West of Ireland to host leg of 2021 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Thu, May 20, 2021

Ireland will once again host a leg of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on September 12 2021 at Downpatrick Head in County Mayo, broadcasting across the globe live on Red Bull TV. The series was last held in the west in 2017. Pictured during that series is Sergio Guzman of Mexico diving from the 27.5 metre platform during the first rounds of the first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at the Serpent`s Lair, Inis Mor.

Shop Local and Stay

Wed, May 19, 2021

“Since the first lockdown, I have gained a renewed appreciation for Drury street and our neighbours. Brooks Hotel is located on Drury Street and the surrounding streets of Stephen’s Street, Fade Street, Exchequer Street, and South William Street combined create a charming part of Dublin.

Staycation in style at Hotel Woodstock

Thu, May 13, 2021

Hotel Woodstock is an award-winning hotel run by husband and wife team Sean and Elaine Lally and their son Oisin who is studying hotel management. The hotel is part of the Choice Hotel Group and is situated 4km from the market town of Ennis on the grounds of Woodstock Golf and Country Club.

Aran Island Ferries set to launch new Galway city to Inis Mór route

Thu, May 13, 2021

Aran Islands Ferries, Ireland’s largest and longest operating year round ferry service to the Aran Islands launches a brand new Aran Islands route from Galway City Docks to Inis Mór inclusive of a cruise along the Cliffs of Moher, on Friday June 4.

As part of the new route announcement, the company has announced that ‘Saoirse na Farraige – Freedom of the Sea’, a state of the art, purpose built, 400 seater passenger ferry, will join five other high quality vessels in carrying passengers on this new seasonal route complementing the existing business from Ros a’Mhíl. The new route will have a departure time of 9.30am daily from Galway City Docks to Inis Mór.

Gadgets continue to change the way we travel in 2021

Thu, May 13, 2021

Today’s world is showing no signs of slowing down in terms of innovation. New gadgets and various forms of tech are continually brought our way, with the travel industry on the receiving end of numerous tech-related offerings in recent times. The future of travel is certainly changing, with technology making its mark on the industry also.

Boots on, get walking

Thu, May 06, 2021

Here are some great suggestions for you to get out into the fresh air and sample the walks of Connemara.

Derryclare Woods

The Lough Rea Hotel and Spa – Your Gateway To The Wild Atlantic Way

Thu, Apr 29, 2021

The four-star Lough Rea Hotel & Spa is a great base to explore all the Wild Atlantic Way has to offer. The Lough Rea Hotel and Spa is located 20 minutes from Galway city and is just minutes from all connecting routes to Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal to the north and Clare, Limerick, Kerry, and Cork to the south. It is the ideal location to jump into your Wild Atlantic Way adventure.

Visit Galway, the European Capital of Culture 2020, stroll through the Latin Quarter which is steeped in history and enjoy the many shops and eateries that await. Connemara is not to be missed with it expansive views where land and water meet. A range of activities await, The Bay Coast is home to a number of dazzling beaches where people go to kayak, swim and dive, while cyclists can follow the Great Western Greenway.

Make it a break to remember in the hidden heartlands

Thu, Apr 29, 2021

Rediscover Athlone and Ireland's hidden heartlands this summer and stay at Athlone Springs Hotel and Leisure Club.

Popular short walks in Connemara

Thu, Apr 29, 2021

Derryclare Woods
A two to four-hour walk in the Inagh Valley near Recess. Features stunning woodland with deciduous and coniferous trees (many large native oaks), extensive lichens and moss, lakes and great views of the 12 Bens. Distance is about 10km, with only about 150m of climbing. The terrain is a mix of forest track, rough woodland and wet/rocky bogland so strong boots with good ankle support are needed. Also requires outdoor clothing, food, water and a face mask.

Looking forward to summer dining al fresco in Ireland

Thu, Apr 15, 2021

There has been broad welcome for the programme which will enable us to enjoy outdoor dining and more of an al fresco experience when we holiday across the country this summer as restrictions ease.

Great hotel offers for those travelling to the West — and not just for visitors

Thu, Apr 08, 2021

One of the few disadvantages for those of us fortunate enough to live in the West of Ireland is that we rarely get a chance to stay in a local hotel, as a tourist. That is likely to change this summer, as we will be encouraged to holiday closer to home, and many of us have ruled out foreign travel until 2022 at the earliest.

Local hotels adopt safety first policy

Thu, Apr 01, 2021

‘If that goes well, then we can consider hospitality in June’, was the message on Tuesday from Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, referring to the numbers for virus cases, in hospitals, new variants and vaccine rollout all going in the right direction in the coming weeks.

Shaping the world through travel

Thu, Mar 25, 2021

Representatives of the pub, restaurant, and hotel trades will come before the Oireachtas Tourism Committee this week to outline the effects of the pandemic on their industries.

Life as a travel influencer couple in Mexico

Thu, Mar 18, 2021

Mexico has become a mecca for travel influencers, jet-setting celebrities and hippies as they flock to Tulum on the Caribbean coast. This beach resort town on the "Mayan Riviera" is booming from an influx of tourists and remote workers, not without some controversy.

Arrive as a guest and leave as a friend at the wonderful Hotel Woodstock Ennis

Thu, Mar 11, 2021

Hotel Woodstock Ennis is an award-winning Irish-owned family run hotel in partnership with the Choice Hotel Group on the grounds of Woodstock Golf and Country Club.

Looking forward to a future of travel

Thu, Mar 04, 2021

The top international hotelier, Irishman Brendan Dwyer, was on holidays last February in the Maldives when the pandemic began in China. "We noticed they were taking temperatures at Mali airport on the way home, so it was about to kick off. A week later the big news was coming in from China. And two weeks later the EU were saying we have a problem and a week later it was game over and we had to shut up shop.”

Brendan Dwyer is the GM of the La Finca Resort in Alicante, Spain. He has worked for more than 20 years in some of the world’s most iconic hotels and was vice president of global sales for Hyatt Hotels.

David McWilliams talks about the impact of the pandemic and the environment on travel

Thu, Feb 25, 2021

David McWilliams has worked all over the world, and speaking on the Travel Tales with Fergal podcast, the top economist says that people need to be aware “of the impact of air travel on the environment” — and reckons he was a bad example with all his jet-setting before the pandemic.

“We have to be cognisant of the impact of travel on the environment. I was probably a bad example of not worrying about the environment, as I travel a lot by plane for work. But I don’t like going by boat and taking two days to get to France, but if we have to do it, we have to do it, to help the environment.”

Listen to Paul Wallace on life touring with Ireland and the Lions

Thu, Feb 18, 2021

The Irish and Lions rugby legend Paul Wallace chats this week on The Travel Tales with Fergal podcast about the mystique of Lions rugby tours, whether this year’s tour to South Africa should go ahead, and his favourite countries to tour including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and that famous 1997 Lions tour to South Africa. Listen to the podcast below or continue reading.

Irish family hiking trip on the Tour du Mont Blanc

Thu, Feb 11, 2021

In February 2019, little did I know when I began the mammoth task of planning a hiking trip on the Tour du Mont Blanc for our family of six that it would be our last trip abroad for some time.

Travel trends — what to expect in 2021

Thu, Jan 07, 2021

By Fergal O'Keeffe
We start this year with great uncertainty but what we do know is that things will get better with an end to travel restrictions hopefully in sight for the second half of 2021. There may be dark clouds above us now but there is hope on the distant horizon.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.