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

How much can you eat? Try on your own, make up for it this year by gorging yourself until you’ve got pancake batter coming out your ears.

Recipe: Pancakes

100g flour
2 Eggs
200ml milk from West Cork pastures, mixed with 75ml sparkling water

1. Sift flour into a mixing bowl.
2. Make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it
3. Whisk well
4. Slowly add the milk and water, whisking as you go
5. Cook in a pan over a medium heat

Toppings

• Sugar and lemon juice. It is vitally important that the juice be from a plastic lemon. Otherwise it may as well be any other day of the week because it’s just not Pancake Tuesday without plastic lemon.
• Nutella. Nothing else. Okay, maybe ice cream. You’ll be bouncing off the walls for days.
• Bacon and maple syrup. Friend in work gave me a bottle of maple syrup from Canada, since all I seem to be able to find in Dublin is maple-flavored Golden Syrup.
• Blueberries. Awesome when they’re dropped into the batter as it cooks in the pan.

myguideIreland has many fine centrally loacted hotels to offer in Dublin such as the Davenport, The Shelbourne, The Morgan Hotel. Alternatively you can head south travelling through the historical towns of Kilkenny and Waterford. A visit to the wilds of West Cork or the scenic Ring of Kerry. You may choose to travel to the west of Ireland, visiting Westport, Connemara, the colorful Galway city, the barren bleak landscape of The Burren and the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Visitors travelling to Ireland either from Canada or North America will have plenty of options available to them and lots to see and experience while in Ireland.

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The “culinary desert” of Ireland does not exist any longer. People love to go out for food and are free to choose between a multiplicity of restaurants and a great variety of culinary delights. These days there are a huge number of international influences, which make the cuisine available on this wonderful isle more varied and even more delicious.

As a result of our history and born out of a need to keep the wolf from the door traditional Irish food was based on what people could grow themselves such as staples like potatoes and cabbage. In a time when people had little food to eat and what they eat needed to keep them satisfied for a long periods of time.

That has all changed now so why not take the opportunity to be surprised and enjoy the new variety available around our wonderful country!

You can take a culinary trip through Ireland: start off in Dublin where you get the most unusual pizza I ever had; then onto Cork to the Hayfield Manor for the most exquisite breakfast buffet; to Kinsale for the best fish, the best smoked salmon you buy in Castletownshend, the most romantic dinner you can enjoy at the Glin Castle, child friendliest service you experience at the Adare Manor, the best cooked breakfast incl. champagne sorbet you enjoy at Sheedys in Lisdoonvarna and the best chips (Irish) / French Fries (according to my daughter Alexandra) you will be served at the Ardagh Hotel in Clifden. You see the variety is huge and nobody has to eat the same food every day.

BON APPETIT!

With  increasing  air traffic in and out of all the Irish airports and particularly Dublin the only way of currently operating a full service is with overtime by people working their days off and their rest days to keep the service going.

After spending the night in a very comfortable hotel room provided by the brand new Clarion Hotel in Cork my colleague Sylvie and I caught an early morning flight from Cork to Dublin with Aer Arann.

After partaking of a large coffee at Dublin airport we were met by the girls from CMV, Alison, Dara, Marta and Orla. From there we boarded our Kerry Coaches tour bus and were introduced to our driver, Gary as well as travel agents who had come from as far away as New York, Italy, France and Belgium.

Our first stop was Cabra Castle just outside the village of Kingscourt in Co. Cavan. I must say I’m somewhat biased when it comes to castle hotels as staying in a castle is such a once in a lifetime opportunity and a truly special experience. The one thing I would say about Cabra Castle is that most of the rooms are actually outside the castle in the courtyard area. However they are beautifully furnished to the highest standard and you have the added comfort of the on-site security guard – a beautiful Irish Wolfhound called Oscar.

After some gorgeous scones and more coffee from our hosts at Cabra Castle it was back on the bus for a and onto our next stop at Errigal Country House near the village of Coothill. I must say I personally did not like the décor in the rooms although they were certainly large in dimensions. Unfortunately however they only had double beds, even in the honeymoon suite and my overall impression was of a lot of brown. On the plus side the spa facilities were fabulous and the restaurant was a lovely warm room where they provided us with a gorgeous buffet lunch which exceeded all expectations. The service throughout the hotel was warm and friendly and I also noticed that they had a very good selection of wines.

After being waved off by the friendly staff at Errigal House it was time for some serious fun so we headed to the Causey Farm Experience just outside Kells in Co. Meath where we were to be Irish for the day. Now for the Irish amongst us like myself I’m sure we were all thinking there was nothing new for us here but I have to admit even I learned something new! While being a great fan of watching our national sport of Hurling I had never actually tried it myself and our lesson from Matt gave me a new appreciation for the skills involved. And while I bake bread myself I got a few new tips from our traditional soda bread making lesson. I’d also never seen a sugan rope (a traditional rope made from straw) being made nor had I seen sheepdogs gather a flock of sheep as speedily as Matt’s dogs managed it. I’d also never seen an American milk a cow! And it was amazing how quick and easy it was to learn to play the Bodhran (an Irish drum) under Deirdre’s expert guidance.

