EASTER IN ADARE


 County Limerick is the home of Ireland’s prettiest village. That’s how the tourist page labels it – and depending on what your take on a pretty village is – because Ireland has lots of them,  all different in appearance, you may well agree. We’d have to say it’s not far off the mark in the perfect picture postcard stakes! Adare lies on the River Maigue, which is connected to the Shannon. Since it’s birth over 800 years ago, this village has seen times of trouble and times of peace. Heritage architecture means cute as a button houses and shops. Straw thatches meet old slate on the rooftops. Quirky stone cottages give a sense of the age and historical relevance of this village. The bonus for travellers – Adare is less than twenty minutes drive away from Limerick city and easy to access in less than an hour from Shannon airport. So why do we want you to go there? That’s easy. Aside from all the beauty and history,  Adare is home to the Dunraven Arms Hotel. Here is an old hunting lodge turned luxury hotel with GFI Approved Provider status. The old lodge has long since been extended to incorporate a full blown four star accommodation with elegant bedrooms,  The Maigue fine dining restaurant, a health and leisure centre with pool and gym, and a complete menu of equestrian activities. Owners Louis and Bryan Murphy are fox hunting enthusiasts. They book all hunts and horses. Local dog packs include the County Limerick foxhounds and the Golden Vale Hounds. Off you go to the sound of the horn – with a warming ‘Stirrup Cup’ inside you – embarking on an old country sport long linked to this venue. Over the school holidays, the good people at the Dunraven Arms have your Easter down time all wrapped up. A two night family stay at the ivy clad lodge hotel includes activities like nature walks, kid’s club, arts and crafts, learning to swim and the junior gym. Mums and Dads will love the comfort and service, cosy bar and lounge, that beautiful pool, and of course,  a splendid dinner in The Maigue, where Louis Murphy is chief carver of the magnificent rib of Roast Beef from the trolley. Not to mention a stroll through the village and its sights, plus quaint shopping opportunities. Have a look at our special Easter page for details of this and other offers for the coming holiday period.