations are necessary for the evening banquet.

For reservations please call 1-800-269811 or for the lowest rates Book online while visiting www.shannonheritage.com Finally for this edition, we would remind you that Galway is undoubtedly the rural festival capital of Ireland and you should check out our ‘whats on’ guide before you visit. However Galway is a unique experience that you really should not miss!

Galway Rowing Regatta

15th June 2014 This year’s Galway Regatta will take place on Sunday June 15th at the NUIG grounds at Dangan. Galway’s oldest rowing regatta, this year it celebrates its 130th anniversary, and once again entries from all four provinces with many of the top rowing clubs in Ireland are expected to compete. more info: www.iaru.ie

Lough Corrib Cycle

15th June 2014 This fun cycling sportive in support of Croí will take place on Sunday, 15th June 2014. Cyclists will have a choice of a 27.5 mile or a 75 mile route through the picturesque setting of Connemara. We will provide roadside assistance, support vehicles & plenty of refreshment stops along the way! more info: http://www.croi.ie/loughcorribcycle

Whats on in Galway this month

The Galway Sessions

15th - 22nd June 2014 The Galway Sessions Festival, celebrating Irish folk and traditional music and the music Irish emigrants brought with them across the world, returns from Sunday June 15 to Sunday 22. As in previous years, the festival’s Scottish connection will be retained with an array of performers travelling from Galway’s cultural partner Stirling to take part. Events take place in the Town Hall Theastre and in pubs throughout the city with sessions planned in The Crane Bar, The King’s Head, Tigh Choili’s, Taaffe’s Bar ,The Quays, Tigh Neachtains, and Monroe’s Tavern. more info: www.galwaysessions.com

Galway

Kylemore Abbey

Whats on in Galway this month.

Inishboffin

Stone walls in Aran Islands

Bia Lover - Festival of Food Athenry

20th - 22nd June 2014 Bia Lover is a food festival will provide an exhibition in Athenry for quality food and drink suppliers based primarily in the west of Ireland. Parallel events include cookery demonstrations, food talks, a producers market on Saturday & Sunday in the park and partnership food and drink trails with local pubs, restaurants and farms from Friday. more info: www.bialover.ie

Galway Simon Kick Assphalt 10km or 10mile

22nd June 2014 Galway Simon Kick Assphalt 10km or 10mile run takes place on June 22nd at 10am. This is the annual running for charity event for Galway Simon with Early Bird registration Fee until April 30th. The AAI Certified 10km or 10mile course will follow a glorious route along Galway Bay and is suitable for runners and walkers of all abilities. Registration for the event is now open on www.GalwaySimon. ie and on www.RunIreland.com so why not sign up and set yourself a target of completing a 10km or 10mile or beating your personal best. Timing chips and T-Shirts provided for all participants. more info: www.galwaysimon.ie / www.runireland. com

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Inis Mór

28th - 29th June 2014 The Serpent’s Lair on Inis Mór will once again be awoken this summer when the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series returns to the Aran Islands. One of the most intriguing and picturesque stops on the 2012 tour, the rugged blow hole will play host to the series again on June 28th and 29th when the best divers in the world take the 27 metre plunge into the cold Atlantic. more info: www.redbull.ie

Explore Connaught

Glencar Waterfall

Glencar Waterfall is situated near Glencar Lake, 11 kilometres west of Manorhamilton, County Leitrim. It is particularly impressive after rain and can be viewed from a lovely wooded walk. As you reach Glencar which straddles the border between counties Sligo and Leitrim with its dramatic steep cliffs, you will notice a series of waterfalls cascading from the heights. Glencar waterfall is perhaps the most dramatic descending from a 50ft rocky headland into a deep pool below in a haze of white spray. A paved path to the viewing area provides a wonderful vantage point from which to view the waterfall which is particularly spectacular during wet conditions.

