Ancient East

With the festive season well and truly under way and the attendant bustle and stress beginning to take its manic hold, isn't it time to consider getting away from it all to relax and unwind? No matter where you are in Ireland you're certain not to be too far away from the superb break that The Bridge House Hotel in...

Outdoor Tourism Comes Alive In Kilkenny With The Launch Of ‘Outdoor Kilkenny’ Kilkenny Tourism has joined forces with Kilkenny County Council and Trail Kilkenny to launch a new outdoor tourism initiative. ‘Outdoor Kilkenny’ is a new brand and website promoting all outdoor attractions that Kilkenny has to offer; from cycling, walking trails, culture, adventure and activity centres, ‘Outdoor Kilkenny’ is...

Some of Ireland’s most luxurious accommodation and finest foods are to be found throughout the many extravagant country houses on the island. Great food, spectacular settings, timeless charm, Irish country houses really make for an ideal break, so if you are planning a weekend or midweek escape in the New Year, here are some suggestions Dunbrody House Located on the dramatic...

The night before the Battle of the Boyne, King William of Orange was hit by Jacobite artillery fire while out on a reconnaissance mission. Fortune favoured King Billy that July evening as he only suffered a flesh wound before going on to take victory in the most famous battle to have ever taken place on Irish soil. Had the hit...

Tens of thousands of traditional music-loving folk gathered in the town of Cavan for the 2010 Fleadh Cheoil and less than 24 hours into my maiden festival visit, I found myself smack bang in the middle of Lough Oughter. Dating back to the early 1950s, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Festival of Music in Ireland) was established to promote Irish traditional...

I enjoyed the bright morning hours of New Year’s Day for the first time in recent memory. The last strains of 2012 were eased away with a combination of cheese, chocolate and Spanish Grenache, as the hootenanny rang in the New Year and simultaneously called time on a hectic festive season that was both enjoyed and endured in equal measures. The...

Some are used for affairs of State, others are must-sees on Ireland’s tourist travel, and many more converted into the living quarters for eccentric artists or American actors. And while scores remain in ruin along the coastal shores north and south of the island, many more have been converted into luxury hotels and guesthouses allowing visitors to step back...