A great way to show someone how much you love them is to give a gift that means they piss off for a few days. Here’s JOE’s guide to Irish getaway gifts.
Golf gifts
Ireland was, up until recently, notorious the world over for having more golf courses than playgrounds. Bad news for kids, but good news for that all-important 18-42 male demographic.
Here’s some of the special offers on New Year golf breaks running at present:
Three-star Deer Park Hotel Golf & Spa (Howth, Co Dublin)
The hotel is located in the grounds of Howth Castle and is surrounded by its own golf course, so no need to travel to tee-off. There is a courtesy bus available to take guests to and from Howth village or for a DART to Dublin city centre. There is a ton of top notch restaurants around Howth way, which is home to Gay Byrne no less.
For €139 per person sharing you get two nights B&B, one dinner and two rounds of golf. The package includes use of the leisure centre and gym. It’s a mid-week offer, valid from 05 November 2010 to 24 February 2011.
Contact info:
Telephone: +353 (0)1 8322624
E-mail: sales@deerpark.iol.ie
Four-star Abbeyglen Castle Hotel (Clifden, Co Galway)
Abbeyglen Castle Hotel was built in 1832 in the heart of Connemara by John Darcy of Clifden Castle. It features not-too-shabby gardens, babbling brooks and streams, panoramic views of Clifden and the bay with a backdrop of the Twelve Bens.
Anyway, the hotel is running another cracking mid-week golf break that is valid from 05 November 2010 to 28 February 2011.
For €199 per person sharing (plus 12.5 per cent service charge) you get three nights B&B with three dinners. This includes complimentary afternoon tea daily and a €25 voucher towards golf at Connemara Golf Club for one person per room.
Contact details:
Telephone: +353 (0)95 21201
Fax: +353 (0)95 21797
E-mail: info@abbeyglen.ie
Web: www.abbeyglen.ie
Three-star Dundrum House Hotel, Golf and Leisure Resort (Cashel, Co Tipperary)
Dundrum House Hotel Golf and Leisure Club, is an elegant 18th Century manor house, with full time leisure and health facilities. As well as a top quality menu and wine list in the hotel’s dining room there is also an excellent choice of grills and steaks in The Venue Grillroom. This is clubhouse cuisine par excellence.
The hotel is running a golfing weekend offer, valid from 05 November 2010 to 30 March 2011. For €135 per person sharing you get two nights B&B plus one dinner, one round of golf and use of the hotel’s well-equiped leisure centre.
The 18-hole championship parkland golf course, designed by 1995 Ryder Cup hero Philip Walton, is a cracking par 72 that will provide a genuine test.
Contact details:
Telephone: +353 (0)62 71116
E-mail: finula@dundrumhouse.ie
Web: www.dundrumhousehotel.com
Another option is a Golf Pass, a voucher system which covers green fees for a number of courses in a given region which are bundled into a reduced-price package.
There are 15 different golf passes available for courses all around the country with prices starting from with prices starting from €60 to play three golf courses. Check out Discover Ireland’s golfing section for more info.
Activity packages
A ton of special offers on winter season activity breaks are on the go around Ireland for those who would be into something more demanding.
Four-star Courtyard Cottages – Ivy Cottage (Tralee Town, Co Kerry)
The Courtyard Cottages is made up of a series of beautifully restored stone buildings two kilometres from Tralee town. As well as antique furniture, open fires and handmade beds with crisp white bedlinen, there is also a barbeque area and tennis court on site.
Everyone who arrives gets a welcome basket with wine and chocolates. The Courtyard’s activity break offer, which will set you back €200, gets you two nights in a self-catering cottage that sleeps four with a third night free.
The cracking stretch of countryside around Tralee offers a range of activities: golf, hiking, walking trails, angling, horse riding and surfing. This is both a midweek and weekend offer, valid 5 November 2010 to 31 March 2011 (excludes Christmas & New Year’s).
Contact details:
Telephone: +353 66 7124494
Mobile: +353 87 2069057
E-mail: myra@countykerryholidays.com
Web: www.countykerryholidays.com
Cycling offer at the Four-star Harlequin Hotel (Castlebar, Co Mayo)
Valid: 10 Nov 2010 to 31 Mar 2011
The Harlequin Hotel in Castlebar (formerly Days Hotel) is celebrating its name change and rebranding with a host of special offers and theatre packages. One of their offers is a cycling break ranging in price from €119 to €139 per person sharing midweek or €129 to €149 per person sharing at weekends.
You get two nights B&B plus one dinner and the hire of a bicycle for a full day. A second day can be arranged at an additional price. The hotel’s location means you’re within reach of Westport, Achill and Newport. Offer is valid from 10 November 2010 to 31 March 2011.
Contact details:
Phone: +353 (0)94 9286200
E-mail: info@harlequin.ie
Racing break – four-star Stillorgan Park Hotel (Stillorgan, Co Dublin)
The Stillorgan Park Hotel, a four-star AA and Fáilte Ireland accredited hotel, is situated on the periphery of Dublin City Centre. It’s close to Dundrum Shopping Centre, the R.D.S in Ballsbridge and, crucially, Leopardstown Racecourse.
The hotel is running a racing special over the Christmas period. For €65 per person sharing you get one night B&B, the Racing Post and tickets for the Leopardstown Races on a day of your choice. There are also complimentary transfers to and from the races. Offer is valid from 26 to 30 December 2010.
Another option the hotel offers is a tie-in deal with the sensational Glen of the Downs Golf Club. You can get a weekday outing for €50 per person and €65 per person at weekends.
Contact details:
Telephone: +353 (0)1 2001800
Fax: +353 (0)1 2831610
E-mail: doneil@stillorganpark.com
For more information on these and a range of other offers on winter breaks around Ireland, check out the Discover Ireland website.
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