Connemara

Kylemore Abbey Few places on earth have the tranquillity and beauty of Kylemore Abbey and its majestic walled garden. The castle was bought by the Benedictine nuns in 1920.. The Victorian walled garden was re-opened in 1999 and won the prestigious Europa Nostra Award in 2002.

The garden comprises of roughly 6 acres and is divided in two by a natural mountain stream.

The eastern half comprises of the flower or pleasure garden, glass houses and gardeners’ houses, the kitchen garden makes up the other half of the garden and is predominantly given over to the growing of food. This is a gem and should definitely be at the top of any visitors list.

Mullaghmore Mullaghmore is one of the surfing capitals of the Irish Atlantic coastline and recognised as one of the top surfing destinations in the world. Indeed, On 8 March 2012, surfers and windsurfers from all over the world rode waves up to 15 metres (49 ft) high off Mullaghmore Head. The area is also safe for bathing and has all the modern facilities that you could wish for to make your stay enjoyable. Mullaghmore is overlooked by the majestic Ben Bulbin mountain.

Inishbofin Island

Connemara is one of God’s gifts to this world with unspoilt natural beauty , rolling hills, leafy glens and crystal clear mountain streams all overlooked by towering majestic mountains. Travel

38 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

from the rugged Twelve Bens mountain range in the north through lake-rich Roundstone Bog to the golden beaches reaching out into the Atlantic Ocean. This wonderous landscape is bounded on the

west, south and north by the Atlantic Ocean. Connemara’s land boundary with the rest of County Galway is marked by the Invermore River which flows into the north of Kilkieran Bay.

Inish Bofin (island of the white cow) is situated seven miles off the Galway coastline and is an extremely popular tourist attraction.The island is 5.7km by 4km. Inishbofin has three official looped walks of varying difficulties, each offering spectacular views of the island’s wild Atlantic scenery. The island also has several safe award winning sandy beaches and its clear waters make swimming, snorkelling and diving a joy. Two of the beaches on Inishbofin have been awarded the ‘Green Coast Award’ prized for their exceptional water quality and their natural, unspoilt environment.

MAYO Where pilgrims and sightseers view the wonders of nature

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hereas Ireland was once known as ‘The Land of Saints and Scholars’ Mayo could rightly be called ‘The County of Pilgrims and the Wonders of Nature.’

This westerly county bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on its western seaboard has unspoilt beauty unlike anywhere else in the country. Mayo is the home of two pilgrim sites with Knock Shrine where The Virgin Mary is reputed to have appeared to fifteen people in 1879. Since that time the shrine at the little church has become a world renowned pilgrimage site. The Ireland West International Airport nearby was opened in 1985 originally to cater for the many hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visiting the shrine every year. Many miracles have been acclaimed at shrine over the years.

Mayo also caters annually for pilgrims who climb Croagh Patrick ( a mountain above Clew Bay near Westport) every year. It is an arduous trek to the summit of Croagh Patrick which is known locally as ‘the reek’, but well worth it to view the wonderous scenery from 2,500 feet. Legend has it that it was on the summit of the mountain that Saint Patrick fasted for forty days in 441 AD and the pilgrim custom has been faithfully

handed down from generation to generation. Those who climb it whilst saying prayers are said to receive many favours. Each year, The Reek, as it is colloquially known, attracts about 1 million pilgrims. On ‘Reek Sunday’, the last Sunday in July, over 25,000 pilgrims visit the Reek. At the top, there is a modern chapel where mass is celebrated and confessions are heard. Individuals and groups come from all over the world and include pilgrims, hill climbers, historians, archaeologists and nature lovers. The other traditional Pilgrimage days are the last Friday of July which is known locally as ‘Garland Friday’, and August 15th which is the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.

Inishturk is a quaint beautiful island located 9 miles (14.5km) off the coast of Mayo. Admire its wall-like cliffs facing the Atlantic Ocean and the ruins of the old signal tower 722 ft above sea level. Inishturk is a great place to go for a quiet break. The island has a population of less than one hundred people. There are many places of interest to visit on the island. Inishturk has a lovely harbour with a new improved pier, fine beaches and many interesting archaeological sites.

Near Ballycastle and beneath the wild boglands of North Mayo lies the Céide Fields, the most

extensive Stone Age monument in the world, consisting of field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs. The stone walled fields, extending over thousands of acres are almost 6,000 years old, the oldest known in the world. They are covered by a natural blanket bog with its own unique vegetation and wildlife.

The Ceide Fields Visitor Centre has won several awards, including the Gold Medal for architecture.

It is located beside some of the most spectacular cliffs and rock formations in Ireland and a viewing platform is positioned on the edge of the 110m high cliff. Visitors are advised to wear weather protective clothing and footwear suitable for walking on uneven terrain.

Achill island off the Mayo coast is also well worth a visit. It is the most inhabited of the islands and it has many festivals throughout the year including its famous Seafood Festival in July. For more information on the island contact Achill tourism on 098 20705.

Mayo has many other attractions too such as the towns of Castelbar, Ballina and Westport who all have wonderful restaurants, traditional Irish pubs and first class hotels. So, whether it’s religion, archaeology, history watersports, or just viewing the wonders of nature Mayo has something for you to enjoy.

Keem Bay on Achill Island

Croagh Patrick

Beautiful tranquil

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f it is peace and tranquilty amongst the beauty of both nature and architecture that you want, then Kylemore Abbey has to feature on your itinerary. The story of Kylemore which spans over 150 years is one of love, happiness, heartbreak and prayer in one of the most beautiful settings on earth.

The Castle was built by Mitchell and Margaret Henry from 1867 to 1871 on the site of the Kylemore Lodge where they had stayed on honeymoon and had both so fallen in love with the place that they returned and settled there.

Forty years under the guiding hand of Mitchell

Kylemore Abbey & Gardens

Henry, turned thousands of acres of waste land into the productive Kylemore Estate. He developed the Kylemore Estate as a commercial and political experiment and the result brought material and social benefits to the entire region and left a lasting impression on the landscape and on the memory of the local people.

Currently Kylmore is home to a community of nuns of the Benedictine Order who first came there in 1920 after their abbey in Ypres, Belgium was ruined during World War I. Despite the tremendous upheaval of their travel to Connemara, the nuns founded a boarding school

for girls at Kylemore which soon became known worldwide as an optimum place of learning. Over the years the nuns also restored the Abbey, the Victorian Walled Garden and the Gothic Church to their former glory.

Today, Kylmore Abbey and the Victorian Walled Garden welcome thousands of visitors every year who discover for themselves the magic, tranquillity and beauty of one of the emeralds in the Emerald Isle.

General Enquiries & Booking Enquiries T: +353 95 52001.

E: info@kylemoreabbeytourism.ie

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veryone likes good food at the right price and Travel Ireland recommends the following eateries in Connaught where you will experience culinary delicacies, great service and a wonderful atmosphere.

Aniar Restaurant

53 Lower Dominick Street, Galway City. This top class restaurant has the enviable accolade of being Galway’s only Michelin starred restaurant, having been awarded their prestigious star in September 2012. Give your taste buds a treat here. Tel: 091 535947

Ard Bia

Long Walk, Spanish Arch, Galway City. This restaurant has gone from strength to strength since winning Food & Wine magazine’s Best Regional Restaurant Award a few years ago. The eclectic arty dining room overlooking the Corrib in the historic Spanish Arch area is renowned for its delicious food.

The building also has a local gallery upstairs with some fabulous artwork to browse and chat about over coffee. Tel: +353(0)91 56111

An Port Mor Restaurant

1 Brewery Place | Bridge Street, Westport, County Mayo .

This is an intimate, friendly restaurant with a great reputation for seafood which is unsurpassed throughout the land. Tel: (098) 26730

Rugantino Restaurant

Rockwood Parade Sligo.

