Fall truly, madly, deeply in love with Northern Ireland

Susan pictured on Rathlin Island

Not only have I jumped into Northern Ireland but  I have fallen truly, madly deeply in love with it following a recent trip up there on a sublime day out to Rathlin Island.

Up there differentiates the North from the South ie the Republic of Ireland (26 counties) which is Irish and the wee North (six counties) which is technically British, with the population still divided over which country it should really belong to. I know it’s confusing, but thankfully the ‘troubles’ are over and Northern Ireland is doing its best to rebuild its reputation as a safe and wonderful destination to visit.

Belfast is the capital /main city (it’s impossible to be politically correct) and is enjoying a great revival with the opening of the Titanic Quarter this centenary year, which has focused the worlds media on a formally forgotten corner of Ireland, that is well worth exploring.

Less than 2 hours from Dublin, Belfast is the gateway to the glens of Antrim and the famous Giants Causeway Dunluce Castle which is on most tourists itineraries. But there is so much more to see where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea, Carlingford and its Lough. 

Belfast itself and that fantastic coastal drive through Cushendall, Cushendun, Carnlough, Torr Head and all the way around to Portrush (a famous golf resort) via Ballycastle and the Carrick-a-rede ropebridge, no doubt you have all seen that photo? I hope to explore all the above and more this summer so you can look forward to lots of Northern Hidden Gems been added to my website over the next couple of months and as always if you have any suggestions of your own you would like to include please let me know via email, in the meantime...

By Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/index.html

The Volvo Ocean Race is coming to Galway - six of the fastest sailing boats battle as the city parties

There is great excitement about the Volvo Ocean Race coming to Galway on the 30th June 2012 so much so that Galway has built a huge quay side festival around it which will cater for pretty much everyone even if you haven’t the remotest interest in the boats or the racing itself.

It was a rip roaring success the first time Galway hosted the event in 2008. This was mainly due to the fantastic weather and fingers crossed we’ll get the same again.

The the city is gearing up to welcome some 100,000 visitors over the next week when the Volvo Ocean Race, which began in Alicante, Spain in October 2011 comes to a close after 39,000 grueling miles. Six teams - Abu Dhabi Racing, Camper with Emirates, Puma Ocean Racing, Team Sanya, Team Telefonica and Groupama (the French team leading the race at the moment) - will set off from L’orient in Volvo 70 footers (the fastest in the world) for the final leg and finish of the race in Galway.

And while the star attraction will undoubtedly be those six Volvo yachts and their crews battling it out to the finish in Galway some time next Tuesday the 3rd July. There is going to be so much sailing and waterside action with a full programme of in port racing, daytime events and evening entertainment, we wont even notice if it rains. In fact it is going to be one huge party from start to finish!

For full details of the festival and events visit Volvo Ocean Race Festival or as they say there is an App for that.

But be warned access will be limited so to avoid the inevitable traffic jams either Park & Ride from Ballybrit Racecourse €5 or hop a rib from Kinvara with Ribwest €18 or take a ferry across Galway Bay from Ballyvaughan with the O’Brien Line €20.

Failing all that and if you cant make it to Galway one of the days you can always watch the live action here.

For more information about Galway please visit http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/galway.html .

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

Discover the best of the west of Ireland - going west without your car

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

If you're visiting Ireland and have decided not to hire a car, never fear. There are plenty of options for travelers going west without a car and considering the island of Ireland is only 200 kms across (at its widest point) getting the best out of the west is a breeze.

Here's just one option for the carless traveler in Ireland.

Discover the best of the west of Ireland with the Dublin Tour Company which operates a twice daily coach trip from the Discover Ireland tourist offices on Suffolk Street in Dublin.

Departure times are 7am and 8.30am with an optional day or open return for those wishing to extend their stay in the West of Ireland. Early birds (leaving at 7am) will arrive promptly in Galway after a short rest stop in Athlone at 10am.

They can then take advantage of a complimentary guided walking tour of Galway which lasts approximately one hour, taking in all of the interesting sights, sounds and images of this historic medieval city of the tribes, prior to boarding the 11.30 am Burren / Cliffs of Moher Tour from the Galway Bus Station (opposite the Tourist Office).

Sleepy heads can enjoy a couple of more z’s by taking the later 8.30 departure from Dublin (as above) skip the walking tour and hop on that same 11.30 tour departure to the Burren / Cliffs of Moher.

Another excellent and extremely popular package by the Dublin Tour Company is what they call the ABC option which includes two nights accommodation and three trips to (A) the Aran Islands, (B) the Burren / Cliffs of Moher and (C) Connemara, full details of the accommodation options and prices are included in their website But, an approximate guide is €25 per tour from Galway, €45 from Dublin, €75 including one night’s accommodation & two trips and €125 for the ABC Tour which includes two night’s accommodation and three trips.

