Culture Lover on a Budget in Dublin? Here's a great place to stay!

3 galleries, 1 museum, 2 dance performances, 4 cafes, 1 mexican eatery; 24hrs. Whew! #Dublin you're fab! Blog posts soon :)
— Susan(@VibrantIreland) January 23, 2013

Dublin can be the perfect place for a culture vulture on a budget.

 To get you started, in this-the first of my Dublin posts, I'll tell you about a stylish, brilliantly located hostel where I stayed January 2013. Oh yes!- the new breed of hostels are not just for drinking-culture vultures, they are for anyone who wants to free up cash to explore & experience the city. 

Inside my 4-bed room, & the downstairs common areas at Generator Hostel in Dublin

Lighthouse cinema across from Generator Hostel Dublin

I stayed in a 4-bed private room at Generator Dublin and I found the hostel immaculate, friendly, and well designed. I was very pleased to see the bathroom was actually in the room, as in my experience at other hostels that has not always been the case. (FYI, I chose Generator, & paid for it myself. I was so pleased I then contacted Generator Hostel, & wrote a post on Dublin tips, on their site.) 

 As you can see from the photos above, everything was spotless, & there was plenty of space, too. The large, padlockable, storage boxes under the beds will fit even quite large suitcases & bags. I also was thrilled with the 2 electrical sockets on the bed, plus the little light. There's a semi-enclosure at that end of the bed, too, so your light won’t shine out sideways and disturb the person in the bed parallel to you. Clever!

Generator hostel is located in Smithfield- in a lovely section in the square near the Jameson Distillery, and across from the Lighthouse Cinema (often art films here!) There is also a gourmet Fresh food store across the way, so you could pop in there & get some items (not the cheapest grocery shop, but tasty & less than restaurant food) for a ‘picnic lunch’ on the square in nice weather. You could then rent a Dublin Bike (a helpful post on using them is here) and explore the city. Generator Dublin is also just 1 minute’s walk from the LUAS (light city rail)-- brilliant for wet days. Note: This northside LUAS doesn’t yet connect directly with the LUAS on the southside of the river Liffey.

Generator's just a minute's walk round the corner of Smithfield LUAS stop. And here are the Dublin bikes just down from it

The LUAS will also bring you up to Heuston train station, which is just a 5 minute walk to the Irish Museum of Modern Art. From the hostel you can easily walk to the National Museum at Collins Barracks, or in to one of the shopping districts at Jervis, & then cross the river into Temple Bar. Those are just a few examples of what is nearby. I found Generator's location excellent- it was central enough to get most anywhere, but wasn't located in a particularly noisy part of the city. 

The gardens at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

I'm definitely going to stay here again on my Dublin visits, and I've booked in already for during The Dublin Dance Festival. There are 2 things for you to be aware of though- the hostel does have a nightclub, so it may be prudent to ask for a room away from it if you are not partaking :-) Generator is large- I was on the 4th floor- so it shouldn't be difficult to be housed away from the action. 

Secondly, like many Dublin hostels, if you are staying in a dorm room, unless you pay a bit more for female only, dorms are mixed sex. I've stayed in such often, but I traveled with friends-- women travelling solo may not feel totally at ease in mixed sex dorms with men they don't know. 

Dublin can be an expensive city, but don't worry- by staying in a lovely & well located hostel like Generator, you will save money- and many museums & galleries in Dublin are free! Additionally, there are smaller performance venues where you can often see theatre or dance inexpensively, plus there are several places to eat very tasty food & drink good coffee without breaking the bank. I'll tell you about some of them in an upcoming post. You'll have a great time here as a culture vulture on a budget. Enjoy Dublin!

Disclaimer: I will now be getting a future stay at Generator free in thanks for my writing a post on their site- but my stay & opinion was not in any way sponsored by Generator.)

My photo of an old postcard, at the wonderful Little Museum of Dublin, Ireland

Where To Stay In Kilkenny City & County

Kilkenny Castle, Ireland. Looking up from the rose garden.

 Kilkenny- a county of great food, an exciting arts scene, 1,000's of years of history, and very friendly people. It is a beautiful, special part of Ireland, with rolling, river filled countryside, charming towns, & a splendid medieval city. I've gotten an enquiry as to where to stay B&B in Kilkenny, & I wanted to share my answers with you in a blog post. 

