Set in its own gardens high up in the hills, Olive and the late Paddy O’Gorman made their spacious farmhouse into just the kind of place that visitors dream of finding when they come to Ireland.
It makes a very comfortable and hospitable base fo ... 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...
If you meet the gorgeous 'welcoming committee' Cockapoo, Florence, when checking in, you're sure to be smitten by this unusual hotel. Friendly greetings don't get any warmer - and she has the cheerful reception staff well trained too.
Formerly the Tem ... more...
Owned since 2013 by the Kang family of Xiu Lan Hotels, who also own the Kingsley Hotel in Cork city, this is one of Ireland's most desirable destinations.
A beautiful tree-lined driveway curves its way onto this private island in East Cork setting the ... 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...
Set in two acres of gardens near University College Cork, the city's premier hotel provides every comfort and a remarkable level of privacy and seclusion, just a mile from the city centre.
Hayfield Manor has the feel of a large period house, and is ma ... more...
Ballybunion has long been a popular seaside resort, welcoming visitors from near and far since the 19th century. And, since 1994, many have chosen to stay at Teach de Broc, a luxuriously appointed modern guesthouse and restaurant located alongside Ball ... more...
Ireland’s grandest castle hotel, with a history going back to the early 13th century, Ashford Castle is set in 350 acres of beautiful parkland on the shores of Lough Corrib.
Grandeur, formality and tranquillity are the essential characteristics, ... more...
Set amidst beautiful scenery, with the River Maine running through the grounds, this former gentleman’s residence is one of Northern Ireland’s best known country house hotels and, following major redevelopment, it emerged much larger and mo ... more...
At the heart of Frank and Mary Slattery’s sensitively extended Victorian house just off the Ring of Kerry lies a hunting lodge once owned by a Lord Brocket (of the famed Brocket Hall country estate in Hertfordshire) - and he chose well, as it is ... more...
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.
Spring may be a clichéd time for all things romantic, but there can never be a bad time to plan a twosome break. Here are just a few of our favourite romantic destinations in Ireland to get you thinking...
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.
Park Hotel Kenmare provides a serene place to escape from the demands of everyday life and connect with nature. From meandering cycles along the roads around Kenmare, walks in the gardens and ancient woodlands to sea swimming in the Atlantic there is so much to discover.
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 ...