Discounts of 10-20% are available online when booking two or more tours. What is especially good about the Dublin Tour Company is that all admission fees are included in the tour prices (apart from the gardens at Kylemore Abbey) There is also a free collection service from your hostel, bed & breakfast or hotel in Galway.

Tours operate daily apart from the 25th & 26th of December so your options are always open, and a really big plus? You will not have to pay extra for intercity transfers by public service providers. But more importantly it means you have plenty of freedom and flexibility, time and weather wise, which is just as it should be on holidays.

For more information or to book online visit their site here.

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

Ireland's best beaches - for treasure hunting or nude sunbathing -- Ireland's secret spots

Bask in the beauty of Ireland's beaches

Ireland's best beaches are not a secret, pick a beach any beach at all and feel free to claim it as your own.

When my children were young, as well as 'treasure' hunting in castles, we used to go beach 'combing'. It was not unusual to find coconuts (from the Caribbean or fishing buoys from New England) on the West Coast or lumps of coal from Wales on the East Coast.

Fortunately, we have never lived far from the sea as is the case with most people living in Ireland. We can proudly boast of having possibly the most spectacular coastline in Western Europe...pity about the weather. There are no ‘costas’ in Ireland (Thank God) however on a ‘pet’ (unseasonably warm) day in May or September, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Greece should you find yourself on a deserted white sandy coral beach, lapped by turquoise waves with only a couple of cows or sheep to keep you company.

Ireland's best beaches on the east coast are much busier due to their proximity to the capital, Dublin city with the added bonus of being able to buy an ice-cream or a coffee close by/ Whereas on the west coast the beaches can be pretty isolated, fabulous if you fancy nudey sunbathing or skinny dipping but be warned, even with the north Atlantic drift warming the water the temperature never rises much above 6C. And of course, never, ever swim alone, it can be very, very dangerous no matter how inviting it looks. There are plenty of Blue Flagged (ie water quality tested beaches throughout Ireland), with lifeguard stations, but only during the summer months.

For a list of the ten best beaches in Ireland visit click here.

"Where to Eat, Sleep & Play in Ireland 2012" - get the inside story on traveling in Ireland this year

"Susan Bryon exploring the highways and byways of Ireland"

I have written an eBook, "Where to Eat, Sleep & Play in Ireland 2012", in response to the hundreds of emails I receive daily from potential visitors asking those same questions.

With over 100,000 bed options available daily in Ireland, how is the independent visitor supposed to choose much less get it right? Sure, you can trawl through the maze of discount hotel sites or you can take the easy route and trust my advice gathered over four years of independent travel and research throughout Ireland.

Would you like to know the top ten posh places to stay in Ireland for peanuts? Thought so. Yes, the upside to the recession is that there are some truly amazing deals to had in Ireland right. I have handpicked and listed the very best of them for you in this eBook.

The lists are tight and limited to the top ten for a reason, to ensure that these establishments are at the top of their game, that you get the most bang for your buck, and the best possible experience of Ireland.

Visitors assume that we have great food in Ireland and yes we do, but it is certainly not everywhere and it can be expensive, very expensive. As anyone who follows my blog or Facebook page will know, I love and appreciate good food and I am a great champion of those restaurants, listed in my eBook that are making a serious effort at producing top class food at affordable prices daily.

Although there is already a full, and free, listing of the top ten visitor attractions on the website, within the guide I have again simplified matters by selecting the cream of the crop in terms of the top ten festivals and events this year as well as my own personal favorites that I think offer exceptional value for money and top quality experiences.

For more information visit http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/ireland-travel.html

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

Susan Byron's predictions for the top ten visitor attractions in Ireland for 2012

Bunratty Castle

1. Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Shannon, County Clare
If you have only time to ‘do’ one visitor attraction in Ireland, this is it! Absolutely excellent, fantastic castle, medieval banquets, Irish cottages, farmyards, streetscape with traditional pubs, shops, school etc, great good value day out for all the family.


2 Butlers Chocolate Experience, Clonshaugh, Dublin
What’s not to like about a Willa Wonka-style experience with suspended walkway tour over the factory floor and all the chocolate you can eat?

3 Crawford Art Gallery, Cork City
A smashing selection of superbly curated Irish Art, just the right amount in a wonderful city centre location and admission is free!


4 Croke Park Museum, Dublin
Probably the best guided tour in Ireland, especially if you know nothing at all about Gaelic Games? The only carbon neutral stadium in the world? And top of their game right now, with a momentous Dublin win in 2011.