Kilkenny City

If you don't have a car, or want to stay B&B as close as possible to everything in Kilkenny City, Carriglea B&B looks to be a winner. It is in a lovely area near Kilkenny Castle and you should be able to reach all the delights of Kilkenny City on foot. Though I've not personally visited, nor know any who have, their TripAdvisor visitor comments are excellent.  

Graiguenamanagh bridge near Waterside Guesthouse 

If you've a car and would like to sample the delights of the small towns and villages, as well as the city, I've great ideas for you. 

Small Towns

The first is along the river Barrow in the medieval village of Graiguenamanagh, home to the ancient Duiske Abbey. Around a 25 min drive southeast from Kilkenny City, Waterside Guesthouse is a stone built, restored mill, and all of the rooms have a view of the river. I've been inside here, and it is lovely and cosy. 

Also, I've worked with the owners Brian & Bridget on The Town of Books Festival, and they are good fun. Brian is a real outdoors & nature enthusiast, and Graiguenamanagh is a terrific base for walking, biking, canoeing & so on. Their website will tell you more. For more on what I've written on Graiguenamanagh,click.

The second village area accommodation is near Stoneyford, about a 15 min drive south of Kilkenny City. I've not been to Lawcus House, but Will who writes at The Cook's Belly has been twice, and he writes about it here. Stoneyford is also home to the delicious, award winning Knockdrinna cheese, and their farm shop & cafe, which I've written about here. If they're serving their pork sambo, get it! Yum!

Kells Priory is also near Lawcus House & Stoneyford- don't miss it!

Rural Clochan, 5 Star 

My final suggestion is located 10 minutes drive south from Graiguenamanagh, but if you'd like to really treat yourself, it is perfect! Ballilogue Clochan is a 5 star guesthouse in an idyllic rural farming area near the river Nore. 

The reason I know it so well is that we lived in (rented) a part of the Clochan that wasn't visitor accommodation. Also, my husband Terry helped restore the main guest buildings- they used to simply be a series of stone barns.

The welcoming owners, Pat & Mark, have created a perfect blend of modern design and traditional charm in the guest buildings, and Mrs Meaney's Cottage Museum is a real treasure of how Irish living used to be.

Looking out the window of Mre Meaney's Cottage, Ballilogue Clochan, Kilkenny, Ireland

  *Do stop by to visit  Mrs Meaney's Cottage Museum  even if you are not staying at Ballilogue.* 

To see more posts on Kilkenny City & County, click here

If you have any questions, or would like to ask me for suggestions on specific interests you have, please do so in the comments, or email me at:  hello @ vibrantireland.com

I'll do my best to give you any tips!

Enjoy Kilkenny!

Friday the end of the world? Go to Winterval while you can!

What? 

Friday is the end of the world? Right so, better go to Winterval while you can! 

 Taking my own advice, I'm gathering up some friends to go have a bang-up time in Waterford. The Irish home of Winterval puts on fantastic, award winning festivals, & if you're tempted, I've a few tips for your visit.

Dooley's hotel, Waterford City, Ireland. Big rooms, & big info binder :-)

To really enjoy the festivities, consider staying overnight. In September Waterford puts on the Harvest Festival, and for 2012 I was invited to be part of its blogger's tour. I was kindly put up in Dooley's hotel, and now I'm returning (on my own money) to take advantage of their large double-twin rooms.

      

Why I'm returning to Dooley's:

 Location:  Easy to find. On the quay; a handy base for walking anywhere in the city centre. 

 Value: I'm sharing the large double-twin room, with full Irish breakfast for under 40€ pp for 2.

Helpfulness: Staff cheerful and eager to assist. Binder full of local info in the room.

It is, of course, very clean- so important!
Update: when I checked in, Dooley's said that the room would be comp. (That wasn't pre-arranged, & not why I went back to Dooley's.) 
That was fab, & it allowed us some extra funds to spend in Waterford- which we did! :-D

Bodega in Waterford City, Ireland. Great fun, food, & drink!

 I can't comment on Dooley's breakfast, as I was a bit, ahem, unhungry after a wonderful evening of delicious local-food tasting platters and wine, craft beer & cider at Bodega resuaurant. (I know, I know- my sampling of all those types of drink was not well thought out!) We're back at Bodega this visit, but I'll be smarter. There's too much to enjoy at Winterval to have a sore head! (PS another place I've loved eating in in Waterford is Emiliano's.)

