Irish News

Up to 220 asylum seekers set to lose home as centre to be turned into five-star hotel 

THE group behind the luxury Ashford Castle hotel in Co Mayo have announced plans to open another five-star hotel in Dublin at a location currently used to house up to 220 asylum seekers.

Pól Ó Conghaile: The small Irish hideaway that could teach big hotels a lesson 

Did you hear the one about the woman who left Dáil Éireann for a life of foraging hen parties, wild herbal workshops and cosy shepherds' huts?

Top 10 Irish Drives: The best scenic road trips in Ireland 

Get behind the wheel for Pól Ó Conghaile's pick of the best scenic road trips in Ireland...

The Irish Bucket List: 30 things to do in Ireland before you die 

Pól Ó Conghaile, Nicola Brady and Yvonne Gordon pick 30 amazing experiences for our Irish Bucket List.

450 Shades of Green: Global landmarks light up for St Patrick's Day 

What have the world's tallest building, Niagara Falls, Adare Manor and Finland's sub-zero take on Dragon's Den got in common?

Fire-pits, adult-only breaks and linger-longer lobbies: Seven ways Irish hotels are changing in 2019 

Picking Ireland's Fab 50 for 2019 involved a load of mileage, but it also helped distill for us the emerging trends in accommodation this year.

One man, 100,000 items: The small Mayo museum that packs a big punch 

Ever heard of Jackie Clarke?

Spring Breaks: 7 of the best places to travel in Ireland and overseas 

Not to hot, not too cold, and bursting with cherry blossoms, tulips, daffodils and orchids… spring can be a beautiful time to travel.

My weekend at Adare Manor - 'Every wish was the staff's command' 

We had just sat down for dinner and were perusing the menu in the Oak Room at Adare Manor when suddenly our lovely waiter for the night, Martin appeared before us bearing not just a reading...

Glamp Champs: A camping break with a difference in Waterford 

Birdsong and butterflies punctuate the air over the wildflower meadow ahead, which melts into rolling green fields that in turn become a shimmering sea.

'Compact and compelling' - A midweek break in Wexford goes down a storm 

We weren't the only ones thinking about a good catch-up, because while we are checking in to Clayton Whites Hotel, we stand looking at the...

300km of new trails to create mountain bike magic for Ireland 

Ireland is set to become one of "the top mountain biking destinations in the world", thanks to a €13.6m investment in thrilling new tracks and trails.

10 most romantic places in Ireland - starting with a heart-shaped lake 

Looking for a sweet spot for a getaway, canoodle, or to pop a certain question? Our travel editor suggests 10 of Ireland's most romantic places...

Dublin re-enters top 10 best places for expats to live - but has 'the slowest city centre in all of Europe' 

DUBLIN has re-entered the top ten most liveable cities in Europe - but it has also some of the worst traffic in Europe, new research has shown.

There's one beautifully simple reason to visit Carlow in February 

Think snowdrops are simple? Think again.

Kildare... The start of something wonderful 

Full disclosure; a few years ago, I would have laughed up my sleeve at the idea of a yoga retreat with a group of people I didn't know.

Weekend Walk: Try the Knight's Walk in Limerick - it takes just over an hour 

Did you know the Shannon Estuary lies along the Wild Atlantic Way?

8 great reasons to visit East Cork - From Ireland's Hell to 'Oreo Schmoreo' ice cream 

West Cork has traditionally gotten the tourism plaudits, but there's a lot more to the Rebel County than you may think.

Kerry like a local - 50 things to do in Ireland's 'country within a county' 

'It's a hard life," said the old man sipping a pint outside Reidy's pub.

'Like silk pyjamas on the red carpet' - Is Monart really worth the hype? 

In this always-on world, my inability to relax is starting to become exhausting.

Barry Egan's Wexford: We’ll fight calories on the beaches 

Being near the ocean is one of the best places to reconnect with something deeper than ourselves. Sitting on the beach at Rosslare Strand and watching — or listening to — the waves crashing...

Wexford: Magic in the Model County 

When we pull up to Dunbrody Country House Hotel in Wexford, it seems somehow familiar. I've seen this solid, square, climber-clad Georgian building before.

Pól Ó Conghaile: Do we really want Dublin to turn into Dundrum Town Centre? 

"You can write your own Ulysses," PJ Murphy grinned.

Best in Travel 2018: Pól Ó Conghaile's 10 highlights from a year on the road 

What were the hottest travel tickets this year? Travel Editor Pól Ó Conghaile shares his highlights from a year on the road.

Dublin Airport's VIP terminal: Inside the 'Platinum Services' used by airport A-listers like Taylor Swift 

Taylor Swift has used it. So has Ed Sheeran. And U2, countless times.

