Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Kilkenny arts festival 2013, kilsale arts festival, culture tech festival derry, Kilkenny whats on, hen party Kilkenny, stag party Kilkenny

Kilkenny arts festival 2013, kilsale arts festival, culture tech festival derry, Kilkenny whats on, hen party Kilkenny, stag party Kilkenny


Anyone who has been to a Hen Party in Kilkenny will know that Kilkenny is a place to be for fun, anyone who went to Kilkenny for a Stag Party is probably still there. Kilkenny Arts Festival is like a big party, loads of activities, loads of people and loads of fun.


We’re going to be at the Kinsale Arts Festival on July 13 and we’ll also be back in Derry for the Culture TECH festival in September, but we’re also heading to the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August for not one, not two but three very special Banter sessions over the course of a week.

Kilkenny Hen Party Packages

The idea of doing some Bantering in the Marble City first came about at last year’s festival and, with huge thanks to festival director Rosemary Collier and her team, we’ve managed to put together a damn good programme, including one or two sessions which we’ve been hoping to do for ages, for the festival’s 40th anniversary.Stag Party

Banter On Music Hen Party in Kilkenny

Set Theatre, John Street; Saturday August 10

Everybody Loves Our Town

When it comes to the story of the Seattle grunge explosion, Mark Yarm’s fantastic oral history Everybody Loves Our Town is one of the definitive reads on that fabled city and such bands as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Mudhoney and more. The Guardian called it “a Herculean work of interviewing and editing which gives everyone a voice, from the biggest stars to the lowliest foot soldiers”. Mark joins us at Banter to talk about the book, the Seattle scene and the grunge legacy.Stag Party

Everybody Loves This Town Kilkenny Hen Party Packages
Around the same time as Seattle was blowing up, Kilkenny was having its own moment in the sun thanks to a host of local bands, a brilliant dive venue called the New Park Inn and a host of other factors. Cormac Battle (Kerbdog, 2fm), Canice Kenealy (Engine Alley) and Malcolm Noonan (Jerusalem Taxis) rewind the city’s musical legacy.

The Neil Hannon Retrospective in 35 Minutes Stag Party
The story of Neil Hannon, The Divine Comedy, “My Lovely Horse” and the Duckworth Lewis Method in 35 minutes .Kilkenny Hen Party Packages

Banter On Music will also feature special guest performances during the course of the afternoon.Stag Party

Banter On Fashion Hen Party in Kilkenny

National Craft Gallery, Wednesday August 14, 7pm

What the hell is Irish style? Kilkenny Hen Party Packages
It’s our favourite kind of Banter panel – one with a lot of questions. What is Irish style? Is there such a thing? How does it manifest itself in Irish fashion? Is Irish style bright orange in colour? Do Irish men know anything about style? What does Irish style look like in the future? Our panel for this walk down the catwalk: Angela Scanlon (TV presenter, fashion writer and stylist) and Sonya Lennon (RTE Off the Rails, Lennon Courtney).Stag Party

Banter on the Big Issues Kilkenny Hen Party Packages

The Parade Tower at Kilkenny Castle, Saturday August 17, 2pm Stag Party

State of the art Stag Party
The Kilkenny Arts Festival turns 40 this year so it’s timely to look at the past, present and the future of the arts sector in Ireland. Colm Tóibín (novelist and playwright), Maureen Kennelly (arts producer, programmer, curator of the Mountains to Sea DLR Books Festival and former director of the Kilkenny Arts Festival and Cúirt International Festival of Literature), Donnacha Dennehy (composer and Crash Ensemble founder) and Willie White (Dublin Theatre Festival artistic director and chief executive) discuss what we’re learned over the last 40 years, the issues which the arts sector believe should be sorted out today and where things go from here.

Political reform Stag Party
It is the great cry of the political chattering classes: we need reform! Yet as various opinion polls have showed, the Irish electorate place the need for reform very far down on their list of priorities. Just how serious are we about reforming how our political system works – or doesn’t work? Is it merely a case of some politicians paying lip service to the idea to score points or is there an actual hunger for meaningful, pragmatic change? a conversation with some interested parties, including Harry McGee (Irish Times) and Sarah O’Neill (Dailwatch) about the real issues behind the clarion call for reform. Hen Party in Kilkenny

Tickets are now on sale for all three Banter sessions from the festival box-office. Admission is €13 and €11 or you can buy a special Banter bundle for all three Banters for €30. Stag Party

Of course, there’s a ton of other stuff besides Banter happening in Kilkenny over the course of the festival including some superb work from Bob & Roberta Smith, a performance from Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band, local boyo Jeremy Hickey AKA R.S.A.G, a discussion on the birth of the Irish trade union movement to mark the centenary of the 1913 Dublin lockout, the luminarium from Architects of Air and AC Grayling giving the Hubert Butler Lecture on how great literature can enrich all our lives.Hen Party in Kilkenny

Kilkenny Hen Party Packages




Bloomsday Review

July-Get-Away, Staycation Packages Dublin including multi-night discount, FREE Full Irish-Breakfast, Discount vouchers for most major Dublin attractions, including Dublin ZOO and so much more…BOOK NOW


July-Get-Away, Staycation Packages Dublin including multi-night discount, FREE Full Irish-Breakfast, Discount vouchers for most major Dublin attractions, including Dublin ZOO and so much more…BOOK NOW

Dublin Hotels, Dublin Guesthouses, Best rates, special offers, staycation packages, short breaks, July specials

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Bray hotels, hotels bray, wilton hotel review, Martello hotel review, hotel special offers, hotel reviews, Wicklow hotels©

Bray hotels, hotels bray, wilton hotel review, Martello hotel review, hotel special offers, hotel reviews, Wicklow hotels©
What a fantastic launch to The Gathering 2013 with the New Year’s Eve concert in College Green, on New Year’s Day many of us braved the cold off-shore waters of Bray in County Wickow to blow off the cod-webs and raise a few Euros for charity; Gold Medallist Katie Taylor joined us for a fun day that was enjoyed by thousands.©

Bray is a short distance from Dublin due to the efficiency of The Dart train service, and with new roads and parking costing only 30 cents per-hour it offers a cheap out of city location.
During my short break in Bray I stayed in The Wilton Hotel and dined in the Martello Hotel, and so this offered a unique opportunity to produce two reviews of two of Bray’s premium hospitality locations.
Often when we think about seaside hotels and restaurants as being very tourist driven and not anchored in the traditions of quality food and service that we expect from more urban centred areas, however, nothing could be further from the truth when you enter the Martello Hotel in Bray, County Wicklow. The first distinguishing feature of the Martello Hotel in Bray is its highly motivated staff; that staffs are both personable and professional.©

The Martello Hotel offers a wholesome menu which incorporates locally sourced meats, vegetables and fruit.
For my lunch I ordered the rib of beef with vegetables and gravy, the beef was succulent as it was cooked to perfection, the gravy was nicely flavoured with a hint of freshly grown herbs, the mash, baby potatoes and vegetable selection were cooked to perfection and bursting with cottage garden flavour.
The dessert was a homemade delight, apple-crumble with a triangulation of freshly served creams and custard. Service was prompt, clearance was prompt, and payment was simple. The Martello Hotel Bray is above all else, a TEAM effort.
The Martello Hotel situated in a stunning location giving breathtaking views across the Irish Sea and the imposing Bray Head. The Martello Hotel offers an unmatched combination of accommodation, dining, drink, music and late night entertainment in a lively, vibrant, modern setting on the seafront at Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland just 30 minutes from Dublin City Centre.
The Martello Hotel Bray provides 25 en-suite recently renovated hotel bedrooms and 19 self-catering apartments, ideal for those on any budget!
The Martello Hotel is renowned for the fun-loving buzzy atmosphere and style of the hugely popular ‘Martello Bar’ which incorporates a continental style outdoor area. On the first floor the The Tower Bistro offers a casual, great value dining experience seven days a week.
For those who want to continue the revelry into the early hours ‘Koo’ night club is the perfect spot in Bray, Wicklow.
Just a 5 minute walk from the local railway station, The Martello Hotel is convenient to the attractions of Dublin city, a short 30-minute ride away on the DART.
The Wilton Hotel Bray is nestled in the woodland and mountain landscape of Bray in County Wicklow. I stayed in The Wilton Hotel on the weekend of New Year’s Eve 2012/2013 and it was a pleasant experience.©

