In the west of Ireland, a new Irish company whose directors have many years experience in running activity and adventure centres, has launched its series of residential summer camps in Counties Mayo, Westmeath and Cork that will finally give Irish children and teenagers a taste the sorts of camps that their English and American counterparts have enjoyed for over 20 years. Horizon Summer Camps have rolled out a range of residential summer camps for children aged eight to seventeen years of age at Westport and also at their Wilson's Centre in Multyfarnham in Westmeath near Dublin.

For parents, the attraction is that Horizon look after their children 24/7 from once they are picked up at the special pick-up points around the country - parents don't have to worry at all.

Horizon camps include multi-activity holidays where children can throw themselves into a wide range of activities such as kayaking, climbing, dragon-boating, horse-riding, quad-biking, and many other activities.

Or, if they wish, they can concentrate on a specialist camp such as the multi-media programme, or horse-riding for the week. Many teenagers opt for the "surf camp", for example, because the coastline adjacent to Westport offers some of the best surfing in Europe.

Horizon Summer Camps Ireland
River View, North Mall, County Mayo
Ireland
tel: +353 98 50290
email: summer@horizonireland.com
web: www.horizonireland.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Amazing! A totally authentic Irish pub with a difference....built into the back of the pub is a train carriage and engine! Plenty of characters in the pub, not least the owner himself Sean Browne. Plenty of memorabilia on the walls with stories surrounding many of the items.

This was the pub in which a famous political interview took place in 1992 which ultimately caused the (in)famous Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Charles Haughey to resign! The chair in which the interview took place is in the pub signed by the interviewee himself.

I am Irish myself & have travelled all over Ireland and be rest assured you will find it difficult to find somewhere as unique as this! While not in a central location in Ireland it is well worth taking a detour to this place.

Main Street, Castlerea, Co. Roscommmon
www.hellskitchenmuseum.com/index.htm
homepage.eircom.net/~hellskitchen/
You can e-mail him on seanbrowne@eircom.net
Castlerea is about 1.5hrs drive from Galway & the town Castlerea is also on the main Dublin - Westport line.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It’s easy to find, we’re told. Not far past the rugby club and the golf club. Six miles past to be exact and lost in a labyrinth of roads that get narrower. Suddenly the spa emerges. Brand new and boasting everything possible to improve the female form. Mudbath. Seaweed bath. Hydrotherapy. Seamist Therapy. Presso Therapy. Algo Therapy. Balneotherapy. And wait for it, Thallasotherapy. There must be some awful ugly women in Ireland to need all that.

My wife emerged radiant an hour later from her Seaweed Bath having enjoyed sharing it with a variety of whelks, weeds and winkles. And do you know that this place is so booked up there’s no chance of any of those therapies or baths for at least a week?

My wife swears blind about how much good it does the skin and how it removes the toxins from the system and…

Westport, Co Mayo
Tel: 00 353 982 8899

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The hotel has the established look and feel of an Edwardian mansion with its rich mahogany furnishings, soft luxurious carpets and the most attentive staff. In fact it was built only eight years ago and so benefits from all the modern technology necessary for guests’ comfort.

The rooms are spacious, each furnished with a safe and supplied with complimentary bathrobes and slippers. The bathrooms are a delight with huge soft towels and Gilchrist and Soames bath products – it is the epitome of luxury.

Our room looked out to Croagh Patrick and beyond to the ocean’s silver of Clew Bay.

In the morning, laze breakfast away over the second pot of tea or coffee after the fluffy poached eggs on slivers of toast or the grilled Dover sole or the creamed porridge with cinnamon…

Afterwards, sit in the foyer and read the morning papers while the world passes gently by. The foyer is one that immediately welcomes - there is a comfortable atmosphere with relaxing seating and lighting – a pleasant setting to do the crossword in the Irish Times - the easy one.

www.khh.ie

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Accommodation in Westport is at a premium. Everywhere is booked out, from humble Bed and Breakfasts to executive style apartments. Out along the old quay there are the luxury apartments of the Old Harbour Mill while in the town are several high quality hotels.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

There’s a great scenic drive from Westport, out through Louisburgh down to Leenane. The mountains shoulder each other aside above the black moorland bog pools while tiny cascades tumble over boulders worn smooth with time, their waters stained rich with peat.

All around the area are huge beaches, the Silver Strand being one of the best. These are strands to wander along at the water’s edge and feel the winds drifting in from warm ocean currents born in the tropics.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Being a pedestrian in Westport is not without its hazards. Forget Zebras and flashing green men. In order to cross the streets, look for a raised ramp with that reddish non-slip surface. Tentatively put a foot down and hope that the traffic stops. Most of the time it does - unless the drivers are tourists who don’t know about pedestrians in Westport.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This is a cosmopolitan place with a river running through the centre of the town flanked by tree – lined streets. Dappled sunlight filters through the limes and sycamores that shade the footpaths along the boulevards, while enormous drifts of hanging baskets garnish the bridges and stone walls.

Everywhere there is a buzz of different languages and accents in the shops and bars. There is a greengrocers here with the freshest garlic, the sweetest of peppers and the most succulent mangoes.

This town is a retreat for the rich and famous, “…and did you not see Madonna a moment ago?”… or “… Bob Geldof was only saying the other day…” hence the gourmet quality foods in the shops.

The town is honeycombed with bars all doing pub grub with lots of seafood dishes. Mick Molloy’s, John Joe O’Malley’s, The Porterhouse …And live music at night that goes on to…

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends