Leeds Castle, Ireland

Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2011

Leeds Castle is probably one of the most beautiful castles in existence, and is located in Kent, England. The castle is nearly 900 years old, having been built in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur.  It was built on two islands in the middle of a lake that serves as a moat, on the River Len. There are 500 acres surrounding it containing parks, gardens, and even aviaries that hold rare birds from all over the world.

Leeds Castle was first used as a royal palace in 1278 by King Edward I. Edward II captured Leeds Castle on Halloween of 132 from Baroness Badlesmere when she refused admittance to his consort, Isabella of France. Isabella had tried to force entry, and Lady Badlesmere ordered her archers to fire upon her. Lady Badlesmere was held prisoner for these actions in the Tower of London until 1322.

The castle avoided destruction in the 1640’s during the English Civil War, only because the owners had taken sides with the Parliamentarians. Lady Olive Baillie was the last person to privately own the castle. She bought the castle in 1926, and after her death in 1974, the Leeds Castle Foundation preserved the castle and its grounds. It was opened to the public in 1976.

People continuously flock to Leeds Castle because of the beautiful scenery and the aviaries. The gardens are filled will gorgeous, vibrantly colored flowers including azaleas, roses, poppies, and daffodils. Close to the gardens, there is a pay-and-play golf course open to the visitors. There is a PGA professional available to give lessons, too. There are two different kinds of mazes: a tall, winding yew maze for adults to get lost in, and a turf maze intended for young children to try out. The aviaries hold all sorts of different rare and endangered birds, including Red-billed Blue Magpies and Toco Toucans. Here, all the species of birds are encouraged to breed. There are cameras inside the nests of some, and you can view what goes on inside from monitors. There is even a ‘duckery’, where very rare black swans are housed.

If a simple tour won’t do for you, you can take a ride on a Segway, choosing from three different kinds of tours. If you like to climb, you can ‘Go Ape’… The Go Ape experience is obstacle course built in the trees with bridges, ladders, tunnels, and zip lines. For lovers of all things strange, there is even a dog collar museum—the only one in the world, as a matter of fact. The collection contains over 100 collars spanning a time period of five centuries, the most recent being from the 21st century.

You can visit Leeds Castle year-round, with exception of holidays. It opens at 10 am daily, the last ticket is sold at 3 pm, and gates close at 5 pm. Ticket cost are £10 for children 4 years to 15 years, £15 for senior citizens over 60 years of age, and £17.50 for adults.  Keep in mind many escorted tours include the admission and a tour of the castle.

What You'll See When Touring in Ireland

Posted on Friday, September 03, 2010

Your friends have told you about many of the sights they enjoyed in Ireland:  Dublin’s pubs and Abbey Theater; Ha’Penny Bridge over the Liffy River and , of course, kissin’ the Blarney Stone!!  And you wondered, as they extolled the beauty and history of the fantastic Ring of Kerry, what’s the Ring of Kerry…who’s Kerry and what kind of ring?

To begin, the Ring of Kerry is a 110 mile loop on the Ivenagh Peninsula in south-western Ireland.  Here you will encounter the raw beauty that is real Ireland.  Rolling hills and forested valleys, colorful villages and towns; traces of ancient monasteries and stone circles, such as the Seven Sisters, erected by pagans during the Bronze Age.  Starting in Killorglin, and proceeding on a counter-clockwise route, you will enjoy the Ireland of your dreams; verdant, charming and sparsely settled (except you will see lots of other tourists!). Note that I said counter-clockwise…the road is narrow and tour buses are many, so you can avoid traffic problems by starting early and stopping at any and all sights that may intrigue you.  Yes, you can do this by tour bus, but you’ll miss the leisure of stopping at an out of the way town, having a pint at a small pub, or just dreamily looking out over the ocean and mulling over the year of history, the Troubles and the Great Famine.

Take your time…yes, you can drive the entire Ring in a day, but so much nicer to stop for the night at a charming B & B,  relax over a fine dinner, perhaps enjoy an Irish Night with set-dancing, or just chat with the locals. After a hearty breakfast you can be on your way. You’ll have a chance to drive Coomanaspig Pass, the highest point accessible by car; from which you can see the Skellings and other small islands.  There’s a sixth century hermitage once inhabited by monks. Or you may wish to pay homage to Daniel O’Connell, the Emancipator, at Derrynane House, his home, now restored.

And oh, the names!  MacGillycuddy Reeks, Staigrefort, Rossbeigh, Bog Village and Black Valley, Killarney.  Rossmaine and Cahersiveen and Cahsrdaniel…what names, how lilting!! 