A  Sample Winterval to-see list 

• The Waterford Illuminates light show  Free. At Cathedral Square, til 23 Dec. Shows each hour on the hour from 5-10pm (Thurs & Sun last show 9pm) 

• The Viking Christmas Experience Free, Greyfriars Chruch.  Fri-Sun noon-4pm, Tues-Thurs 11am-2pm ''The settlement will be filled with the sights and sounds (and some smells) of Viking society. From authentic cooking utensils, to swords and shields to work and craft tools,it’s the closest you’ll ever get to life as a Viking!''
• The Toy Museum Free, City Hall. 11am-6pm Toys old & new since the 1930s. Nostalgia!
• A Georgian Christmas  €5, Bishop's Place. Mon- Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm 

On the day of the 'End of The World' ;-) go out in style with music, tea & mince pies at:

The Early Byrds 

Renaissance music in costume

Friday 21st December 8pm

''The Early Byrds are a group of musicians from Dublin and the South-East who have a love of early music and play and sing music from the Renaissance era in period costumes. Come and experience a taste of the 17th Century in the historic St Patrick's Church in Waterford.''

Tickets available on the door €10, €5 conc.

Tea and mince pies included.

The Georgian experience tour at Bishops Palace, Waterford City, Ireland- tis very good

Yep,you guessed it; these folks from The (non Christmas version) Georgian Experience tour are looking quite concerned about the end of the world!

Seriously, I did the tour in September, and tis entertaining & interesting. The house is full of treasures, and with the tour you learn the back-story from the characters who lived at the time.

During Winterval the cafe at Bishop's Palace will be offering authentic Georgian food as well as its normal fare. I've eaten here twice and it has been quite tasty- I'm looking forward to seeing what's on the menu now.

I've not mentioned the craft workshops, markets, Santa's Grotto and more for children & adults-- go browse what all is on! Winterval runs until 23 December 2012- click http://www.winterval.ie/    

Have a great time at Winterval-  don't worry, the Earth will still be around on Saturday :-) 

Don't forget to eat a Blaa! 

    For more posts on Waterford, click here.

Enemy territory!- the lovely village of Cong, Ireland

Lough Corrib, Cong, Ireland

  Enemy territory! Yes, Cong on the Galway/Mayo border (where the John Wayne film The Quiet Man was filmed,) was enemy territory for Kilkenny folk on Sunday, the 9th of September, 2012; it was the All-Ireland hurling final of Galway vs Kilkenny. 

  But as we had won a Secret Sunday package from Lisloughrey Lodge, located by Lough Corrib, we braved the sea of Galway flags and had a 24 hour visit to this lovely part of Ireland.

Settling in for the hurling match

The match was kicking off at 3.30, and we arrived at the lodge in time to settle in to their Quay Bar in a prime telly-viewing position. The remaining guests from the last night's local wedding were still around and started filtering in.Yep- Galway supporters.
Our room was just getting the final touches, so we could only drop off our bags; there was no possibility of hiding our Kilkenny cheering by watching in there. Uh oh! Ahh, no- actually I'm just being dramatic; we've always found hurling fans to be quite respectful of the opposing supporters. And so it was at this match- we all enjoyed great banter with each other. The match was exciting & close the whole way through, and ended in a draw! It was win-win for us, really, as we didn't have to feel rude celebrating if Kilkenny won, or feel dejected while all around us celebrated if Galway won. Perfect. Plus, the pints in The Quay Bar were good :-)

Lough Corrib, down from Lisloughrey Lodge

After the match we went for a little wander before dinner at Lisloughrey's Wildes restaurant. (Which turned out to be our top dinner of 2012! I MUST do a post..) You can see the lough from the lodge, & we headed down to the small quay there, snapped photos, & made a note to do the historic Lough Corrib cruise in the morning. (365 days a yr,trips 2 times a day.) Then we drove the few kilometers into Cong village.

I wasn't sure what to expect, thinking the village might just be touristy tat about The Quiet Man, which neither of us had seen, although Terry's Dad had actually worked on the movie. In fact, he had a spooky experience during that work, when he stayed in Ashford Castle. Have a listen to what happened:

 Well! Luckily for us, Cong was quiet enough, but not spooky or lifeless! As it was the evening, there were no tourist buses, but there were some folk enjoying the nice weather & the outdoor seating at the many inviting pubs. The village itself  has had a bit of a spruce up thanks to the local folk in Tidy Towns, according to Susan at Lady's Buttery Irish art & crafts shop, and Cong really is gorgeous! There were flowers in boxes, baskets & beds- and not just bedding plants- beautiful & bee-friendly perennial plants, too. Many of the old houses & buildings that were empty had been painted cheerful colours & decked out in flowers, so that before speaking with Susan we'd had no idea they were empty. Well done! 

Look how the water goes right under the building in the middle pic!

Generally, myself & Terry are not peeps who do much shopping, but we got a few things in Cong at Lady's Buttery (named after a cave where local women used to store butter.) The owner Susan was happy to let us take a few photos of the shop, where her husband Robert also sells his paintings. He was also involved in the painting of the buildings mentioned above; I wonder can we entice him to Graig ;-) Speaking of Graiguenamanagh, I only bought 1 book in Cong's intriguing Rare & Recent Bookshop because our Town Of Books Festival is on in 2 weeks. Me buying more books is like bringing coals to Newcastle! Though I was tempted, especially by the nature & travel/adventure books from the 1950's on back, my weakness...

Lady's Buttery, full of treasures & Terry modelling his Aran jumper purchase

Robert let us know that a good coffee was to be had next door to their shop, at The Hungry Monk Cafe. (Always good to get the inside scoop!) He was right; they had nice coffee, and a lovely fresh scone, too. What was also very nice was the big warm 'Hello!' we got upon entering the cafe, even though the place was quite busy. (We did our shopping visit in the morning, so this was about 11.15am--it seemed to be just about the time the tour buses start arriving, so if you want to avoid the bus crowds, it seems early morning or later afternoon are quieter.)

We liked what we saw of Cong on our short visit, & we also fit in a wander around the atmospheric Cong Abbey- which I'll tell you about in another post! 

lovely scone & coffee at The Hungry Monk, Cong, Ireland

I think Cong deserves more than a flying visit; there are walks, Ashford Castle, the Lough Corrib cruise that we we too full of breakfast to take (!) and more in the area besides. The village is charming, especially with the sprucing up that was done, and it would be a pity to just rush around it bumping into people. Head in early, stroll slowly around and enjoy the scenery & history, pop in to the wee shops and museums that interest you, and then stop & enjoy a coffee or pint as you watch the world go by or chat with people. Cong is a slice of charm (ok, idealized, perhaps, but still charming) and is nice to just relax into it & not rush off. Save the rushing off for the middle of the day in summer, & escape any bus tourist hordes by doing a hike or walk further afield. The tourist office is helpful, and I believe they have a booklet or such to guide you to places associated with The Quiet Man if you are into the movie. There are lots of gently charming places in Ireland, it is true, and Cong is certainly one of them- so think about it if you are considering visiting the Galway/Mayo area. 

Yes, we only did a flying visit :-) Must go back for the falconry ;-)

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Mrs Meaney's Traditional Cottage Museum

Beauty, History, & Fun!

September's sunshine has been a welcome joy after the wettest & cloudiest summer in Ireland for many a year. Last weekend we got out & enjoyed it at a real hidden gem- Mrs. Meaney's Cottage Museum at the gorgeous, special, Ballilogue Clochan.

Now open on weekends serving tea, coffee & homemade cakes, the cottage is a joy, very lovingly restored under the guidance of Pat McCarthy who had great affection for the late Mrs. Meaney.

Her cottage is part of the clochan, often translated as 'farm town'- a traditional small group of homes, farms & even little shops clustered together in the Irish countryside. Mrs Meaney's cottage dates back to the 1700s, and is a treasure well worth seeking out, regardless of the tasty weekend cakes & coffee! 

the fabulous old hearth in Mrs Meaney's- still works!

the stairs to the sleeping loft now display crafts

I should add a disclaimer here-- we used to live in one of the old stone barns in the Clochan, and my husband was the project manager & general labourer for the renovation of the main Inn building- another set of old stone barns. We've seen the love & care that has gone in to the development of the whole Ballilogue Clochan, and think it is a really special place to stay over in if you can't get enough of the charm of the clochan! The Inn is fabulous; a wonderful mix of the traditional and modern, and of course Pat & Mark are fantastic hosts. Lots of the jams & such for sale in the shop are made from their garden, as well as in the cooking for the Inn.

Mrs Meaney's Cottage, Ireland

Out to the Golden Fields

After cups of very good coffee, slices of  sinfully good chocolate cake, & a jar of locally sourced & made Ballilogue honey, you might want to hit the great outdoors and burn off some calories. The whole Ballilogue/Graiguenamanagh/Inistioge area is perfect for strolling or being even more active, with walks, hills, and rivers galore.

We collected our four dogs from home, and headed out to a hilltop field for a bit of fun under the warm September sunshine. September is a brilliant month to visit Ireland/staycation in Ireland as the weather is often at its best, lots of festivals are on, but crowds are less. Here in Graiguenamanagh, for example, the Town of Books festival is on 21-23 Sept 2012, & the week of 10-16 Sept the Waterford Harvest festival is on- just a half hour drive away. (If you click the links you'll find out a bit more.)

We had a great bit of craic playing in the fields, take a wee minute & have a watch. Enjoy! ;-)

Absolute Bliss at 1 Pery Square! Where to Stay in Ireland

light floods in to the beautiful Vanderkiste room

Absolute Bliss!

If you are looking to treat yourself, Limerick's Georgian quarter gem at 1 Pery Square is a great choice! Maybe you hadn't thought about visiting Limerick, but we found that Limerick City was a good base for exploring the West, and is an interesting place in its own right. (As rural folk, we tend to stay in cities on hols- just for the change.) For my birthday we splurged & booked the 2 night Gourmet Getaway package (great value, you get so much!) and every minute of it was wonderful. We took one of the period rooms, the Vanderkiste, which I highly recommend. Staying in such a gorgeous Georgian house it seemed to make sense to pay that little bit extra to stay in one of the period rooms, and it was so worth it!
(Tip: as 1 Pery Square is a listed building there are only stairs to the period rooms.)

Out to the garden terrace, or up the stairs to the period rooms

The room was spacious and beautiful, looked out onto the park, & the bed was incredibly comfy. The roll top slipper bath was inviting, & the excellent shower was large and very powerful. We also loved the peppermint & lavender bath items- natural smelling; not cloying or fake-y. Everything was, of course, scrupulously clean.

The Vanderkiste room, a few of the Drawing room & bar; 1 Pery Square

Dinner: 

Dinner, wine, and after dinner port was included in our package, and we enjoyed every single bite and sip in the lovely dining room. From starter to dessert the food at Pery's Brasserie One was full of fantastic flavour, interesting, and cooked perfectly. The service was superb, never hovering, but always there just as you may need it- attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. In fact, we both agreed that ALL the staff at 1 Pery were incredibly welcoming and helpful.-- the whole team was excellent; genuine and warm. Juan in particular was so helpful at dinner, and assisted my husband the next day at Pery's Wine Shop, picking out some delicious bottles to take home.

Wines from Pery's Wine Shop

Gleaming Clean!
Hubby & I also had the funny experience of coming out of the respective restaurant toilets, looking at each other & hesitantly saying: ''Was that the cleanest restroom you have ever seen??'' I'm not exaggerating- on the night we were there you could have eaten your dinner there-- it GLEAMED! (and, no, we hadn't drank more than a glass of wine yet!) 5 stars for cleanliness, and an extra 6th star because it was so shiny clean :-)

Breakfast

We also had breakfasts included in our package, and once again everything was tasty and service was good. The menu isn't massively extensive like Hayfield Manor's but we had no complaints. I loved the honeycomb with my porridge. (see photo)

Brasserie 1 breakfast & dinner, 1 Pery Square

Bar, & Terrace Patio

One evening we had a drink on the garden terrace, which was a nice little oasis of herbs & plants- very inviting on a mild evening. The next evening was cooler so we had a few drinks in the bar- a cosy spot. Terry had a very tasty pint of Guinness, & I had a lovely French Martini- recommended by Juan as I wasn't sure what I felt like having. We had great chat with Niamh, who was working the bar and connected reception; another example of the excellent staff-- we really felt as if we were guests in her home, not that she was there because it was her job. Wonderful! I think that this is what a small boutique hotel is about- not just stylish rooms and good food, but a genuine, person to person experience.