The receptionist was pleasant and professional and the pre-booked reservation was quickly checked and room key issued. The reception area is bright and welcoming with an open bar area offering luxury and comfort.
The lift contained a thoughtful daily weather report that appeared to be update on typed paper on a daily basis, this personal touch if often missing from many modern hotels.
The corridors presented clean and secure, with nicely placed décor.
The room wild airy and spacious, it was let down by poor housekeeping. There was some rubbish on the floor and around the beds and dust was clearly visible on top of the luggage shelf, mirrors, TV and so forth.
There were also a number of small maintenance issues, such as the back of the bathroom door was poorly maintained, there was a space between the side of the bath and the floor, these are small issues that can be addressed with small effort, although experience would suggest that if these type of issues are not addressed, things tend to get worse (broken windows theory).
The one other annoying issue was the large out dated TV on the dresser, while the TV was functional; it took up one-third of the dresser top space. Flat screen TVs are now low cost and there is no excuse for not having flat screen TVs in all modern hotel bedrooms.
Health and Safety is a key issue in the hotel and hospitality industry in order to improve customer confidence and reduce insurance costs due to claims. I was disappointed, while showering, to find a small sign suggesting that Slip-mats for the shower could be secured at reception, this sign is too small and in the wrong place.©
The Wilton Hotel Bray formerly the Ramada Woodland Court Hotel in Bray remains under the same ownership and management and continues to be committed to providing excellent service and value to all guests. The Wilton Hotel Bray offers quality hotel accommodation in Bray. It is one of the most popular hotels and one of the finest small luxury hotels in Bray and renowned of Wicklow Hotels. If you are searching for accommodation in Bray, meeting rooms in Bray or conference venue in Bray look no further.
Wilton is ideally suited for walking in Wicklow, golfing in Wicklow, family breaks in Bray and touring the county of Wicklow. Just 20km south of Dublin you can also enjoy the delights of Dublin city centre.
The Wilton Hotel Bray is renowned as one of the top Bray hotels, with quality hotel accommodation in the county of Wicklow, excellent facilities and a fantastic location just off the N11 and 2km from Bray Seafront. 87 guest rooms in this Bray Hotel provide comfortable and luxurious accommodation in Wicklow and a range of accommodation types are available, including double and Twin rooms as well as Executive King Rooms and large spacious family rooms.
You can choose from a range of great packages, Dinner Bed and Breakfast as well as great Bed and Breakfast rates in Bray and a selection of packages and hotel special offers for Bray. The hotel’s genuinely warm welcome will greet you on arrival and the friendly staff will ensure that you have a relaxing break at the Wilton Hotel Bray.
The Wilton has ample free car parking and free wi-fi throughout the hotel, however, my experience was that the wi-fi was very on-off.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

hen party, stag party, spa hotel deals, special offers, best rates, cheap hotels, short break offers, win spa weekend, golf and spa specials

hen party, stag party, spa hotel deals, special offers, best rates, cheap hotels, short break offers, win spa weekend, golf and spa specials

It you've got to organise a hen night, fear not - there are plenty of options from murder mystery evenings to farm bootcamps.

So your best friend is getting married and has appointed you chief bridesmaid. Congratulations. It’s now officially your job to listen to the endless details, wear the unflattering dress and, worst of all, organise the hen night.

A poison chalice if ever there was one – what if nobody comes? What if everybody comes but nobody enjoys themselves? What if no one wants to totter round Temple Bar in an L-plate all night?

Relax. The good news is that, after years of telling us they didn’t want noisy hen dos lowering the tone, Ireland’s hoteliers are falling over their stilettos trying to attract them. What’s more, there are now loads of hen-oriented activities that you can combine a hotel stay with, to ensure everybody has a good time.

At the White Lady Hotel stagandhenweekends.ie in Kinsale, they gave one of their store rooms a makeover and devoted it to hen parties. Now known as The Powder Room, it’s a suitably girly space which hens can use as base camp for a range of different activity packages.

Hens often, for example, use it to book a make-up class, before heading into the nightclub next door where management reserve the VIP section for the group.

Another option is a Murder Mystery Ireland stagandhenweekends.ie hen event. Apparently, dead bodies are a guaranteed way to break the ice between friends and future family, no matter how frosty the initial relations.

Based in Mayo, the MMI team operates nationwide and provides costumes to ensure everyone is safely in character before the backstabbing starts, with a facilitator laid on to ensure any blood on the carpet is fake.