How about a stop in Kenmare to see and perhaps buy, some Kenmare Lace, started as a cottage industry during the "Little Famine Years" by the Poor Clare nuns, and still being hand-made by the local women.  Take a jaunting car ride, and think back to the great classic movie with John Wayne and Barry Fitzgerald, "The Quiet Man" .  Look closely at the road side, especially if there’s a rainbow:  that brief movement in the bush?  Leprechauns!!

I must admit, my favorite tour was a drive on the Dingle Peninsula…further north and the westernmost area on the European continent. Only ten miles wide and forty miles long, from Tralee to Slea Head The locals will tell you that they’re so far west that the next parish is Boston!!!  But you may have a bit of trouble understanding the people in the villages; they often speak An Gaeltacht, a Gaelic-English mixture. But they are friendly and they’ll be glad to regale you with stories of their family, their history and a lot of lore…you’ve heard of  a load Malarkey, haven’t you?

Drive through the Connor Pass to Dingle, the most westerly town in Europe, and then Tralee.  You will be rewarded with beautiful drive, green and rugged and not too touristy.  The fishermen still sail out, not for your camera, but for their family’s living.  Only about 1500 people live in Dingle Town…but it is calculated that there are 500,000 sheep in the hills.

Along the way to your delightful hotel at the world’s edge, you will find Bronze Age settlements, monasteries from the Middle Ages, scenes straight out of the movie "Ryan’s Daughter" and even some of the "beehive huts" where hermit monks once lived.  The scent of peat, as you linger with your coffee after a wonderful dinner, and you’ll know you’re near the ocean, as the sea breeze wafts into your bed room and you snuggle into your feather duvet…dream, relax, know that you are truly in Ireland.   

Popular Ireland Castle Stays

Posted on Friday, July 02, 2010

Western Region

Galway, Mayo & Roscommon

Abbeyglen Castle Hotel

Clifden, Galway. Located on the Sky Road and set in pleasant gardens. Built in 1832, the hotel is renowned for quality cuisine. Abbeyglen has 18 superior rooms, many with four poster beds and open fires.

Ballynahinch Castle

Ballynahinch, Galway. This manor, set in a 455-acre estate, dates from the 18^th century. Tastefully-furnished guest rooms have special features and excellent views. Relax in the superb restaurant or old-world bar.

Ashford Castle Hotel

Cong, Mayo. This famous castle, on the shores of Lough Corrib, is one of Ireland’s most luxurious retreats. Guests relax in spacious rooms, dine in the elegant restaurant and enjoy golfing, horse riding and more.

Kilronan Castle

Ballyfarnan, Roscommon. This luxurious property is set in 40 acres with lovely scenery all around. Enjoy a wonderful mix of old-world elegance and state-of-the-art facilities and standards to make your stay memorable.

South Western Region

Cork, Kerry, Limerick & Clare

Cahernane House Hotel

Killarney, Kerry. Set in its own parklands on the edge of Killarney’s National Park and dating from 1877, the hotel features elegant bedrooms, comfortable reception areas and the award-winning Herbert Restaurant.

Dunloe Castler Hotel

Killarney. Overlooks the Gap of the Dunloe, a few miles outside the town. Deluxe bedrooms, restaurants and bars create a relaxing haven. Enjoy the gardens and health club plus golf is available nearby.

Ballyseede Castle Hotel

Tralee, Kerry. Step back in time while enjoying modern comforts. Elegant bedrooms are decorated with taste and imagination. The gracious dining room serves Continental and Irish cuisine with a fine wine cellar.

Bunrathy Castle Hotel

Bunratty, Clare. Close to Durty Nelly’s Pub, Bunrathy Castle and Folk Park. All traditional-style rooms offer air conditioning and every modern comfort. Relax in Kathleen’s Irish Pub with great food.

Dromoland Castle

Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare. One of Europe’s top luxury hotels with stately halls, elegant facilities and luxurious guest rooms designed for relaxation. Sample award-winning cuisine, enjoy golf or leisure center.

North Western Region

Donegal, Leitrim, Monagham, Cavan & Northern Ireland

Solis Lough Eske Castle

Donegal. The current castle was built in the 1860s and is newly renovated. Beautifully appointed rooms feature bespoke furnishings in calm neutral tones. The new Cedaes Grill combines easygoing elegance with a very contemporary sense of style.