The spaghetti carbonara is absolutely delicious but then again so are most things in this small but extremely well run restaurant. The Italian theme makes for a taste bud sensation rarely sampled elsewhere.

Tel: 071 9149884

Recommended Restaurants in Connaught

Cullens at the Cottage

Cong, County Mayo.

Take a short stroll from Ashford Castle and you reach this delightful culinary experience.Serving everything from steaks to seafood, you will not go away disappointed.

Tel: 094 9546003

Waterfront House Restaurant

Enniscrone, County Sligo. The Waterfront House Restaurant has not only excellent cuisine coupled with an extensive selection of wines but probably one of the most outstanding sea views in Ireland. Here you can wine, dine and relax as you peer out over a 5km beach, Killala Bay, with waves of the Atlantic Ocean breaking just yards away. “Quality, Sincerity, Friendliness and Relaxation” is the motto of this fine establishment which specializes in a Full A La Carte dining experience from 5pm daily. Opened in 2011 as an addition to Waterfront House, The Seaview Restaurant and Wine Bar have become popular with locals and visitors alike. Fresh Seafood is their specialty. Tel: 096 37120 for bookings.

Seaview Restaurant and Wine bar

At the Waterfront Hotel, Cliff Road Enniscrone.County Sligo.

This restaurant literally overlooks the breaking waves of the Atlantic Ocean in Killala Bay and the view adds to the enjoyment of the experience of dining. Whether you choose a steak or their seafood speciality makes no difference as both are excellent and served by pleasant courteous staff . Tel: 096 37120

The Oarsman

Bridge St, Carrick on Shannon, County Leitrim The Oarsman has a lovely homely atmosphere and its braised steak is mouth watering. Couple all that with keen prices and it is hard to travel this way without calling in.

Tel: 0719621733 JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 41

Sligo

F

leadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest traditional Irish music festival, takes place in Sligo, Ireland, from August 10th to 17th August 2014. In recent times this annual internationally renowned music festival has attracted over half a million visitors to such diverse places as Cavan and Derry. Sligo too is gearing up for a similar influx and plans are in place to ensure the county expresses itself in the music, art, and poetry of its people, made so famous by WB Yeats. From clear lakes and rivers to dramatic mountains, Sligo is a place that will stimulate all of your senses, whatever the weather. Let the ancient sites, spectacular landscapes and rolling waves inspire you. The stories, trails and adventures will open your mind and invigorate your body. Let Sligo set your spirit free this year.

As already mentioned William Butler Yeats the Nobel Prizewinning poet has a close affiliation to Sligo and so loved the county that his wish was to buried there in the shadow of Ben Bulbin mountain. So when he died in France in 1939 plans were made to exhume his body after World War 2 and these were fulfilled when he was laid to rest in his beloved Drumcliff in 1948.

Sligo boasts many fine top class hotels and restaurants, traditional and modern pubs, and clubs. Fresh fish and sea food from the Sligo coastlines is created into culinary feasts at reasonable prices in the host of venues throughout the county.

As well as the Fleadh, Sligo boasts festivals galore and the famous Sligo Races or for those seeking a more leisurely break it has some of the finest fishing and beaches in the country.

For those interested in history and culture Sligo has a host to offer such as Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery in County Sligo which is the largest, and one of the most important, megalithic sites in Europe.

Over 60 tombs have been located by archaeologists. The oldest predates Newgrange by 700 years and is older than the pyramids. Tombs are accessible and a restored cottage houses a small exhibition relating to the site. Visitors are advised to wear shoes suitable for walking on uneven terrain.

Sligo Abbey is another landmark worth visiting. The site of Sligo Abbey contains a great wealth of carvings including Gothic and Renaissance tomb sculpture, well preserved cloisters and the only sculptured 15th century high altar to survive in any Irish monastic church. Known locally as the ‘Abbey’, it survives from the medieval days. Built by Maurice Fitzgerald for the Dominicans in 1252 and was accidentally burnt down in 1414, when a candle left carelessly in the building set it on fire, and it was further damaged during the 1641 rebellion. Legend says that worshippers saved the Abbey’s silver bell which was thrown into Lough Gill and only those free from sin can hear it peal. Access to the site is through the Visitor Centre. There is restricted access to site for visitors with disabilities.