For something a little more sedate, how about a pottery session? With marriage on the way, it’s only a matter of time before plates get thrown, so start by throwing them on a potter’s wheel.

At The Pottery Experience stagandhenweekends.ie in Portmarnock, Co Dublin, hens produce personalised tableware for the bride and groom, which makes for a nice memento.

Everyone gets to either decorate a breakfast or dinner set, or design and decorate a commemorative platter. Bring your own food and drink and make a night of it. The Pottery Shed stagandhenweekends.ie offers a similar service in Kilkenny.

In Galway, hen parties are a speciality of Dance Divas stagandhenweekends.ie, a studio in Dominick Street. Choose a style of dancing – anything from Michael Jackson’s Thriller zombies to 1950s Grease style – don the costumes, learn the moves and have your picture taken afterwards on the specially dressed set. The additional bonus here is that you’ll all have a great new dance routine for the wedding.

The Strand Hotel stagandhenweekends.ie in Limerick has residential hen packages with a mix of cocktails, clubbing or discounted hair and beauty treatments to choose from.

Then, depending on what you prefer, the hotel can also organise, for a supplement, hen activities such as a roller disco session, private dance lessons, make-up sessions and even a nude art class. Just to be clear, the hens keep their kit on, the model guy doesn’t.

If it’s more practical help your bride is in need of, check out An Grianan, in Termonfeckin, Co Louth, headquarters of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) Bootcamp, as seen on RTÉ. The D Hotel stagandhenweekends.ie in nearby Drogheda has special discounted rates for group bookings headed for the ICA.

Finally, how about a hen party in a place where there really are hens? Causey Farm stagandhenweekends.ie, in Meath, attracts brides-to-be and their buddies to find out how to chase chooks, milk cows and catch banbhs.

There’s art too, as guests are encouraged to paint their life stories on the walls of barns. And there’s a spa element – in that hens are led to a strip of bog, told to take off their tights or socks and walk, barefoot, through it, for a pedicure like no other.

Causey’s owners can arrange accommodation packages with local hotels, leaving hens free to address practical skills such as how to bake soda bread, play the bodhrán and dance jigs, possibly all at the same time.

On-farm fun is guaranteed and you’ll all be BFFs, like, forever.

Hotel Best Rates BOOK NOW

Win a spa break for two at The 5* Heritage Golf & Spa Resort

                Heritage Golf & Spa Resort

The Irish Times has teamed up with The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort to offer you the chance to win a luxurious two night bed and breakfast stay for two people.

About The Heritage:
Set amidst the unspoilt countryside of Co. Laois, and located just an hour's drive from Dublin off the M7 motorway, the Five Star Heritage Golf & Spa Resort offers guests a truly luxurious hospitality experience. This award winning resort boasts comfortable and elegant guestrooms, a luxury spa and health club, state of the art meeting & conference facilities, a championship golf course, a selection of restaurants and above all a warm welcome for guests! For information about The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, click here to visit their website.

The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort is offering a wonderful Pamber Break Gift Voucher for two. Relax and unwind with two nights' bed and breakfast in a deluxe guestroom, dinner in The Arlington Room on one night and take time out to journey through The Heritage Spa Experience  for up to 3 hours; plus you can also choose from one of the following one hour treatments:

- 1 hour full body massage
- 1 hour prescriptive facial
- 1 hour seaweed detox body wrap.

Guests also have complimentary access to their health club with leisure pool, 5km walking track, tennis court and trim trail. 

For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply submit your details and answer the question below: CLICK HERE

Friday, September 30, 2011

Wicklow Hotels, County Wicklow, Ireland

hen party, stag party, spa hotel deals, special offers, best rates, cheap hotels, short break offers, win spa weekend, golf and spa specials

It you've got to organise a hen night, fear not - there are plenty of options from murder mystery evenings to farm bootcamps.

So your best friend is getting married and has appointed you chief bridesmaid. Congratulations. It’s now officially your job to listen to the endless details, wear the unflattering dress and, worst of all, organise the hen night.

A poison chalice if ever there was one – what if nobody comes? What if everybody comes but nobody enjoys themselves? What if no one wants to totter round Temple Bar in an L-plate all night?

Relax. The good news is that, after years of telling us they didn’t want noisy hen dos lowering the tone, Ireland’s hoteliers are falling over their stilettos trying to attract them. What’s more, there are now loads of hen-oriented activities that you can combine a hotel stay with, to ensure everybody has a good time.

