Set in one of West Cork's most desirable locations, the O'Donovan and Barrett familes' immaculately maintained hotel is magnificently situated overlooking the Atlantic Ocean just outside the quaint town of Clonakilty.
Now in third generation ow ... more...
This large, rambling country house is just an hour from Dublin, but it could be in a different world.
Although it's very professionally operated, the O'Flynn family insist that this romantic spot is not an hotel and the gentle rhythms of life around t ... more...
The Green family’s gracious mansion is surrounded by its own farmland, magnificent wooded grounds, a trout lake and formal terraced gardens - garden lovers will find a stay here especially rewarding.
The Italianate style of the present house - i ... more...
Farmers/Country Market / Hotel / Pub / Restaurant / Speciality Store
Built on the site of a deserted village in a Wicklow valley, this extraordinary food, drink and leisure complex exists thanks to the vision of three brothers, Evan, Eoin and Bernard Doyle.
Below we outline the various strands that make up this very co ... more...
Set right in the heart of Roscommon town, overlooking the square, Mary and Eamonn Gleeson’s townhouse and restaurant provides just what every visitor requires: a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and wholesome food.
Over the last 25 years or so, t ... more...
From the moment you turn off the busy Nenagh - Borrisokane road, you enter a time warp. Margaret (née Mounsey) and David Mackenzie's home, Ashley Park, is one of those beautiful 18th century houses where all is elegance and comfort.
Dating back ... more...
Set in the grounds of Ashford Castle, with which it has been in common ownership since 2014,The Lodge enjoys one of the most beautiful locations in Ireland, with views down Lough Corrib and, adding interest in the foreground, Lisloughrey Quay with smal ... more...
At the heart of this impressive relatively new hotel there is indeed a castle and, although it does not have views of Lough Eske, the setting should not disappoint as it is surrounded by beautiful woodland and formal gardens.
With a history dating bac ... more...
Another of the unrivalled collection of fine Killarney hotels, this family-owned establishment is a charming older sister to the luxurious Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork city (see entry) and, more recently Great Southern Killarney, nearby.
Proprietors J ... more...
Named after an 11th century Norse King of Dublin who had close links with Howth, Aidan and Joan MacManus' striking harbourside establishment was stablished by leading chef Aidan MacManus as a fine dining restaurant in 1971.
It is now run by his son De ... more...
It used to be all about St Valentine's Day but now it's February the Month of Love, which makes a lot more sense - and why not extend that to Spring of Love…There’s great value to be found early season if you navigate around Easter and other public holidays, especially if you can take a midweek break. From pubs with rooms to five-star hotels, this micro-collection highlights just a few of the most desirable destinations around Ireland for twosomes (among others) and it includes ...
Give yourself a break and take off for a few days this winter - there are cosy and relaxing places all over Ireland to tempt you, and some fantastic value to be enjoyed off-season too. And with Valentine's coming up, maybe one of these would be perfect for that romantic treat...So browse through this gloriously diverse collection and take your pick...
Whether for Christmas, New Year or that lovely Twixmas gap between them, this can be the perfect time for a short break with - or as a respite from - family and friends. That in-between time often offers great value for a refreshing post-Christmas recovery break and some hotels have interesting pre-Christmas packages on offer too. Many venues are offering surprisingly competitive prices given the current economic circumstances, and some have retained (or even reduced) their prices from last ...
Autumn is perhaps the loveliest time of the year to enjoy gentle outdoor pursuits like woodland walks and foraging, and there are plenty of tempting places to stay that are surrounded by wonderful forested grounds or with parkland or gardens and beaches to visit nearby - and, perhaps, more challenging routes for dedicated walkers. Here are just ten of our favourites to think about…
What better way to spend a few days away in some of Irelands most stunning landscapes than a short break at one of our famous fishing hotels? And, by a happy chance, they are all lovely places for non-fishing partners to visit too….
A short break can do us all a power of good, and picking a destination that's only an hour or 90 minutes from home means less stress, more chilling time - and better value all round. So, especially if you're based in Dublin, why not try one of our picks for a quick break within easy striking distance of home?
With lengthening days and spring in the air, a short break away from cities can lift the spirits without breaking the bank. A hotel is a good bet early in the year, offering plenty of comfort and facilities if the weather is disappointing. To get the best rates, travel midweek if possible, give the special offers pages on hotel websites a good browse - and book direct. Here are some of our favourites to try.