Finally for those with an interest in the arts Sligo has the Model arts Centre. Which is the home of The Niland Collection and is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary arts centres with works by Jack B. Yeats as well as those of his wife and sister.

The building boasts a wonderful gallery circuit, a cafe, cinema, a bookshop, music and performance space, and a suite of impressive artist studios on the top floor with enviable views of Sligo town and County. The Niland Collection is one of Ireland’s most significant public art collections. Begun by Nora Niland in 1959, the collection features work by many of Ireland’s most acclaimed twentieth century artists. The collection has a particular focus on the northwest of Ireland and features many artists who are linked to the area through birth, family or subject matter including Jack B Yeats, Patrick Collins, Sean McSweeney, Patrick Hall and Nick Miller.

In 2002 a further 30 works of Irish art were generously lent on a long-term basis by the collector Jobst Graeve. The Graeve Collection has a particular focus on works from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, many of which are political in theme. Taken as a whole, the two collections number almost 300 drawings, paintings, sculptures, and prints, and present a fascinating overview of Irish life in the twentieth century.

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Strandhill WB Yeats Monument

Benbulben

Welcome to Ulster

T

he Ancient Irish province of Ulster (9 counties) was partitioned in 1921 and six of the counties in it now make up Northern Ireland. These are Fermanagh, Antrim, Down, Derry/Londonderry, Armagh, and Tyrone.the other three counties are Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland.

In this edition we look at Fermanagh, Antrim and Belfast City in Northern Ireland and Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and what they have to offer.

County Fermanagh: With over 300 square miles of water, 365 islands, breathtaking scenery, the mystical Marble Arch Caves Geo Park, world class fishing and more historic monuments than you could shake a stick at, Fermanagh is a Lakeland Paradise.

County Donegal (Irish: Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county in the northwest of the Republic of Ireland. The name “Donegal” comes from the Irish, meaning “the fort of the foreigners”. The county consists chiefly of low mountains, with a deeply indented coastline forming natural loughs, of which Lough Swilly is the most notable. The famous mountains or ‘Hills of Donegal’ consist of two major ranges, the Derryveagh Mountains in the north and the Bluestack Mountains in the south, with Mount Errigal at 751 metres the highest peak.

The Slieve League cliffs are the second highest sea cliffs in Europe, while Donegal’s Malin Head is the most northerly point on the island of Ireland.

County Antrim with its beautiful coast road and famous glens is the most north easterly county on

the island. On a worldwide scale Antrim’s most famous attraction is the Giants Causeway.However the renowned ‘Glens of Antrim’, the Bushmills Distillery and Carrickfergus Castle are well worth visiting as well.

All three counties are geared towards the visitor which is the trademark of our nation as a hospitable people and which is guaranteed in Ulster.

Belfast City too has many features to behold including the grandeur of the City Hall, the new Titanic Quarter and the Odyssey Arena to name but a few. This vibrant city has a culture all of its own and its restaurants, theatres and nightlife are amazingly good value.

Ulster........Antrim, Fermanagh, Donegal and Belfast City

Belfast Bonamargy

Fanad Head

Forest in Cavan

JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 43

County Fermanagh - A Lakeland Paradise

W

ith over 300 square miles of water, 365 islands, breathtaking scenery and more historic monuments than you could shake a stick at, Fermanagh is a Lakeland Paradise.

Fishermen and water based activities line the shore of Lough Erne throughout the summer as it meanders its way through Fermanagh. The Lough rises in the Shannon Pot in County Cavan and travels in two parts, the Upper Lough and the Lower Lough which meet in the middle of Fermanagh at Ireland’s only island town Enniskillen.