At the White Lady Hotel stagandhenweekends.ie in Kinsale, they gave one of their store rooms a makeover and devoted it to hen parties. Now known as The Powder Room, it’s a suitably girly space which hens can use as base camp for a range of different activity packages.

Hens often, for example, use it to book a make-up class, before heading into the nightclub next door where management reserve the VIP section for the group.

Another option is a Murder Mystery Ireland stagandhenweekends.ie hen event. Apparently, dead bodies are a guaranteed way to break the ice between friends and future family, no matter how frosty the initial relations.

Based in Mayo, the MMI team operates nationwide and provides costumes to ensure everyone is safely in character before the backstabbing starts, with a facilitator laid on to ensure any blood on the carpet is fake.

For something a little more sedate, how about a pottery session? With marriage on the way, it’s only a matter of time before plates get thrown, so start by throwing them on a potter’s wheel.

At The Pottery Experience stagandhenweekends.ie in Portmarnock, Co Dublin, hens produce personalised tableware for the bride and groom, which makes for a nice memento.

Everyone gets to either decorate a breakfast or dinner set, or design and decorate a commemorative platter. Bring your own food and drink and make a night of it. The Pottery Shed stagandhenweekends.ie offers a similar service in Kilkenny.

In Galway, hen parties are a speciality of Dance Divas stagandhenweekends.ie, a studio in Dominick Street. Choose a style of dancing – anything from Michael Jackson’s Thriller zombies to 1950s Grease style – don the costumes, learn the moves and have your picture taken afterwards on the specially dressed set. The additional bonus here is that you’ll all have a great new dance routine for the wedding.

The Strand Hotel stagandhenweekends.ie in Limerick has residential hen packages with a mix of cocktails, clubbing or discounted hair and beauty treatments to choose from.

Then, depending on what you prefer, the hotel can also organise, for a supplement, hen activities such as a roller disco session, private dance lessons, make-up sessions and even a nude art class. Just to be clear, the hens keep their kit on, the model guy doesn’t.

If it’s more practical help your bride is in need of, check out An Grianan, in Termonfeckin, Co Louth, headquarters of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) Bootcamp, as seen on RTÉ. The D Hotel stagandhenweekends.ie in nearby Drogheda has special discounted rates for group bookings headed for the ICA.

Finally, how about a hen party in a place where there really are hens? Causey Farm stagandhenweekends.ie, in Meath, attracts brides-to-be and their buddies to find out how to chase chooks, milk cows and catch banbhs.

There’s art too, as guests are encouraged to paint their life stories on the walls of barns. And there’s a spa element – in that hens are led to a strip of bog, told to take off their tights or socks and walk, barefoot, through it, for a pedicure like no other.

Causey’s owners can arrange accommodation packages with local hotels, leaving hens free to address practical skills such as how to bake soda bread, play the bodhrán and dance jigs, possibly all at the same time.

On-farm fun is guaranteed and you’ll all be BFFs, like, forever.

Hotel Best Rates BOOK NOW

Win a spa break for two at The 5* Heritage Golf & Spa Resort

                Heritage Golf & Spa Resort

The Irish Times has teamed up with The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort to offer you the chance to win a luxurious two night bed and breakfast stay for two people.

About The Heritage:
Set amidst the unspoilt countryside of Co. Laois, and located just an hour's drive from Dublin off the M7 motorway, the Five Star Heritage Golf & Spa Resort offers guests a truly luxurious hospitality experience. This award winning resort boasts comfortable and elegant guestrooms, a luxury spa and health club, state of the art meeting & conference facilities, a championship golf course, a selection of restaurants and above all a warm welcome for guests! For information about The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort, click here to visit their website.

The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort is offering a wonderful Pamber Break Gift Voucher for two. Relax and unwind with two nights' bed and breakfast in a deluxe guestroom, dinner in The Arlington Room on one night and take time out to journey through The Heritage Spa Experience  for up to 3 hours; plus you can also choose from one of the following one hour treatments:

- 1 hour full body massage
- 1 hour prescriptive facial
- 1 hour seaweed detox body wrap.

Guests also have complimentary access to their health club with leisure pool, 5km walking track, tennis court and trim trail. 

For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply submit your details and answer the question below: CLICK HERE