Nice place for a weekend break in Ireland//Somewhere for a few nights away?

SW81

Thinking of taking my new man away for a weekend (not a dirty weekend...well maybe ha ha)....just wondering if any of ye have recommendations for somewhere in Ireland to go for a weekend. Somewhere nice and chilled and pretty but with some decent pubs/restaurants too. We're in Dublin by the way so somewhere that's pretty much the opposite of Dublin. Think we could both badly do with a break so if ye have any suggestions? Thanks girls.

krutt

Kenmare is great

Clare Bear

Was up in Co Clare last summer with my sister and her brats for a few days and I fell in love with the place....Lahinch or somewhere would be nice, near the sea and lots of stuff to do around there (you'd need a car though to travel to the sites), lovely pubs and people, trad music sessions at night....ah it was great, nice and chilled but great craic at the same time.

West Cork or Kerry are absolutely stunning and the same thing, great craic, lovely people etc.....but if you're driving from Dublin they're a bit of a journey. Then again so is Clare I suppose. But you'll need to travel a bit from Dublin to find those kinds of places.

krutt

Why not take the stress out of it by Flying, lots of cheap flights available.

Clare Bear

krutt wrote: »

Why not take the stress out of it by Flying, lots of cheap flights available.

Yeah....but you'd still need a car really though wouldn't you, if you wanted to go see any of the sites...unless you just intend on spending the whole weekend in the hotel OP;)

dudara

Wexford is pretty nice - not a long drive. We stayed in Whites of wexford a few months ago. They have a great leisure centre and spa. We also had a lovely Thai meal in a restaurant near the hotel.

Whispered

I love achill Island for a chilled romantic weekend.

watna

I've been to two nice weekends away in the apst 18 months. one in the Sligo park hotel in sligo. Has a pool etc and is near enough to the town if you're driving. It was very relaxing and we did a nice seaweed bath thing which was hilarious.

Second one was the Anathauem (sp) house in Waterford. We had a romance package and got champagne in our room and rose petals on the bed, plus chocolates. Hotel was gorgeous, is just outside Waterford and had a lovely restaurant.

i reccommend them both!

frizzefreckles

I had a lovely weekend in the Fitzwilton Hotel in Waterford. It's not a long drive and there's plenty to do down there. The hotel itself is in the city and the rooms are really nice and there's a nice bar and restaurant in it. If you check the website you can get some really good deals for it too.

embee

The Cooley Peninsula/Carlingford Lough in Co Louth.

Tis just an hour away from Dublin up the M1 and there are loads of hotels, restaurants and other stuff to do. Loads of lovely hillwalks in the Cooley Mountains, delicious seafood available, the Táin Trail etc...

DubLegs

Clare Bear wrote: »

Was up in Co Clare last summer with my sister and her brats for a few days and I fell in love with the place....Lahinch or somewhere would be nice, near the sea and lots of stuff to do around there (you'd need a car though to travel to the sites), lovely pubs and people, trad music sessions at night....ah it was great, nice and chilled but great craic at the same time.

West Cork or Kerry are absolutely stunning and the same thing, great craic, lovely people etc.....but if you're driving from Dublin they're a bit of a journey. Then again so is Clare I suppose. But you'll need to travel a bit from Dublin to find those kinds of places.

where you on no frontiers last night?
The sister of Fiona Looney!

Cos she was in Lahinch with her sister and kids during the summer!

Clare Bear

DubLegs wrote: »

where you on no frontiers last night?
The sister of Fiona Looney!

Cos she was in Lahinch with her sister and kids during the summer!

Ha ha no, believe me if Fiona Looney was my sister I wouldn't be going on holidays with her!! Does my head in that one!

DubLegs

She just copying you with ur holiday ideas!

Rattlehead_ie

Baltimore / Skibbereen,

Its a bit of a trip so if you could arrange a long 3 day wkend I would suggest there, lovely relaxing quiet, you can rent a small house just for the 2 of you or a B&B, its right beside the sea and some of the sea food restaurants are lovely but they also do a good varied menu as well. Otherwise as I think ClareB suggested Lahinch is nice as well and great for (wind)surfing if you want to try something new.

Clare Bear

DubLegs wrote: »

She just copying you with ur holiday ideas!

Definitely! And I didn't get a fecking free holiday on No Frontiers either...the biatch!

I want a job on No Frontiers

Whispered

watna wrote: »

Second one was the Anathauem (sp) house in Waterford. We had a romance package and got champagne in our room and rose petals on the bed, plus chocolates. Hotel was gorgeous, is just outside Waterford and had a lovely restaurant.