The Upper Lough(which stretches from Belturbet in County Cavan to Enniskillen) is considered to be one of the best pike fishing lakes in Europe with common catches reaching 20 to 30lbs weight. Meanwhile Lower Lough Erne (which runs from Enniskillen to Ballyshannon in Donegal) is famous for its Mayfly Fishing. World Coarse fishing records have also been broken many times on Lough Erne. For further information contact: Fermanaghlakelands.com

to the present day.

There are a number of privately operated pleasure cruisers which take tourists through Lower Lough Erne stopping off at such historic sites as Devenish Island with its Monastic settlement and completely intact Round Tower which dates back to the 6th century AD. Belleek Pottery

Ardowen Theatre

Fermanagh has always been famous for its crafts and the Buttermarket in the centre of Enniskillen is still thriving today with artisans carefully making their wares. Perhaps the best known Fermanagh craft is the world renowned handcrafted Belleek Pottery, The pottery itself lies 26 miles south west of Enniskillen along a road which follows the route Enniskillen nestles in the heart of the county and has everything a large town should have such as a Theatre, two museums, beautiful Churches, large shopping areas and well maintained banks leading to Lough Erne which completely surrounds the town. This ancient town was the headquarters of the Maguire Clan the Chieftains of Fermanagh and indeed the name in Irish is ‘Fear manach’ which roughly translates as ‘the place of the men of Manach’. The town has an historic castle which has in its complex not just the Fermanagh County Museum but the Inniskillings (old spelling) Museum. The Inniskilling Museum is dedicated to the two British Army regiments, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. The town has the distinction of being the only town in the UK to have given its name to two regiments. The County Museum meanwhile traces the early history of Fermanagh back to the pagan and early Christian times and up

of Lough Erne and the scenery along that route is breathtaking. Having reached Belleek you cannot miss the pottery as the huge building dominates the southern part of the village. The pottery is rightly proud of its unique place at the top of the world gift market and the site has a Visitors Centre which has a four star rating. There are also guided tours of the factory which can be arranged by contacting visitorcentre@belleek.ie.

Having gazed in awe at the beauty of the lakeland and all that can be seen above ground in Fermanagh, the visitor should not go away without a trip to the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark.

Located near the village of Florencecourt the caves are a wonder of nature rarely seen. They are amongst the finest show caves in Europe. This is a place where visitors are guided through a natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages and lofty chambers. Visitors can take a boat trip on the subterranean river, or walk through the caves and marvel at the colours which the reflection from the underground lighting system throws up when they pass stalactites. This is nature at its finest, most fascinating, most glorious and an experience visitors will never forget. Contact the Marble Arch Caves at 0044 28 6634 8855 before travelling .

Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark

JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 45

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46 -TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE-JUNE 2014

Find us on

Giants Causeway

Antrim

Nature at its best

C

Rathlin Island

Carrickfergus

ounty Antrim with its beautiful coast road and famous glens is the most north easterly county on the island.

On a worldwide scale Antrim’s most famous attraction is the Giants Causeway. Legend has it that the causeway was built by the giant Finn Mac Cool to get from Ireland to Scotland but today geologists say in fact the causeway’s unusual features have more to do with volcanic activity common in County Antrim approximately sixty million years ago.

An added bonus for the visitor to Antrim is that it has some of the finest coastal scenery in Europe. The close proximity of Rathlin Island off its coast lends itself to some of the finest bird watching on the continent of Europe and any visitor is sure to see some spectacular sights.

County Antrim also boasts the village of Broughshane, known locally as the garden village of Ulster, and internationally famous for the quality of its flowers and floral displays. Broughshane is one of the most beautiful villages to be seen anywhere with a floral beauty unmatched on the island.

The jewel in the crown of County Antrim’s fame is of course the glens and valleys that run throughout the county. Famed in verse and song, the glens and mountains of Antrim are a site of pilgrimage for rock and hill climbers from all over Ireland and beyond. Couple these with the lush forest parks spread out throughout the glens and it is a place where the visitor can be truly at peace with nature.