Spa

Also as part of the package we had use of the thermal suites in the spa. Oh, it was bliss! If I'd realized how beautiful and relaxing this would be we'd have gone loads of times instead of just the day we were leaving. Don't make that mistake! The spa is just gorgeous- candlelit, stone walls, lots of treatments available..you could happily spend ages in it. My absolute favourite of the different thermal rooms on offer was the 'herbal cocoon,' which has a dryer type of heat, and the most gorgeous amber-ish aroma. The showers were once again powerful and enjoyable, and we had a nice chat with lovely Tracy on reception as she showed us what else was available.
Tip: if you are a couple check out the couple packages the Spa have- they are very tempting!

The garden & terrace- perfect for a nice g&t!

We've Found Our Favourite Place To Stay In Ireland!

We fell in love with 1 Pery Square, and recommend it highly. We felt the package we got was quite good value, and that staying in a period room was definitely the way to get the full joy of the place. (Oh, & also there is a lovely drawing room to chill out in- I forgot to mention that!) Additionally, from Pery Square you can easily walk into the the main part of town (abt 10 minutes.) As well as the park, the Limerick Art Gallery is just across the street, & has lovely fresh cakes & more in its cafe, too. We'll be keeping an eye out for 1 Pery Square's package deals, and hope to return to this fabulous, welcoming, boutique hotel!

Where are we staying next? Well, excitingly, I won a Secret Sunday package to Lisloughrey Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo- home of the Quiet Man. I'll let you know how we get on there, in September! 

WhereToStayInIreland WhatToEatInIreland

Tips for your Cork City, Ireland visit.

Cork City centre on  Midsummer Festival Sunday

Firstly you should know that Cork is a city where there’s always lots happening-- except on Sundays! Mainly Sunday mornings; and as a visitor, chances are that you may be there on a Sunday. We’ve had 2 recent 24 hr visits to Cork City (Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon) and we’ve had a lovely time; here are a few tips for you:

·         The English Market has a great atmosphere, & is a fantastic place for food lovers to wander, salivate, and indulge- but be warned: CLOSED Sundays. We've eaten in The Farmgate Cafe there for lunch (open for breakfast & lunch only) and it is very good!

·         Stay in a place that has a good breakfast & an unhurried check out time, because on Sunday mornings, not much is open. If funds stretch to it, stay B&B at the 5 star Hayfield Manor- they must have the most WONDERFUL breakfast in all of Ireland! With spa, lounge area & more, Hayfield Manor is a perfect place to relax away a Sunday morning waiting for Cork to open up. (See my post on our stay here)                                

Beautiful presentation of fresh breads at Hayfield Manor

·         If your budget doesn’t stretch to that (& ours doesn’t usually!) look to pick a place where you’ll feel comfortable having a leisurely morning, especially if it is raining. Most shops & cafes don’t seem to open until noon at the earliest, so you could wind up like us on a past trip- wandering the streets for a few hours. (Not so fun if raining!)

·         Cork Coffee Roasters on 2 Bridge Street has good coffee, & is open on from 9a.m. Sundays, but be warned-it is small and very busy then, as you can imagine!

Lovely UCC campus, home to the beautiful, modern, Glucksman Gallery.

·         A good few museums, galleries, & other places of interest in Ireland can be closed Sundays, & some Mondays; so check their opening times when planning your visit.  In Cork City, for example the impressive Glucksman Gallery opens Sunday at 2, their cafe at noon, (both closed Mondays) but the Crawford Gallery is closed Sunday. 

·         Blackrock Castle & Observatory is a couple of miles outside the City, & opens at 10 on Sunday.  (Quirkily, open at 11 on Saturday.)They've also lots of things aimed at children, & the cafe there has been recommended to me, although we’ve not been to this attraction yet.

We saw Rian at the Cork Opera House- loved it! And when in Rome ;-)

·         Whatever night you are staying in Cork, check what is on at Cork Opera House! They seem to have something on most nights, music, film, theatre, comedy & more. You’ll still have time to head out to the pub afterwards if you’d like! 