I've been there, about 2 years ago. I thought they completly took the p!ss TBH. In the brochure they went on about views, bathrobes, toiletries etc. We got a tiny room, looking out over the carpark, on ground level, no bathrobes, one bottle of shower gel which was not replaced on our second day there despite being nearly gone. I feel like they took advantage of the fact that we were young and most likely would not complain, which we didn't. Our fault I suppose for letting it slide. Heard the receptionist giving out about not getting a tip too.

corcaighcailin9

I absolutely love Galway for a nice rosemantic weekend. We usually stay in Jury's at the end of Shop St. It's the perfect location to leave the car as it's right in the city. Great restaurants and pubs, and Salthill is only a few mins away. Buzz is always great there.

Nightwish

myself and the OH drove from Achill to Kenmare last year and stopped off at some lovely places - Clifden, Dingle, Killarney. All lovely places, and lovely scenery too.

SarahSassy

Carrick-on-Shannon - its on the train line if you dont have access to a car. Some nice little pubs and restaurants there and there is also the Moonriver cruise on Fri and Sat nights.

Clare Bear

SarahSassy wrote: »

Carrick-on-Shannon - its on the train line if you dont have access to a car. Some nice little pubs and restaurants there and there is also the Moonriver cruise on Fri and Sat nights.

I went on that, we were on a hen party in August, it was funny but full of rowdy people....then again we were on a hen party so we couldn't have been very well behaved either. Lovely hotel in Carrick actually, can't remember the name of it but it was really near where the boat docks, was really nice.

Jeapy

Westport, Co Mayo ftw! Highly reccommend The Plaza Hotel. Rooms are just beautiful, jacuzzi bath, dinner and breakfast amazing!

http://www.westportplazahotel.ie/

Its on the train line from Heuston too. If you go for it, get a weekender ticket, much cheaper. I wish I lived further away so I could justify staying there again!!!

misswex

I think Galway would be lovely, have gone there loads of times with friends and my OH and each time it has been great. Lovely hotels, great restaurants and the people are so lovely and even if you don't have a car you can still hop on a bus and do a bit of sight seeing around the area.

There is so much to see and do up there and you will definitely want to go back.

SW81

Thanks for all the suggestions girls! Ooooh which one to pick now!!!

Quality

Nice hotels for you


Trim Castle Hotel- Lot of history around co Meath- great restaurant
D Hotel Drogheda - Very central great for shopping break
Clarion Hotel - Cork City
Clonmel Park Hotel - A little outside Clonmel, nice spa.
The Monart - If you have a few bob extra to spare, spa..
G hotel- Galway.
Slieve Russel _ Cavan golf and spa
Cavan Crystal Hotel - V Good restaurant.

Carrick isnt bad either, Was boating last Sept, some crack..

SW81

Thanks for all that Quality! Where to choose! Cheers for the ideas girls!

AckwelFoley

Athlone? Anyone?

Crumble Froo

lol, no.

AckwelFoley

narco wrote: »

lol, no.

Best town in Ireland for resturants.

Romantic drink by the shannon..

..and if you're lucky... u might see the sub aqua pull a floater out of water.

SarahSassy

Quality wrote: »

Nice hotels for you


Trim Castle Hotel- Lot of history around co Meath- great restaurant
D Hotel Drogheda - Very central great for shopping break
Clarion Hotel - Cork City
Clonmel Park Hotel - A little outside Clonmel, nice spa.
The Monart - If you have a few bob extra to spare, spa..
G hotel- Galway.
Slieve Russel _ Cavan golf and spa
Cavan Crystal Hotel - V Good restaurant.

Carrick isnt bad either, Was boating last Sept, some crack..

They are all great suggestions - lucky you SM81

SarahSassy

snyper wrote: »

..and if you're lucky... u might see the sub aqua pull a floater out of water.

And if you are not THAT lucky you will at least see knackers fighting with slash-hooks and hammers....

AckwelFoley

SarahSassy wrote: »

And if you are not THAT lucky you will at least see knackers fighting with slash-hooks and hammers....

Not in 15 years of going out in athlone have i seen anything more than a drunken bust up amond adolesent kids outside the chipper.

stepbar

http://www.loughrynn.ie/

Lots of stuff to do onsite and Carrick On Shannon is toooo far away.

SarahSassy

SarahSassy wrote: »

And if you are not THAT lucky you will at least see knackers fighting with slash-hooks and hammers....

Shheeszzz!

I have actually been to Athlone, and they are incredibly well behaved on a night out. I actually wonder how they ever manage to make babies, they seem too polite. The Wineport Lodge and Clonmacnoise are my idea of Romantic.


The same can't be said of Carrick on Shannon now thanks to the insufferable infestation of hen/stag revelers. Who think they have a right to act like animals, I can only presume because they haven't been let out in years.

stepbar

stepbar wrote: »

http://www.loughrynn.ie/

Lots of stuff to do onsite and Carrick On Shannon is toooo far away.

Farther away from Dublin.....Carrick is about 10 minutes more than Lough Rynn.