The Murtaghs who run the Causey Farm Experience, have been farming in this area for a thousand years. Nowadays they have a beef cattle and sheep farm with a small herd of Connemara ponies.

There were originally ten in the family – Tom, Lilly and their eight grown-up children – seven sisters (Deirdre, Angela, Nuala, Camilla, Della Bernadette and Una) and one brother (Matt). Most are now settled and there are eight grandchildren. Deirdre, Angela and Matt are involved in the Be Irish For A Day business. Some of the other things you can experience include Traditional Turf Cutting, Ceili Dancing Class, Tractor and Trailer Ride and if you are there at the right time even an Irish wake.

After a great afternoon of fun and games it was back to the Headfort Arms in Kells to wash off the smells of the farmyard and get ready for dinner. After a speedy bath I reconvened with the rest of the group in the bar for a welcome glass of bubbly. After a tour of the spa facilities we made our way to our private dining room for the most wonderful dinner. The duck was succulent and the stick toffee pudding was melt in the mouth! After dinner we were joined by Deirdre from Causey Farms along with 2 of her friends and they proceeded to entertain us with some great Irish music and song. I retired to my room at the witching hour of midnight and proceeded to sleep like a log in complete comfort.

After a speedy breakfast the next morning we were all back on the bus and ready for road by 9am, some of the party looking a little the worse for wear having sampled the delights of the Headfort Arms on site nightclub. Our first stop on today’s itinerary was Lough Rynn Castle in Co. Leitrim, the newest addition to the Manor House Hotels. This was by far the most luxurious of the hotels we had seen so far and struck me as a wonderful location for a wedding or indeed for anyone who wanted to get away from it all and experience the peace and tranquility of a country manor estate. It is also a mecca for fishermen and golfers alike while their lady companions can while away the hours in the state of the art spa facilities. As for the rooms, pure luxury – I wanted to check in there and then. Sadly we only had time to sample the divine shortbread cookies before we were once more on our way.

Our next stop was Knockranny House Hotel in Westport. Here I was on more familiar territory, not because I had been there before but because I had booked many guests into this hotel and in turn heard many good things when they reported back to me afterwards. And may I say I was not disappointed. Knockranny House has everything you could want from a hotel although I was particularly taken with the surprisingly spacious spa, spas in Ireland tend to be a little cramped as a rule and the Salveo spa at Knockranny was anything but. We also got to see the wedding facilities all set to go as they were expecting the bride and groom shortly after our departure, in fact I was rather disappointed that the champagne at the front door wasn’t for us after all! After seeing the wonderful suites that Knockranny has to offer (more like a house than a suite!) we had a wonderful lunch before meandering down the hill into the town of Westport.

Westport is a beautiful little town nestled in the foothills of Croagh Patrick with views of the many islands that are sprinkled liberally in Clew Bay, the largest of which is Clare Island which makes for a great day trip. In the heart of the town is the Clew Bay Hotel a quaint country hotel which forms an integral part of the town itself with it’d busy restaurant and coffee shop. It is a family friendly hotel to the point where when I went to find the manager I found him with a baby in arms. When I enquired whose it was it turned out to be a guest staying at the hotel so like I say family friendly at every level. They even have a playroom off of the bistro dining room, a genius idea I’m sure you’ll agree. Another point to mention that rather amazed me is the beauty rooms at the Clew Bay feature a make-up artist trained by MAC and as such can offer their guests MAC products, not something you expect to find in a rural country hotel, that’s for sure! After more coffee and petit fours we spent a happy hour shopping up a storm in Westport.

After our afternoons activities it was back on the bus for a snooze as we retraced our steps back to Kiltimagh, our destination for the evening. After a quick tour of the Cill Aoidan Court Hotel in the centre of the village a couple of us waved goodbye to the bus and strolled the short distance to the Park Hotel which lies on the outskirts of Kiltimagh. The walk was badly needed after all the good food we’d been indulging in along the way.

We were greeted at the Park Hotel with Irish Coffees while our bags were taken up to our rooms. Then after a quick freshen up we were eating again, this time dinner in the restaurant at the Park Hotel, Kiltimagh where the oysters were the best I’ve tasted in a very long time. The evening was spent relaxing in the bar listening to the resident band and watching those brave enough to take to the floor for a waltz. I’m not sure what time it was when someone suggested trying the outdoor hot-tubs but due to the late hour we thought better of it and retired to bed.

Sunday morning dawned far too quickly and I was reluctant to leave my very comfortable and cosy bed. By a happy coincidence I was getting very familiar with the beds in the Park Hotel Kiltimagh as I had spent the previous Friday sleeping off the effect of a transatlantic flight in the very same hotel. This is due to the hotels close proximity to Ireland West Airport Knock where I had flown in from JFK. It was the ideal place to sleep a day away and get back onto the local time zone. The hotel also provides a free shuttle service to the airport, a nice way to avoid airport parking charges.