For the sun seekers, Antrim also has European Blue Flag beaches at Ballycastle, Benone and Portrush, and Ireland’s longest beach at Magilligan for families to enjoy.

The towns of Antrim too are well worth a visit and for the history lovers a trip to the Norman Castle at Carrickfergus is a must. The Castle was built originally in 1180 by John De Courcy, a Norman Knight. Since then it has been besieged and overrun by many armies yet its grounds, some buildings , Castle walls and battlements are there today for all to see and are well worth a visit.

Antrim’s most famous export however is the world famous Bushmills Irish Whiskey. Here in the village of Bushmills you can view the actual whiskey making process at Ireland’s oldest working distillery. The tour of the plant includes a taste of this award winning nectar. Further details on the 400 year old liquor and its tours can be accessed through Bushmills@diageo.com.

Visitors will rarely find a county with such a diverse amount of attractions as Antrim. From the golden sandy beaches to the phenomenon of the Giants Causeway, from the magnificent scenery of the glens to the historical Carrickfergus Castle and then rounding it all off with taste of ‘Bush’, any trip to Antrim will be one to remember.

JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 47

速

®

Donegal

Jewel of the Wild Atlantic Way

H

op into the car and follow hidden gems of amazing holiday experiences, colourful people and outstanding natural beauty.

Nestling as it does on the most north westerly point of the island of Ireland, Donegal is rich in beaches, glens and mountains not to mention a people whose friendliness and Cead mile Failte (one hundred thousand welcomes) is legendary. Here are some of the outstanding

A narrow road twists steeply up from Teelin to the dramatic Slieve Liag cliffs and mountains. From the viewing point, you look across one of the finest panoramas in Europe that will set your heart racing.

The nearby cultural centre, Tí Linn, is run by Paddy Clarke, a rich source of information on the area and its archaeological heritage.

Fanad Head

Drink in the best views in Europe with golden sandy beaches and rolling farmland threaded by

800 ft. above sea level, on a spectacular hilltop in Inishowen, the Grianán of Aileach fort is a former home of the Irish High Kings. Sweeping views take in patchwork fields and lakes as well as the wider hilly countryside. At the nearby Old Church Visitor Centre you can enjoy the latest multimedia technological exhibits surrounding the mythical Tuatha De Danann Race of Gods and Warriors.

Glenveagh

Look out for golden eagles

Based in the largest tract of land in the wildest part of Donegal, Glenveagh National Park incorporates moorland, mountain, lakes and woods within its 40,000 acres of wilderness. You may be lucky enough to catch sight of soaring golden eagles which have been reintroduced into the area.

attractions that make this county unique.

Malin Head

Dip into history or look up at the night sky from Ireland’s most northernly point

Follow the Wild Atlantic Way, the west coast of Ireland’s touring route including Donegal’s 100-mile circuit of the scenic Inishowen peninsula. Those with an interest in military history will want to see Fort Dunree Military Museum near Buncrana, with its remarkable collection of memorabilia..

Further along,you will find Doagh Famine Village, an outdoor museum,which provides a thoughtprovoking look at the area from the tragedy of the Famine in the 1840s up to the present day.

Sliabh Liag

Awaken your mystical spirit

narrow roads which set the scene in the secluded Fanad peninsula squeezed in between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay and leading to remote Fanad Head.

Families can enjoy a day of watersports at picturepostcard resorts such as Rathmullan or Portsalon.

Take your pick from spinning for mackerel off a pier, learning to fly-fish for rainbow trout, hire a pedalo or paddle a kayak. If you are feeling energetic, why not saddle up and gallop along the shores of Lough Swilly on the pristine Rathmullan Strand. As you drive around this thrilling peninsula be prepared for delays on single track roads; your path may be blocked by a herd of heifers and you will be reduced to cow-speed; don’t forget you are in north Donegal where the motto festina lente ‘hurry slowly’ applies and where life moves at an easy pace.

