Aras an Uachtaran in the Phoenix Park - President Michael D Higgin's new home

Susan outside the Aras an Uachtaran

Aras an Uachtaran, in the Phoenix Park is the house where the ninth Irish President Michael D Higgins, who was inaugurated on Friday in Dublin Castle, will live for his seven years in office.

Not many people know that you can actually visit Aras an Uachtaran yourself on Satrudays, unless it is being used for official state business, which means tours can be cancelled at short notice. While admission is free, tickets are limited to about 100 which are allocated on a first come first served basis from the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, close by at Ashtown Castle.

Visitors are then transferred by coach and given a guided tour of the state rooms and a short history of the building itself that used to be the Vice Regal Lodge when it was occupied by the then governing body of Englands various Lord Lieutenants, one of whom the Duke of Marlborough who was Winston Churchill’s father.

Elegant corridor at Aras an Uachtaran

It’s a wonderful opportunity to take a peak behind the familiar scenes being played out in the media today, to be part of a living history so to speak. The boardroom, where new governments are sworn into office, under the watchful eye of former presidents, whose portraits line the walls.

The dining room is laid out in crisp white linen with fresh flower arrangements (from the Aras’ own garden) mirrored under the crystal chandeliers.

The lounge used for meeting and greeting visiting dignitaries and royalty so familiar from news footage you almost feel at home, with a final glimpse into the President’s own office, which they are allowed to personalize for their term of office. In fact, I was amazed at how homely and lived in the Aras felt, with fresh garden flowers everywhere and polished brass fire irons beside the grand marble fireplaces set with peat briquettes waiting to be lit in welcome for the next guests, which could be you.

For more information visit www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/aras.html

Red lips and hot tips for the Galway Races

God be with the days of the Celtic Tiger when the Galway Race Festival was the richest and most glamorous event in Ireland’s summer sporting calendar. Where the golden circle used to press the flesh and toast their success in an endless flow of free champagne in the hospitality tents, at someone else’s expense! While the ordinary mortals, having spent hours in traffic queues as long as the M50 had to then join the scrum for an overpriced warm drink in a plastic glass, just to be part of the great occasion that is the Galway Races. Not to mention risking the fake tan (rain equals paint stripper) or your silly hat (gale force winds) are all par for the course in an Irish summer and I have never known ‘the going’ to be good enough for any Louboutin heel yet..

But, don’t get me wrong, 500,000 plus visitors every year would surely agree it’s the place to be, but listen up for some ‘hot ‘ tips. How to double your money? Apart from folding it in half and putting it straight back in your pocket? Well for starters? What everybody in Galway knows there is a lot more Sex (or whatever it is you are after) to be had in the City than on the Racetrack, leave that to the aficionados.

The fashionistas will party till dawn, then sleep till noon, spend the afternoon in hair and make up before shimmying on up to any of the top hotels cocktails lounges, fresh as the proverbial daisy, just as the lucky winners trickle in from the helipad….now that’s what I call studying the form girls.

Susan Byron author of www.irelands-hidden-gems.com

Galway City App available for free download this weekend.