Luckily I had been organized the night before and as I was beautifying myself in preparation for the day I was greeted by the happy arrival of room service with my breakfast. After relaxing over my egg and toast it was back on the bus and off to Ballina.

Just outside Ballina is the Mount Falcon Country House Hotel and I have to tell you I fell in love with this property. It is set on an estate of 100 acres of landscaped gardens and (my favorite) woodlands. The swimming pool is surrounded by glass and extends out into the woodland area allowing you to feel like your swimming in a fairy woodland while still staying inside in the cosy warmth. The restaurant is set in the original kitchens of the old house and features a specially designed menu based on that mine of information, Mrs Beeton! The River Moy runs through the estate giving access to some of the best salmon fishing in Ireland. In addition to the hotel there are also self catering properties on the estate in three unique locations, the woodlands, the courtyard, and the lakeside. Above all the Mount Falcon Estate has a unique feeling about it that you have somehow come home.

Reluctantly we waved goodbye to Mount Falcon, re-boarded our bus and had a snooze while Gary drove us to our final destination, the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon. Here we had our last meal and made our farewells before heading back to Dublin airport and our flight home to Cork.

Overall it was an enjoyable and informative FAM trip and I’m happy to say it has expanded my knowledge of these midland counties and the accommodations available therein. A big thank you to the girls at CMV and we’ll look forward to seeing them again some time in the future.

These trips are essential in enabling me and my colleagues to improve our knowledge of the country and to give the best advice to our Guests about their dream trips to Ireland. We were invited this year to visit hotels in the counties of Meath, Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon. These counties are largely undiscovered in Ireland but are well worth a visit to experience their beautiful scenery and rich history.

After a one hour flight between Cork and Dublin, our group is waiting for us in Dublin airport. The first introductions done, we get on the coach and we take the direction of the M1 to the North. Less than 1h30 later, we arrive at our first stopover, the Cabra Castle Hotel in Kingscourt, Co.Cavan. Cabra Castle Hotel boasts a proud history dating as far back as 1760. It is set on 100 acres of gardens and parklands and nearby the Dun a Ri forest park. The lane going to the castle edges the 9-hole golf course and offers fantastic views on the castle’s fortification and towers. Still impressed by this entry, the staff of the hotel guides us through corridors and rooms decorated with period style and paintings. A few rooms are located within the main house but most of them surround the courtyard in the former stables and servant quarters. In these ones, you can see stones in the walls dating back the 14th century. And you could maybe glimpse the ghost of a young woman servant who is said to haunt the castle in search of her lost love…

Later we head towards the northern part of county Cavan, known as the “Lake Country” with no less than 365 lakes and as many rivers and streams! It is the perfect destination for nature lovers and fishermen of course. Cruising is also popular. You will find here the sources of the majestic River Shannon and the river Erne.

We lunch at the hotel Errigal Country House located in Cootehill. It is a modern style hotel, newly built. I would rather recommend it to travelers wishing to be in the countryside with the wide choice of outdoor activities available: walking, cycling, horse riding and any types of fishing. You can also treat yourself in the new treatment rooms of the hotel.

We spend later the afternoon in a farm, “Causey Farm Experience” located in Fordstown near the town of Kells in County Meath. With their motto “Be Irish for a Day”, the Causey family invites us to discover many Irish activities. In one of the barns where is burning a peat fire with its unique smell, we begin by an Irish dance, the “Siege of Ennis”. In rows of four people, we learn the first steps and the atmosphere becomes soon very relaxed. The energy and good mood of our hosts are communicative. We go then to the kitchen where we prepare the “Brown Soda Bread” made with buttermilk and plain flour. After cooking, we head toward the field for a “hurling” training. Hurling is a sport of gaelic origin and is very popular in Ireland. It is played with sticks and a ball on a bigger playing field than the soccer one. We conclude the experience by a lesson of “Bodhran” which is an Irish drum made with a goatskin, and finally by a last dance.

We spend our first evening at the Headfort Arms Hotel located in the heart of the town of Kells. Kells is mostly renowned for the “Book of Kells” considered as the most decorated illuminated manuscript to survive from the early medieval period. It is now shown at Trinity College in Dublin but you can see one of its copies in Kells heritage centre.

Headfort Arms Hotel, in operation for over a century, is owned by the Duff family for more than 35 years now. You will receive a warm welcome there. You can just relax at the bar of the hotel or in the Spa with its organic products, and eat a fine dinner at the restaurant “Vanilla Pod” many times awarded. I particularly appreciated the dinner and the party that followed with traditional Irish music. My room was large with a little patio, a fireplace, a flat screen TV and a very spacious bathroom. It’s the perfect location for the travelers wanting to break their journey when travelling to/from the Airport (an hour or so). It is also a good base for exploring the Boyne Valley and the passage graves of Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange.