AN OASIS OF TRANQUILITY IN BEAUTIFUL BLESSINGTON

Media release

AN OASIS OF TRANQUILITY IN BEAUTIFUL BLESSINGTON

-EXPLORE THE GARDEN COUNTY FROM TULFARRIS HOTEL AND GOLF RESORT, CO. WICKLOW-

There are so many beautiful spaces in Wicklow to be explored from the Blessington Lakes covering over 5000 acres of glistening water, the 6^th Century Glendalough Monastery to the spectacular Wicklow Mountains. Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort, Blessington, Co. Wicklow has two packages centred around exploring the very best of Ireland’s Ancient East.

The Beautiful Blessington Package is a two-night bed and breakfast package (from €149 per person sharing) designed for the outdoor enthusiast. Guests can explore the majestic Wicklow Mountains, stroll leisurely in the great outdoors and soak up the peace and tranquility of Ireland’s Ancient East. Guests will be given a touring map of the best walking routes around the area along with a freshly prepared picnic as they set off on their adventure around the Blessington Greenway. Later, guests can sit back and relax over a three-course meal served in the newly refurbished Fia Rua restaurant with spectacular panoramic views of the Blessington Lakes.  

The Active Wicklow Package is designed for guests who love an action-packed getaway! This 2 night/ 3-day experience includes bed and breakfast (from €209 per person sharing) and offers the best of both worlds with active days and luxurious nights at the heart of the package. The package includes a half day experience at CP Adventures, dinner on one evening, touring maps of Wicklow and a freshly prepared picnic.

After checking in, guests can begin their activities with a hike to Lugnaquilla peak, standing at 925 metres tall, Lugnaquilla is the highest mountain in Ireland outside of Kerry. Tulfarris will provide guests with a freshly prepared picnic so guests can enjoy lunch whilst taking in the picturesque scenery from the top of the mountain.

The second day, guests can enjoy a half day experience with CP Adventures where there is a range of activities on offer including zipline, climbing walls, archery, bungee trampolines, abseiling, orienteering, clay pigeon shooting, canoeing, paddle boarding and kayaking.

All the fun filled activities in the fresh Wicklow air is sure to work up an appetite! Guests can enjoy a three-course evening meal in Fia Rua Restaurant that evening while experiencing the breathtaking views of Tulfarris lakeside setting.

Before checking out, guests can explore the Blessington Greenway. This is a 6.5km walk along the shores of Blessington Lake linking the town of Blessington with the 18^th Century Russborough House. It passes close to the deserted medieval settlement of Burgage More, where there is a ruined castle. The beautiful scenery around the lake, with the backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains, can be enjoyed on foot or by bicycle with the terrain also suitable for buggies. 

Glendalough is a must visit when exploring the Garden County. This historic site is home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed the “Monastic City”. Most of the buildings that survive today date from the 10th to the 12th centuries. Despite attacks by Vikings over the years, Glendalough thrived as one of Ireland’s great religious foundations and schools of learning until the Normans destroyed the monastery in 1214 A.D.

Situated just 40 minutes from Dublin, Tulfarris enjoys a location steeped in history, heritage and extraordinary scenery. The resort comprises of a luxury 4-star hotel, 18-hole championship golf course, clubhouse, conference centre, banqueting suites, an award-winning restaurant and bar. The 18th century Manor House sits at the heart of the resort and its classic design and elegant proportions are typical of the 18th century architecture of the time.

PREM Group purchased the 90-bedroom hotel in 2016 and since then have already spent over €6 million on the property to return the luxury 18th century Manor House and its surrounding grounds to their former glory. The initial renovation programme saw 16 new bedrooms being added to the Wicklow property while the bridal suite, foyer, drawing and library rooms of the Manor House have been tastefully transformed to enhance the wedding experience at the luxury resort. 

For more information on Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort or to make a booking see www.tulfarrishotel.com or call (045) 867 600

Golf for sure at Tulfarris but Wine and Dine Scores Well Also

Golf for sure at Tulfarris but Wine and Dine Scores Well Also

Toons Bridge Fior di Latte Mozzarella

Attention of golf fans will be focused on Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort at the end of the month, when The PREM Group Irish Masters takes place there from the 28th to the 30th. The Sky Sports cameras will be present, filming the action on the spectacular golf course and no doubt taking in the lovely Wicklow countryside. With the package being screened in 138 countries, the event should prove to be a major boost for the hotel and its golf course and also for tourism in the area and indeed in the country.

The course and hotel are looking splendid as I found out on a recent visit, arranged to highlight the golf tournament. PREM have spent some six million here in recent years and the majority of it has gone into improving the hotel and surrounds. And it shows. It is already a popular place. When we arrived late on a Sunday afternoon, we walked into the bar for a cuppa and were amazed at the buzz there. By the way, they have their own Tulfarris ale and it’s a pretty tasty drop.