Cork City Centre, Midsummer Festival Food Market (& Anam Cara B&B room)

·         Check local websites and twitter feeds like @CorkBuzz1 and @WhazOnCork to see what’s going on when you plan to be in Cork. During our past trip, Cork Midsummer Festival  was on, so their outdoor Food Market was up Sunday morning. As it was a sunny day, we got to enjoy tasty local/street food, sit in the sun & people watch as we waited for Glucksman Gallery to open. (I'll write a post on Glucksman soon.)

·         Have a gander at Cork man Liam’s suggestions for things to do in Cork- there are ideas that would be good for a Sunday morning. I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg during my visits, there is so much more!

What tips have YOU got? I know there must be loads more out there, & not just for Sundays! Please leave your tip in the comments, or tweet me at @vibrantireland, & I can add it to this post. Thanks! Susan
Here's a great tip from TheGManWorld

Don't forget @triskelcork home to Gulpd Café, Plugd Records, independent cinema & more!
— The G-Man (@TheGManWorld) July 4, 2012

@VibrantIreland Amazing place.Crazy how few people know about it.Great cinema,amazing gigs,choc Beamish cake,records,exhibits and more
— The G-Man (@TheGManWorld) July 4, 2012 

Chocolate Beamish cake?!! You better check out Triskel in Cork! :-)

PS if you love eating gorgeous, different, food-- have lunch or dinner at Cafe Paradiso. It has been wonderful both times we've gone! (Note: lunch Fri & Sat only, closed Mon)

Photos don't do Cafe Paradiso's food justice! AND we ate some before we remembered to snap :)

Happy Cork Visiting!
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Art vandalization, indulging yourself, & rating castles: What to do in Limerick

King John's Castle, Limerick 

Limerick? I'd never really thought of going there, much less did I think I'd want to have a birthday trip there, but several things have opened my eyes to the enjoyments of Limerick. Let me tell you about some of what to do in Limerick, so you can perhaps plan a Limerick trip for yourself!

First up is a bit of tasty food. As you probably know, Ireland has gotten a great reputation for the quality of its food products, and during Love Gourmet Week June 1-10, you can try some for yourself without slaving over the cooker, because local restaurants are offering specials for the week! The website tells us:

'Superb menus priced from €35 per person will offer outstanding value for unique culinary specials with locally sourced produce during the event which runs from Friday, June 1st- Sunday, June 10th inclusive.

Fifteen of the top restaurants in Limerick and the Shannon region will offer an outstanding fine dining experience at exceptional prices. The ethos of the event will again be a celebration of local produce, great Irish food and organic produce.' 

Find out more here.

@fustar's daughter loved getting even with NAMA! 

What first piqued my interest in visiting Limerick is an biennial art event, Eva International, centred in the city and running from 19 May- 12 August. 

The theme for this year's show is taken from a book by Franco ''Bifo'' Berardi, After The Future, and contains a idea that really appeals to me--'living slowly in the infinite present.' For me, that is what looking at art helps me do-- to be present just looking & feeling, and then considering. 

I'm not knowledgeable about art, but I do enjoy it, & I think I will enjoy Eva International in Limerick. PLUS, apparently you may get to vandalise/paint a NAMA inspired work: José Carlos Martinat's "Vandalised Monuments Power Abstraction 4" 

At least that's what I saw on Twitter, so it must be true :-)

A. Catalan, 'Morphological Zone', 2011 

Click here for more on Eva International

I also found out about The Hunt Museum, which has art & antiquities from the Neolithic age to the 20th century. They also have lots of events listed, do click on their website! Additionally, they look to be just a short walk from The Milk Market, which has lots of different types of goods on offer in an award winning setting. Depending on the day it seems the concentration of some items are higher; Saturday seems to be the big food day, yum! 

Limerick's Milk Market

Also in Limerick is King John's Castle, pictured at the start of my post. It has no website, & has gotten mixed reviews from folk on Tripadvisor-- some say definitely visit, others are quite 'meh' about it. I think we shall have to go see for ourselves, & will let you know what we thought!

I'll also let you know about how we get on with my big birthday present- a stay at the #1 Tripadvisor rated, & multi award-winning 1 Pery Square! We'll be having dinner one night in their Brasserie One restaurant, and I'm also very tempted to try one of their extensive list of spa treatments while we're there. As I'm not a very girly gal, I'm not quite sure what they all are/do... there are Voya, or Payot (must be brands?) lists of treatments as well as things I do understand, like massage :-) But, really, I'm thinking that I'd like to go for something that lets me get into this gorgeous looking bath!!