Aurora Borealis

Catch a cloudless evening and you may be enchanted by a night sky display of the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. The celestial light show, with its ghostly wispy rays of dancing colours has been seen hanging like a fluorescent curtain over Malin Head – what better reason to go than to witness this astonishing sight. Perched

Surfing in Bundoran

The reefs around Bundoran are world renowned,

producing the optimal wave size for great surfing.

Donegal Adventure Centre in Bundoran -– the largest of its kind in Ireland – provides expert tuition from qualified instructors in the tricky art of staying up on your board. Located in the south of the county, Bundoran has become the unrivalled gung-ho centre of surf culture hosting world class competitions. Regarded as the top spot by the black-clad brigade, it is a place where wave-riding runs deep in the veins of some locals’ blood.

For more information on Donegal tel.

074 912 1160 JUNE 2014-TRAVEL IRELAND MAGAZINE- 49

Belfast

Cave Hill

Belfast City Hall

where old...

Belfast is a thriving,lively place where the magnificent architecture of the past blends wonderfully with the new city which has emerged in recent years. Fine examples of this are Belfast City Hall and the Titanic Quarter.

Belfast City Hall is situated in the heart of Belfast City Centre and its magnificent baroque revival style frontage and gardens blend beautifully into the cityscape. It first opened its doors on 1 August 1906 having taken eight years to build at an overall cost of £360,000.It underwent a major £11m refurbishment which was completed in 2009 and free tours of this impressive building are available throughout the summer.

In contrast the ultra modern Titanic Quarter is a masterpiece of today’s engineering and architectural advancements. It is one of the world’s largest urban /waterfront regeneration schemes. Extending over 185 acres on the site where RMS Titanic was designed and built, the Titanic Quarter is redefining what it means to work, live, play and stay in central Belfast., The Titanic Belfast Visitors Centre is the

world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction . Here you can learn how the Titanic was conceived , built and launched in this great city. Over nine floors in this iconic building you will have the interactive media experience of your life.

Belfast Castle Estate is adjacent to one of the highest spots in Belfast, Cave Hill, offering great views over Belfast Lough and the city. The landmark, named for the five caves located on the side of the cliffs, contains a wealth of natural, archaeological and historical features, including Belfast Castle .Its most famous feature, known locally as Napoleon’s Nose, is believed to have been the inspiration for Jonathan Swift’s novel, Gulliver’s Travels. Cave Hill Visitor Centre is located in the basement of Belfast Castle. This fascinating and intriguing museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 10pm and Sunday & Monday 9am to 5.30pm and admission is free. Tel : 028 9077 6925.

Shopping in Belfast is special too. Why? Because it has an eclectic mix of high street stores, family owned businesses, designer boutiques, markets and

the incredible Victoria Square Shopping Centre all within a few minutes of each other. Shops in Belfast City Centre are generally open Monday - Wednesday 9am - 6pm, Thursday 9am - 9pm, Friday and Saturday 9am - 6pm and Sunday 1pm 6pm. Some shop opening hours may vary, including during holiday periods.

Belfast also has a wonderful nightlife with numerous traditional theatres and the recently built Waterfront Hall and the Odyssey Arena hosting internationally acclaimed artists on a regular basis.

Of course a night out in Belfast would not be the same without a visit to one of its many traditional pubs where a great night’s fun is to be had by all.

Finally although we realise one page in here will never do justice to any city, we urge you to make the trip .See for yourself this beautiful ever changing city which has so much to offer. Oh and while you are there check out the culinary feasts in the city from fine dining, brasseries and bistros to gastro pubs, cafes, coffee shops and some of the best fish & chips around.

...meets new

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Titanic Exhibition

Odyssey Arena

Blarney Castle & Gardens Renowned for bestowing the gift of eloquence Take the time to enjoy our magical CASTLE GARDENS

Open all year round 5 miles from Cork Open Monday- Sunday 9-6 www.blarneycastle.ie info@blarneycastle.ie