Following the success of his performance last year, Julian Lloyd Webber returns to Sheen Falls with a new beautiful programme of classical music.
One of the world’s most popular solo cellists; Julian has premiered more than 50 unique works for cello and has inspired new composition by composers such as Malcolm Arnold, Joaquin Rodrigo, James MacMillian and Philip Glass.
At Sheen Falls, Julian will perform favourite classics by Bach, Brahms, Faure, Saint Saens and Elgar, jazz greats Cleo Laine, Stephane Grappelli and Elton John in addition to works, of course, by his brother Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The Sheen Falls Lodge is a classically appointed country manor and is one of Ireland’s most popular 5 star properties. It is magnificently set overlooking the cascading waters of the Sheen Falls and the waters of Kenmare River with a backdrop of the mighty Cara Mountains just outside the colourful village of Kenmare in County Kerry. An atmosphere of soothing serenity permeates the Sheen Falls Lodge. Harmonious colours, sumptuous sofas and the warmth of a roaring log fire greet you in reception, while throughout resident’s lounges cozy comforts conspire to create an experience of relaxed luxury.

Sheen Falls Lodge is presenting a two night package with a recital each evening. Arriving on the Friday evening, guests will be offered the chance to meet the eminent musician for a drinks reception in the Drawing Room followed by a pre-dinner recital before a relaxing dinner in the elegant dining room, La Cascade Restaurant. On Saturday guests can explore Kenmare or enjoy some of the estate’s outdoor pursuits such as clay pigeon shooting or golf on one of the nearby courses. The evening begins with a tour of the hotel’s wine cellar and wine tasting which recently scooped the “Wine Experience of The Year” Gold Award at the Hotel & Catering Review Awards 2008 with sommelier, Damien Trinckquel. This will be followed with an early dinner in La Cascade restaurant prior to Julian’s musical performance. On Sunday, attune yourself to the refreshing river-side walks, entwining forest pathways and glistening waterfalls after a sumptuous breakfast.

Don’t miss Julian Lloyd Webber in this unique recital with renowned piano accompanist Pam Chowham.

Cost per person for 2 nights: €590 sharing a Deluxe Room.

At myguideIreland we are huge fans of Cork Airport and often receive reviews from travellers highlighting the ease of transit and the quality of the experience at Cork Airport.

We welcome the appointment of Gerry Walsh and wish hime every success in steering the airport to even greater success in the coming years.

1.
7 nights on the estate in one of Adare’s luxury Villas including a Rental Car for just $342/£195 per person when 4 people share or $684/£391 per person when 2 people share. read more

2.
7 days/6 nights touring Ireland including 2 nights in the historic Adare Manor House for just €573/£327 read more

Both packages include:

• Economy rental car including unlimited mileage, CDW, all fees and taxes.

• Map of Ireland.

• Shipping by FedEx of your accommodation vouchers

• Ireland discount booklet with $600 in admission concessions

Readmore on this ireland vacation offer

Since its foundation in 1979, Cork’s annual folk festival has given lovers of folk and traditional Irish music a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a feast of the highest qualtity music, song and dance.
The 2008 folk festival will feature artists, musician, dancers and singers from around Ireland, Britain and far beyond. The programme will include a huge range of musical traditions and styles from Salsa to Slides, from old-timey bluegrass to sean nós singing. Some of the highlights will include a concert with the West Kerry group, Beal Tuinne featuring Seamus Begley, Rita Connolly, Jim Murray and Shaun Davey at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and concerts with Salsa Celtica, a vibrant 11 piece world music fusion band from Edinburgh. Also appearing will be Michael McGoldrick, Ed Boys and John Joe Kelly, the ‘pride of the west’ with John Wynne & John McEvoy and the legendary Beara box player Finbarr Dwyer. Throughout the festival weekend, audiences can sample everything from the very best fiddle, accordion, pipes and flute players in Ireland to a giant open-air Céilí Mór with the Kilfenora Céilí Band. As usual the festival will feature concerts from the Cork Blues, Pipes’ and singers’ clubs, plus lectures, children’s events and a music trail featuring 40 free sessions.

Sponsors include Beamish, the Evening Echo, Failte Ireland and C103

Of these events the one grabbing most of the headlines is the Dublin Fringe Festival. Picking up where Edinburgh left off, The Fringe is Ireland’s showcase of visual and performance arts played out at established and makeshift venues throughout Dublin from September 6th to 21st

Read more on the Dublin Fringe Festival

A visit to Westport as part of an Ireland vacation or holiday will show the beauty that the town exudes.

Tidy towns initiative

The national TidyTowns competition was launched by Bord Fáilte (now Fáilte Ireland) in 1958 as a follow on from the National Spring Clean Campaign which ran from 1953 and 1957 as part of Tostal a tourism celebration of all things Irish. Bord Fáilte was restructured in 1995 and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government assumed ownership of TidyTowns and now organises the competition with the support of national sponsor SuperValu

The winners in other categories for 2008 were as follows:

Tidiest Large Urban Centre: Ennis, County Clare
Tidiest School: Duleek Boys NS, County Meath
Tidiest Village: Birdhill, County Tipperary
Tidiest small Town: Kenmare, County Kerry
Tidiest Large Town: Westport, County Mayo
Special award for contribution to ‘Tidy towns’ over 50 years: Glenties, County Donegal

This follows the announcement by Ryanair last week that it was cutting two routes out of Cork Airport including the Galsgow route.

Aer Arann, who also fly to Edinburgh from Cork, confirmed this morning that they will begin flying from Cork to Glasgow’s Prestwick airport from October 28. This ensures there is no break in service for travelers between the two airports and is great news for me :) (and for other people working for companies with offices in both Cork and Glasgow.)