'Absolute disaster' for the southeast as Irish Ferries unlikely to operate France service next year from Rosslare 

In what's been described as an "absolute disaster" for the southeast, Irish Ferries has said it's...

Winterval in Waterford: Our family guide to Ireland's Christmas capital 

Snow may have come late to Lapland, but Ireland’s biggest Christmas festival means you don't have to leave the country to bask in merry cheer.

24 hours in the Boyne Valley: Fantastic flavours and heritage hits 

Think of the Boyne Valley and heritage hits spring to mind: Newgrange, Monasterboice, Tara. Within minutes of arriving in Drogheda, however, I’ve got a cup of locally roasted Ariosa coffee...

Review: Lyrath Estate, the Kilkenny hotel with a €5 million makeover 

Readers of a certain vintage may remember the popular TV sitcom 'To the Manor Born' - which poked fun at the aristocracy for looking down their well-bred noses at nouveau riche pretenders to...

'A secret to stumble upon' - Review of The Wilder, Dublin's €9.5m townhouse hotel 

I can't remember the last time I was rocked by red brick.

20 Best Christmas Markets in Ireland - from cosy moseys to festival fun 

More and more Christmas Markets are popping up around Ireland every year, from small and kitschy village fairs to hipster craft shopping experiences.

Love is in the Eire: Ireland scores high as honeymoon hotspot for gay couples 

Ireland has been named among the top five worldwide honeymoon destinations for LGBT couples.

Pól Ó Conghaile: How one small Irish community is re-thinking 'drive-thru tourism' 

How can tourism support communities, rather than the other way round?

First Look: Ireland's Blue Book reveals six new members for 2018 

The former home of Jimi Hendrix's bass guitarist, and what must be Ireland's most expensive tent, are among the new additions to Ireland's Blue Book for 2019.

Top 20 rainy day activities in Ireland - weather-proof ideas for all ages! 

Ireland is a grand country, if only we could roof it. We've all heard the refrain... but you don't have to be outdoors to have fun. Here are 20 great reasons why.

Awakened by the west: 'A holiday so good it made me miss my spa treatment...' 

Mothers of Ireland, ask yourself this: how relaxing would a weekend break with three small children need to be before you totally forgot about your...

Slow Leitrim: Into the wild in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands 

Nestling near tranquil Dromahair, Ard Nahoo Eco Retreat is our destination for a pre-wedding getaway.

Pól Ó Conghaile: Six sneaky escapes within an hour of Dublin 

I know plenty of parents who'd give their right arms for a sneaky getaway.

First Look: Inside The Devlin, Ranelagh's new boutique hotel and cinema 

The Press Up Group's latest step towards world domination officially opens today in Ranelagh - its first completely new build in Dublin.

Inside the Guinness Archives: From Arthur's signature to Obama's keg 

It doesn’t take long to get goosebumps.

Dracula's Dublin: 10 terrifying tips for Bram Stoker's city 

Did you know Dracula's author grew up Dublin? Or that he lived here for most of his young life? It's the perfect excuse for a Halloween-themed hop around the city...

First Look: Thrill-seekers are in for a treat at Ireland's scariest new tourist attraction 

Thrillseekers are in for a treat as Dublin's newest tourist attraction has opened just in time for Halloween.

Shining a light on County Down: Our short break in a lighthouse keeper's cottage 

We're going to a stay in a nightclub!" my daughter took to announcing to everyone the week before our trip. In fact, our destination was a...

Ireland's 30 best autumn walks - with a cosy meal or pint at the finish 

We've asked experienced hikers Adrian Hendroff and Helen Fairbairn - between them the writers of 17 guidebooks to Ireland - to choose the routes they prefer to explore at this time of year.

'We never settle for 'grand'' - The inside story of Ireland's tastiest food experience 

On a bright, sunny day in early autumn, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, is looking its best, as are Paul and Máire Flynn, the couple behind The...

24 hours in Monaghan: Family magic and modern Irish food 

Jillian Bolger maps out hours of family magic around Co Monaghan.

10 Best Pizzas in Dublin - A slice of the city for every price point 

The main takeaway after eating my body weight in pizza these past few weeks? Dublin has upped its game. Deliciously.

Inside Spike Island - Spooks, surprises and saints on 'Ireland's Hell' 

Its journey has taken it from biggest prison on the planet to 'Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction'. So what exactly is Spike Island's secret?

Secrets of Monart's magic: What does it take to make this spa so special? 

Imagine a place perfectly poised between pony-grazed meadows and wonderful woodland, where lavish meets low-key, where no request is too outrageous and the word "no" doesn't exist, and...

Halloween Hotlist 2018: Six spook-tacular things to do in Ireland 

For me, the most frightening thing about the run-up to Halloween is the amount of time I spend talking about Christmas.

High Life: Inside Belfast's Grand Central Hotel and the tallest bar on the island of Ireland 

Room with a view?