We've 2 days in Limerick-- have you any Limerick suggestions for us to see/do/eat on this trip or another? Leave a comment below, or tweet me @vibrantireland

Thanks! 

Special place to stay in Ireland: The fantastic Hayfield Manor, Cork City

I hope you are ready to be tempted! If you are looking for a special place to stay in Cork, Ireland, I wholeheartedly recommend Hayfield Manor. 

Photos from our stay at Hayfield Manor, Cork

Snobby?

Hayfield Manor is a 5 star independent luxury hotel right in Cork City, and even if you are like my husband and me, who normally wouldn't splash much cash for a hotel, a stay here is well worth saving for. In truth, I was a bit nervous that I might feel out of place, that it might be snobby ....but I am happy to say I was completely wrong! The staff are all so very welcoming, genuinely warm and helpful--they made the beautiful period manor house more than just a lovely place--they made it a wonderful experience. 

A few days after our stay, Hayfield Manor put out this video-- and yes, everyone is that nice! Have a watch and you will get a look at and a feel for this special place to stay.

Highlights

Aside from the staff, the highlights of our short stay were:

 1. The incredible breakfast-- it was presented so very beautifully, and the dining room took my breath away! We were like kids in a candy shop with the selection- I may have been slightly giddy! :-) In addition to anything non-cooked you could possibly desire on the buffet, there were all sorts of cooked breakfast items on offer as table service. And so tasty! 

 2. The very big, comfortable bed. (Did you see how small Terry looks on it in the photo collage?) I have back problems and often am not comfortable on normal beds, but I slept like a log in Hayfield Manor's. 

Don't Miss

We stayed just one night, and weren't really thinking about the pool & spa that are part of Hayfield Manor- mistake! Terry is a fitness trainer, and when he realized they had a personal trainer, pool and such, he called in to the spa to look around. After a nice chat with the staff there he was then very sorry he didn't plan enough time to have a go. Luckily, Hayfield does a nice amount of special offers and packages, so we can save for another visit to fabulous Cork City & Hayfield Manor!
See you there?? :-)
WhereToStayInIreland

Kilgraney House Herb Gardens-inspirational & romantic!

If gardens are your thing, especially gardens in the grounds of beautiful, old, renovated  Georgian Irish houses, then Kilgraney House Herb Gardens situated between Bagenalstown (Muine Bheag) and Borris in County Carlow, Ireland is the place to head for.

It's hard to believe that the interconnected herb gardens have only been there for six years - their colours, textures and perfumes fill the beds and air as you amble around. I was told that the end of May/beginning of June is the time of year to really see them in all their glory- which must be a sight to behold as they were pretty impressive in August!

Starting with the medicinal garden (individual beds sown with herbs suitable for different ailments), pebbled pathways lined with granite take you through to the monastic herb cloister, the cosmic herb circle (where each star sign is depicted by it's own herbs), the aromatic herb & rose garden (located next to the very tempting spar) and the herbal tea walk. There's also an orchard (bulging with fruit in August), beautiful old trees scattered around the grounds and a kitchen garden where fruit and veg are grown for use in the restaurant kitchens. No chemicals are used in the gardens and the owners of Kilgraney House take on most of the work themselves, carefully researching their planting schemes and always on the look out for new ideas.

If you're a guest at this very tempting romantic getaway then you're free to wander around whenever suits you. If not the gardens (only) are open from May to September, Thursdays to Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2.00pm until 5.00pm (current fee €3.00, (groups by prior arrangement). Refreshments are available and herbs are for sale too.  I really can't recommend a trip out to Kilgraney House herb gardens enough - an inspirational place to spend an afternoon!

 Kilgraney takes its name from the Irish ‘cill greine’ which means ‘sunny hill’ or ‘sunny wood’, and it is located in the beautiful Barrow valley, about half way between Kilkenny City & Carlow town. So whether you're just looking to enjoy a simple afternoon in the gardens, or perhaps a special weekend getaway in the House itself, this spot in the sunny southeast is worth a look!

**Kilgraney House Herb Gardens were visited ,enjoyed, & written about by Dee, who writes GreensideUpVeg** 

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