Lough Rynn Castle

Mohill, Leitrim. This is the original 19^th century home of the Clements family. The gracious manor house offers 42 luxurious bedrooms, intimate public rooms, elegant dinning, a world-class spa and a championship golf course on a 300-acre estate.

Castle Leslie

Glaslough, Monaghan. Nestled on 1,000 acres of undulating country-side, the Leslie family has lived here since the 1660s. The Castle offers authentic interiors and warm hospitality. Located only 80 minutes from Dublin and 60 minutes from Belfast.

Ballygally Castle

Ballygally, Antrim. The Castle dates to 1625 and is located on the scenic Antrim coast. 44 bedrooms offer old beamed ceilings and modern décor. All the top facilities add to the welcoming atmosphere and the Garden Restaurant offers excellent food.

Cabra Castle Hotel

Kingscourt, Cavan. Dating from 1760, the hotel is set in 88 acres of parkland with a 9-hole golf course. Well-appointed guest rooms, gourmet dining and gracious public rooms combine for a great stay.

Eastern Region

Meath, Westmeath, Wicklow, Laois, Kilkenny, Tipperary & Waterford

Dunboyne Castle

Dunboyne, Meath. This hotel offers comfortable guest rooms, magnificent gardens, a fully-equipped spa and great facilities for dining and relaxing. Close to Dublin Airport and tomb of Newgrange and Knowth.

Things to Do in Dublin, Ireland

Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010

Each year thousands of people take on the adventure of traveling to Dublin, Ireland and are presented with an abundance of things to do throughout. This is one place that will keep you going from beginning to end with its buzzing city life as well as beautiful country life.

There is an abundance of places that you can visit while traveling to Dublin. Whether you want to take a stroll through the many parks, gardens or museums or touch up your knowledge on Dublin through the colleges, libraries, churches or heritage sites there is an extensive amount of things that you can do here.

Dublin is jam packed full of historical buildings, galleries and castles that are open to the public to see and experience. You will have the ability to see exactly what Dublin is all about just by taking a stroll through the city and lands.

Some popular places to visit in Dublin include:

The Christ Church Cathedral
The Trinity College Library which is the home of the Book of Kells
The Ardgillan Castle
The Dublin Zoo
The National Gallery of Ireland

The list goes on. Dublin has many different things that you can do and it really does cater to every interest that a person may have. When planning a trip to Ireland ensure that you plan for a few days in Dublin so that you can experience everything it has to offer and you don’t miss out on anything that you really wanted to see, but may not have had time for.

Top Five Castles in Ireland

Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010

Traveling to Ireland can be one of the most adventurous trips you'd ever experience. The shores lines are covered with many castles and battlement ruins preparing Ireland to protect their 5,600 kilometeres of coastline. Whether you want to experience the history and heritage or relax for a day at a local golf course or the many beaches, there is something everyone will enjoy.  

Some of the top five castles and attractions that you can experience while visiting Ireland include some of the following...

The Dunguarie Castle in County Galway  
The Dunguarie Castle has survived 12 centuries in battle and siege, up until 1924. Since 1924 it has become the perfect retreat for poets and writers. After seven centuries of standing on the site of Guaire, King of Connaught, the Dunguarie Castle is one castle you'll want to experience in Ireland.  

The Dunluce Castle in County Antrim
Many years ago a violent storm caused an abundance of lose when a portion of the Dunluce Castle fell into the sea killing many cooks and kitchen hands. After many years the Dunluce has become the spot that was the inspiration of Cair Paravel from Chronicles of Narnia, done by C.S. Lewis.  

The Leap Castle in County Offaly
If you'd like a little excitement and scare in your travels, travel to the Leap Castle. This castle is said to be haunted by ghosts. The Leap Castle was once the fortress for the O'Carrolls many years ago and now has become the picturesque ivy-clad ruin.  

The Hillsborough Castle in County Down
The Hillsborough Castle has become the residence for Elizabeth II when traveling through Ireland. The best time of year to visit this castle is in July, when the Garden Festival is held within the beautiful walled gardens each year.  

The Belleek Museum in County Fermanagh
Over the past 150 years the Beleek Museum has been the creators of many fine pottery collections. The Belleek museum gets over 250,000 tourists each and every year, including John and Jackie Kennedy back in 1961. The shop and tea room are the most popular tourist attractions within the Belleek Museum.

All throughout Ireland there are many things for travelers to experience. You don't want to miss out on any of them, so make sure to plan out your vacation to Ireland beforehand. Ireland is the home of endless amounts of adventures and experiences... take the time to experience them all before you leave.