Breakfast view from the restaurant

Thinking about it afterwards, the Tulfarris hotel is quite a handy base, not just for golf (by the way admission is free for the tournament at the end of the month) but also for visiting attractions in the area. It is just about twenty minutes from Exit 12 on the motorway and we used it to visit the Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre and enjoyed the factory tour, the Museum of Style Icons, the shop (of course) and also a light lunch in the busy café, a stylish bright and airy place. 

The following morning, we called to Russborough House, just a few minutes away from Tulfarris, and did the full tour there. Finished up with a cuppa and pastry in the house café and, just over two hours later, were back in Cork.

Other places to visit with Tulfarris as a base, include Kildare Village, Punchestown Racecourse, the Wicklow Mountains (including the Sally Gap) and Glendalough. Of course, the Blessington lakes and the Poulaphouca reservoir are close by.

After all that mountain climbing, walking and shopping, you’ll need to refuel and Tulfarris will sort you out in the Lime Tree Restaurant which has great views over the golf course. Here, they promise a mix of world cuisine with the best of Irish. Indeed, Irish producers and suppliers are used as much as possible.

And I was able to check that out straight away with my starter: Toons Bridge Fior di Latte Mozzarella (Peas, mint, pea-shoots, Wicklow Rapeseed oil and crispy bread). Delicious. Meanwhile, CL was singing the praises of her Vine Ripened Tomato Terrine (Heritage tomatoes, basil emulsion, olives), quite different and also very tasty.

Elderflower semi-freddo

We were onto the wine now. Butterfly Ridge blends went down well. The Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon was vibrant, fruity and soft on the palate while the Riesling Gewürztraminer was a perfect match with the fish dishes on offer.

One was the Pan-roasted fillets of plaice with hazelnut, charred cauliflower and spinach, quite a delicious combination. Being in Wicklow, I couldn’t resist the local lamb served with courgette, goats cheese and elderflower. Another winner, especially with that red wine.

Wicklow lamb

Sleep well!

Would we have dessert? Of course! And they had some tempting ones of offer, including Eton Mess, Hazelnut mousse, Pannacotta. I choose the Baked Raspberry and White chocolate cheesecake while CL’s pick was the Elderflower semi-freddo (with gooseberries, oak crumb and elderflower jelly). Both were excellent but I think she may have picked the better one! 

Happy out with that, though we did have time enough for a few more chats, not all of them golf related, before the enjoyable evening came to a close!

We had a terrific ground floor room here, with lots of space and comfort (bed and armchairs), and everything we needed, including hair drier, iron, safe, coffee machine, large TV and faultless WiFi. The bathroom too was spacious, very well lit, separate bath and shower and excellent Elemis toiletries.

For more on The PREM Group Irish Masters, please check here.
See also: Museum of Style Icons
Decorator to the Stars Designed Newbridge Silver Café
Dining at Russborough House

Top Golf Award for Killarney Royal Hotel

Top Golf Award for Killarney Royal Hotel

Claire and Brian Scally in Fermanagh.

Claire Scally of the Killarney Royal was in great form in Fermanagh this week, delighted that the family run hotel has been awarded the Irish Golf Tour Operators Association’s Boutique Hotel of the Year 2012.

With over 110 years of welcoming golfers from all over the world to Killarney Royal, the hotel has been officially recognised as a forerunner (pun intended!) in Irish golf tourism and the night was one of big celebration for Claire and her team.

The proprietors, Joe & Margaret Scally and family, and all the members of the team at Killarney Royal were overjoyed to receive this prestigious honour at the glamorous awards ceremony held at Lough Erne resort, Fermanagh.  The award was presented to Claire Scally by IGTOA Vice Chairman and Director of Lynchpin Tours, Mr David Hudson, and celebrity presenter, GAA star Peter Canavan.

Read more here

The Killarney Royal Hotel, where I enjoyed a short stay last year, is the little sister of Cork’s Hayfield Manor and the Cork focus for the coming weekend is on the Jazz and they are, in addition to the music, marking it with the annual Gallery Kinsale Jazz Exhibition.

Ken Buckley of the gallery: “Three of our artists have committed to this year’s exhibition including the official Jazz Festival Commemorative artist 'Mia Funk'. Mia's painting "The Cork Jazz Audience" was commissioned by The Jazz Festival Committee last year in recognition of Guinness thirty year sponsorship of the festival and, this Thursday 25th, the painting will be presented by Diageo to the people of Cork at an official unveiling ceremony by Cork's Lord Mayor John Buttimer at Cork International Airport where it will permanently hang in recognition of the important link between Festival and Airport. Mia has reproduced two similar studies for the exhibition in 'Jazz Blue'.

Visit our website to view the exhibition of work including Watercolour sensation Barbara Barrett and West Cork community Arts activist Derdre Keohane.

For those of you who do visit the Hayfield you are in for a musical treat also with one of the most talented and upcoming Jazz artists, A J Brown performing along with resident 'Loungeman' Conor O'Shea Saturday and Sunday.”