Hen weekend suggestions

dobydu

Hi

Ive the task of planning a hen weekend for my sisters wedding and would love to hear of some suggestions people might have as to where is a good destination to go in ireland. good restaurants great night life and some activity a little out of the ordinary would be great too.

I would love if anyone had experiences of somewhere they had been and found it brilliant

thanks

Liam McPoyle

dobydu wrote: »

Hi

Ive the task of planning a hen weekend for my sisters wedding and would love to hear of some suggestions people might have as to where is a good destination to go in ireland. good restaurants great night life and some activity a little out of the ordinary would be great too.

I would love if anyone had experiences of somewhere they had been and found it brilliant

thanks

My wife went to Kilkenny.

Stayed in Lyrath.

First night they went into the city for dinner and dancing.

Next day they had afternoon tea and watched Dirty Dancing in the cinema in the Hotel.

Age group was mid to late 30s and a nice weekend was had by all accounts.

andreac

I'm going to kilkenny too. Booked through extreme sports. Doing a segway activity day then dinner in hotel and off to pub and club after. I'm not in to girlie things so didn't want the usual cocktail making or dance lessons etc. The segway thing looks good craic and a lot of us are outdoorsy anyway.

Atomic Pineapple

If you're a bit younger (early to mid twenties) then Carrick On Shannon is a great spot, both myself and my fiance have been on Stags and Hens there and my finance is more than likely going to have her own hen there, its a bit more of your standard weekend away type of thing with a good few options for activities you could even try of the boda berg in Lough Key.

When I was there we done the boat booze trip and while it was good, it was a bit too short.

It's a bit more of a hectic spot mind so don't go there if any sort of relaxation is something you want to fit in.

Minera

Belfast is a great spot I had my hen there. My sister and friend planned the whole thing from bars we had to get a shaft lift up to, afternoon tea in a smancy hotel, rooftop restaurant and a cabaret club. I had a brilliant time ☺☺☺☺

Milly33

What kinda of places do you like like quite remote places or by the sea city centre ones

dobydu

thanks for all the ideas, Kilkenny is very close to us so we are looking maybe at cork or galway maybe - I heard Carlingford is very good. we are not into the usual cocktail making, dance classes, paint a nude activities - something that is a little more activity based and that everyone will have a good laugh at. ( I know the options are endless ) there will be a mixture of ages from 26 - 50 (all up for whatever)

prob better getting a hen night planner haha

Milly33

Id say head to Galway, from Cork myself and have to say town wise tis gone fairly rough.. Galway is great craic

amdublin

What is your budget for the weekend?

You can do zorbing in Carling ford.

SarahMollie

I'm going to one in Lisdoonvarna next July - we're doing a Father Ted tour which culminates in a Lovely Girls competition - cant wait!

dobydu

dobydu wrote: »

prob better getting a hen night planner haha

I know you might be joking, but jesus please don't do this.

I went to a hen last year that was booked through one of these, bloody hell it was absolutely ridiculous and a total waste of money. And our activity got cancelled while we were there waiting for it to start!!

It's really not that difficult to book a hotel and some activities, I don't know how companies like these are in business in this day and age to be honest when we have access to all of these things at our fingertips.

fits

For something a bit different check out Osbornes Storehouse in Rathanna. Lively wee bar there too and kayaking with go with the flow river adventures, foraging with blackstairs ecotrails and hikjng in blackstairs mountains are all nearby.

zoobizoo

I happened to stay in Carlingford one night .

Encountered four hen parties in the pub I was drinking in. It was a fairly depressing sight. One party had the crier.... two were dressed in 20's gear, although one of those groups did it better...... The faces on the last group told their own story: "I can't believe I paid money to come and sit in a pub "...

I also noticed that the prices in the "restaurants", (pubs with food menus) for food was as high as decent Dublin restaurants. Found an alright Italian though.

Depends what you're looking for but if you want a hotel that will treat you guys well and take care of you, check out the Martello in Bray. Good restaurant, and good restaurants down the seafront, good bar, and other good bars close by, DJ in the bar and night club aswell... plenty of activities around (kayaking, SUPping, or even a walk to Greystones over Bray head.... ) . They'll organise an event for you if you need one - cocktail making etc

zoobizoo

I happened to stay in Carlingford one night .

Encountered four hen parties in the pub I was drinking in. It was a fairly depressing sight. One party had the crier.... two were dressed in 20's gear, although one of those groups did it better...... The faces on the last group told their own story: "I can't believe I paid money to come and sit in a pub "...

I also noticed that the prices in the "restaurants", (pubs with food menus) for food was as high as decent Dublin restaurants. Found an alright Italian though.

Depends what you're looking for but if you want a hotel that will treat you guys well and take care of you, check out the Martello in Bray. Good restaurant, and good restaurants down the seafront, good bar, and other good bars close by, DJ in the bar and night club aswell... plenty of activities around (kayaking, SUPping, or even a walk to Greystones over Bray head.... ) . They'll organise an event for you if you need one - cocktail making etc

Hoboo

dobydu wrote: »

thanks for all the ideas, Kilkenny is very close to us so we are looking maybe at cork or galway maybe - I heard Carlingford is very good. we are not into the usual cocktail making, dance classes, paint a nude activities - something that is a little more activity based and that everyone will have a good laugh at. ( I know the options are endless ) there will be a mixture of ages from 26 - 50 (all up for whatever)

prob better getting a hen night planner haha

For the mixed age group Carkingford is ideal. No scum, great pubs and restaurants, beautiful village/town. But book early!!

Hermia

Deleted User wrote:

I went to a hen last year that was booked through one of these, bloody hell it was absolutely ridiculous and a total waste of money. And our activity got cancelled while we were there waiting for it to start!!

Deleted User wrote:

I know you might be joking, but jesus please don't do this.

Deleted User wrote:

It's really not that difficult to book a hotel and some activities, I don't know how companies like these are in business in this day and age to be honest when we have access to all of these things at our fingertips.

I agree - DO NOT GO THROUGH ONE OF THOSE WEBSITES!
Went to a hen a couple of years ago and when we arrived, the moh was in the car outside the b and b desperately trying to negotiate different accommodation with the company as the place was awful. We ended up staying there as there was no movement on their side but it's better to check out places yourself.

By all means go onto those sites and look at packages for inspiration and then book it all separately yourself. Ends up cheaper obviously and you know what you're getting. I organised my cousin's hen and we went to Kinsale; beautiful place, stayed in Actons (very reasonable and they'd just done up the hotel). Got finger food on the first night in The White Lady hotel, they have a private room and then stayed in and played games in one of the bigger bedrooms in the hotel. Then the next night, dinner and cocktail class back in TWL, they ferry you out to a crackin late bar and then collect you and bring you back to the nightclub, reserved section. It was great!

willow tree

Lahinch is great..surf lesson followed by spa treatment in the falls and dinner in o'looneys overlooking the sea.

Or Delphi adventure centre does great deals followed by a night out in westport.
Enjoy.