5 Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Dublin
The only recipients of a Thea award in Ireland, excellent modern museum with superb multi-media, as well as the personal touch which is so important when dealing with a subject like this...
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6 Irish National Stud, County Kildare
Her majesty Queen Elizabeth enjoyed her visit here in May 2011, very interesting and informative background to one of our favourite national past times and the adjoining Japanese gardens are an absolute delight in early Spring.

7 Lismore Castle Gardens, County Waterford
What a dreamy garden, immaculate vegatable and flower gardens bursting at their neatly boxed seams while big blousely rambleing roses ran away with themselves over the castle walls. Great coffee and homemade cakes too...

8 Old Jamesons Distillery, Dublin
Another excellent guided tour where you are led through the whole process of whiskey distilling from the grain to the glass and its effect on the social history of this cobbled streeted area of Dublin, very generous whiskey tastings…

9 Museum of Country Life, Castlebar, County Mayo
Another free museum I cannot recommend highly enough and it’s free! You could happily spend the day here finding out how people lived in rural Ireland not so very long ago.


10 Swiss Cottage, Cahir, County Tipperary
Picture postcard lovely this restored Cottage Orné, is one of only two in Europe. Designed as a pastoral idyll, similar to the Trianon of Versailles it was built by Richard Butler of nearby Cahir Castle which you can walk to along the riverbank.

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

Christmas shopping in Galway - the sights and sounds along Shop Street

A window display in Galway

Here in Galway we really have the nicest shops and you won’t beat it for atmosphere, especially at Christmas. Who wants to spend their money in bland, faceless shopping centers, that couldn’t care less about you or your euros when you have got Shop Street...

At the top end, literally and figuratively we have Brown Thomas, a luxury department store, its corner location a hub of stylish yet affordable shopping, and all very elegant in classic black & white with a service to match. They always have the most gorgeous shop windows packed full of highly desirable goodies, so if you hear of a smash and grab raid in Galway it could well be me!

Just opposite is another shop window, I have been known to lick, Hartmanns the jewelers, where you can lust after all kinds of lovely trinkets from Rolex's to Mont Blanc and even Fabergé. Or be-dazzled by the sparkliest diamonds in Lazlo's as you sidestep into Premoli’s gorgeous shoes & boots shop.

The wedgewood blue and white front of the Treasure Chest hints at what’s inside, a timeless emporium of traditional Irish gifts. Further along on the right is McCambridges, a purveyor of fine foods since, well forever and a foodie haunt long before the term came into being.

Down a bit further is Easons, the last of our Irish bookstores, online is taking over but people still like to feel books or pick up an international newspaper or magazine. Then there's Anthony Ryans, a family drapers that’s catered for generations of Galwegians, from first Holy Communions to Weddings and everything else in between....

And from the traditional to the ultra modern, the award winning Born Centre on Galway's inland waterway system. I have a real soft spot for this place, stunning architecture, there is a glass panel in the floor where you can watch the might Corrib river rushing through underneath, and knitted tea cosies on the teapots in the cafe, which also serve smashing scones! a great place to escape the Christmas madness and relax....

For more information on Galway click here or download the free iPhone app.

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

Hidden Ireland - Ireland's private house a world away from Irish hotels

Old Irish house - stylish bathroom

Hidden Ireland is a collection of magnificent private houses throughout Ireland who offer seasonal accommodation, albeit on a grand scale, to the public.

A stay in one of these great houses is quite unlike anything else you will experience in Ireland. "Downton Abbey" addicts (like myself) will delight in the country house experience where you are made to feel more like an invited friend than a paying guest.

Whilst not obviously commercial and not to be confused with country house hotels, these wonderful homes (most of which have been in the same family for many generations) offer something truly different.

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A peek at the Hidden Ireland brochure reveals a wealth of stunning, architectural gems from which to choose. Perhaps a romantic Victorian hunting lodge, on a wild river teaming with fish, a Palladian mansion on a vast country estate with leafy walks or an elegant Georgian townhouse right in the heart of Dublin.

Although still available many of the pursuits traditionally associated with country life, like hunting, fishing and shooting, have naturally translated into organic farming, with fresh fish and game, vegetables and fruit in season often featuring on the evening menu. Dinner (by request) is usually served at a communal dining table (although you can dine alone if you wish) designed to further enhance your appreciation of Irish country house hospitality.

Apart from fine wine and conversation, you never know who you will be your fellow guests and what life long friendships might be forged at these impromptu gatherings. Repeat business is a testament to and the lifeblood of these establishments, ensuring a continuity of tenure and responsibility for the second generation of hosts and their children, who are breathing new life into Hidden Ireland. What has been their privilege is now their great pleasure to share with you.

For further details, including seasonal special offers and Christmas Gift Vouchers visit www.hiddenireland.com