Rattlehead_ie

Quality wrote: »

Clonmel Park Hotel - A little outside Clonmel, nice spa.

v nice hotel & if you pay for the extra nice rooms v v well worth it + lovely restaurant (Chrissy's).Quality choice aaaaaah mmmm Quality

Featherl

Hi,

We stayed in Knockranny House hotel in Westport. Was brilliant weekend. Westport is beautiful, great for shopping and going out at night. Lots of old pubs with music! The hotel was luxury, very fancy. Check up the website - its very pricey though!

We went to Clare. Clare is also a beatiful place. Stayed in the Lahinch Golf and Leisure hotel, 2minute walk from beach. Lots of nice restaurants, pubs, night clubs etc.. Pool, Sauna etc.. in hotel

Lovely hotels in Cavan, Sligo, Galway, Kilkenny, Kerry - If you want names let me know..

The Ramada hotels are nice and comfortable too

Clare Bear

Any decisions yet OP?

If I could go anywhere this weekend it'd definitely be back to Co Clare somewhere...ah I need a weekend away after reading this thread!

otwb

+1 for Knockranny in Westport. If you have the bucks then get a room upgrade to one of the tower suites....they have a four poster and a sunken sitting room overlooking the bay and croke patrick....nice!

MayMay

Oh that sounds nice.

otwb

otwb wrote: »

+1 for Knockranny in Westport. If you have the bucks then get a room upgrade to one of the tower suites....they have a four poster and a sunken sitting room overlooking the bay and croke patrick....nice!

Thats sounds gorgeous!

kittenkiller

otwb wrote: »

+1 for Knockranny in Westport. If you have the bucks then get a room upgrade to one of the tower suites....they have a four poster and a sunken sitting room overlooking the bay and croke patrick....nice!

+2!

Or the Master Suite, jacuzzi bath with tv over it, dvd players in the bedroom AND the living room, guest bathroom, lovely view...!
Gorgeous food, friendly staff, easy to find, amazing pool and spa...

And that's without even leaving the hotel!

chispa

I'm looking for something fairly specific, but I'm sure there's millions of places like this out there.

My other half is working like crazy including at weekends.. I have quite a bit of work to do myself. Since we've just got a car, I'd love to take him to a nice quiet hotel or guesthouse with wi fi and really cosy rooms where he could set up all day Saturday and work away on his laptop; get a great dinner Saturday night, and then go walking in beautiful countryside on Sunday. I'm not the world's most experienced driver, so in the interests of keeping me destressed, it would want to be close enough to Dublin - thinking Wicklow/ Carlow/ Carlingford range.

Any suggestions?

metalgear2k2

Took my special lady friend here for a weekend, its great!!!

http://www.riverbankcottage.net/

pm if you want more details.

This

Clogherhead in louth near drogheda... amazingess..... like 10 mins drive from drogheda town

metalgear2k2

sorry, just saw ur above reply, ignor my pervious post.

aranrn

Killaloe is about 2 hours drive from Dublin, you can get a room overlooking the lake for about €90. There's a couple of nice restaurants with great seafood. Plenty of pubs including a fancy one with only foreign beers. Anytime I'm there, there's a good covers band playing in the pub on the Bridge and if you're in the humour there's an old-school country dishco upstairs after. It's grand though, not full of young ones on alcopops. Good for a a laugh like.

Khannie

helena.ryan wrote: »

I love achill Island for a chilled romantic weekend.

+1

Kilkenny's also a good spot (just today I was thinking of going there for a surprise weekend away with the Mrs). Good pubs and places to eat and plenty of places to walk around / chill out during the day time. Also, not a very long drive from Dublin.

Robin132

Ok ladies is there anywhere you would recommend for a nice break away with the fella. Nothing too expensive but still nice. Something in either ireland or the UK... so where have ye been with the man in your life and thought "yeah that was nice"

smileysurfer

Robin132 wrote: »

Ok ladies is there anywhere you would recommend for a nice break away with the fella. Nothing too expensive but still nice. Something in either ireland or the UK... so where have ye been with the man in your life and thought "yeah that was nice"

You cant go wrong with a romantic weekend in Killarney, Id recommend the Ross Hotel, or if your feeling flush with Money the Park hotel across the road.
The hotels are really really nice and both have their own cocktail bars.
Also theres lots of places for rosemantic walks by the lakes etc.

.... im not from there, but go as often as I can, just love the place!

krudler

+1 on Killarney, great spot, stayed at the Lake Hotel last year with the missus, if you spend a bit more you can get a room with a hottub in it, as in not in the bathroom, IN the bedroom, it was great, its beside a patio window so you can sit in the tub looking out over the lake, didnt want to get out of the bloody thing

beertons

It depends on where you're from and how far you want to travel. I'm in Kildare, and am going to Westport for 3 days next month. Make sure there's a few things to do where ever you go. Killarney has the lakes, and Ross Castle. Westport has fishing, and hiking. There's bargains out there, we got 3 days for the price of 2 with breakfast and dinners included.