While many are open all year, this is perhaps the perfect time for garden visits - and some of Ireland's loveliest gardens offer accommodation too, so why not try one (or more) of these gorgeous garden getaways this year...
Thinking of a family get-together in Ireland, or want to meet up somewhere interesting with old friends? Destinations that can cater separately for families and other groups often offer a particularly relaxing stay. Here are just a few of our favourites to tempt you…
10 of the very best places to eat, drink & stay throughout Ireland. We are blessed with some outstanding places to eat and stay in Ireland and these are unquestionably some of the very best – and they’re all beautifully located too.
Sweep your loved one off their feet and reconnect with nature with a celebration that’s full of luxury and romance at five-star Glenlo Abbey Hotel and its 138-acre estate.
This warmly welcoming family-run seaview hotel offers very comfortable accommodation and lovely food, especially seafood, while Casey's pub, which dates back to the 1800s, has a cosy old-world atmosphere (complete with live traditional music).
Escape to Ardtara Country House, a charming Victorian property set in beautiful rolling countryside in the heart of Northern Ireland and near the Causeway Coast.
This February, guests are invited to experience a romantic escape with a memorable fine dining experience from award-winning Executive Chef Meeran Manzoor's Tasting Menu at Rare at the delightful Blue Haven Hotel in picturesque Kinsale.
This lovely old-world Blue Book property is very busy in summer but it’s a really lovely place to stay in winter, when it is delightfully cosy – and their tempting off-peak offers in December and January are especially appealing.
Denotes genuine Irish food culture, ie special Irish food products/companies/producers, and highlights the best places to shop for regional and artisan ...
With a rich historical and maritime legacy, East Cork has a truly unique variety of attractions to offer the visitor.
It is a haven for family holidays with a huge range of activities and attractions to keep the whole family entertained for hours.
In this extensive county, the towns and villages have their own distinctive character. In West Cork, their spirit is preserved in the vigour of the landscape with the handsome coastline where the light of the famous Fastnet Rock swings across tumbling ocean and spray-tossed headland. The county is a repository of the good things of life, a treasure chest of the finest farm produce, and the very best of seafood, brought to market by skilled specialists.
The town of Killarney is where the Ring of Kerry begins and ends for many, among the lakes and mountains where they are re-establishing the enormous white-tailed sea eagle, has long been a magnet for visitors. Across the purple mountains from Killarney, the lovely little town of Kenmare in South Kerry is both a gourmet focus, and another excellent touring centre. As one of the prettiest places in Ireland, Kenmare puts the emphasis on civic pride.
That Galway Bay coastline in Co. Clare is where The Burren, the fantastical North Clare moonscape of limestone which is home to so much unexpectedly exotic flora, comes plunging spectacularly towards the sea around the attractive village of Ballyvaughan.
Connemara, the Land of the Sea, where earth, rock and ocean intermix in one of Ireland's most extraordinary landscapes, and is now as ever a place of angling renown - you're very quickly into the high ground and moorland which sweep up to the Twelve Bens and other splendid peaks, wonderful mountains which enthusiasts would claim as the most beautiful in all Ireland. Beyond, to the south, the Aran Islands are a place apart.
Rivers often divide one county from another, but Fermanagh is divided - or linked if you prefer - throughout its length by the handsome waters of the River Erne, both river and lake. Southeast of the historic county town of Enniskillen, Upper Lough Erne is a maze of small waterways meandering their way into Fermanagh from the Erne'e source in County Cavan.
Co Cavan shares the 667 m peak of Cuilcagh with neighbouring Fermanagh. No ordinary mountain, this - it has underground streams which eventually become the headwaters of the lordly River Shannon, Ireland's longest river that passes south through many counties before exiting at the mighty estuary in Limerick. A magnet for tourism now with boating, fishing, cycling and walking-a-plenty.
Between the sheltered bays at the foot of the Glens of Antrim, the sea cliffs of the headlands soar with remarkable rock formations which, on the North Coast, provide the setting for the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Giant's Causeway.
A selective companion guide to our famous broad-based online collection, the ‘glovebox bible’ includes a uniquely diverse range of Ireland's greatest places to ...