AUTUMN BY THE RIVER. Limerick Strand continues their exclusive offers

AUTUMN BY THE RIVER

Limerick Strand continues their exclusive offers plus exciting mid-week affordable luxury this autumn

Nearby King John's Castle

 Instagram: @limerickstrandhotel Facebook: @LimerickStrandHotel www.strandlimerick.ie

#explorealittlemore

 

Limerick city and environs has certainly become the ‘hidden gem’ this summer as many people discovered its charms for the first-time post lockdown.   With a riverside aspect, historical landmarks on every corner and the most welcoming natives, Limerick offers so much for those looking to escape their environment, without spending a fortune.   So why not discover Limerick this autumn and enjoy a night or two at the multi-award winning, recently renovated 4*, Limerick Strand Hotel with its amazing leisure facilities and stellar reputation for superb locally sourced food and gracious hospitality.

This autumn the Limerick Strand will continue to offer discounts plus, you can stay longer for less this autumn with special discounts including 10% off the total price when you stay 2 nights, and 15% off when you stay 3 nights.

For those looking for the perfect couples getaway that offers a mix of relaxation and adventure then the Limerick Strand Hotel is the perfect base for you to discover the hidden gems of Limerick, the Gateway City to the Wild Atlantic Way. From Sept 1^st, the hotel has a luxurious overnight experience for couples looking to enjoy an intimate break.   Escape for an overnight stay in a recently refurbished room, enjoy a complimentary glass of Prosecco or Pint of the local Treaty City Beer before devouring a 3 course meal in the all new AA rosette River Bar & Restaurant on one evening.  Relish a sleep-in (late check-out offered) before enjoying an award winning breakfast. Overnight package costs:  From €110 per person sharing.

On the balcony

Treat a pal, sister or mum to a relaxing overnight stay in a gorgeous room, head to the brand new River Bar & Restaurant and watch the talented Mixologist make you both a complimentary pre-dinner cocktail before enjoying a 3-course dinner in the AA rosette restaurant. There’s so much to do both at the hotel and in Limerick.  Take a relaxing dip in their pool, book yourself a treatment at the neighbouring Namaste Skin Clinic & Urban Spa (10% off all treatments for hotel guests) or get your hair looking great for the evening ahead at Niall Colgan Hairdressing (15% discount offered to hotel guests).  For those looking for some retail therapy, then Limerick has a lot to offer from gorgeous boutiques to landmark department stores, such as Brown Thomas and all within walking distance of the hotel. “Here comes the girls” package from € 110 per person sharing.

The team, the setting and above all the food ensure that the AA Rosette, River Bar & Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Limerick City. A relaxing bright space overlooking the River Shannon in the heart of Limerick City is a popular meeting point throughout the day.  Not only has the physical space being transformed, the menus also have been given a refresh, demonstrating Limerick Strand’s commitment to support local suppliers and offers incredible value for money, partnering with local farms and dairies where possible to source the finest fresh ingredients which take pride of place in their unique menus. The new bar offers a superb local and international selection of beers, wines and spirits and with daily cocktail specials from €8, 3-gin or whiskey tastings with mixers for €25, it is a superb venue to sit-back, relax and unwind in sophisticated surroundings without spending a small fortune.

Limerick is the perfect place for an urban escape or an ideal base for exploring the incredible surrounds of the Wild Atlantic Way .  Take advantage of a combined city/coastal break enjoying some super Local Attractions Discounts including King John’s Castle, The Hunt Museum and Treaty City Brewery. For those looking to venture a little further discounts for Killaloe River Cruises, Scattery Island, Burren Smoke House and Bunratty Castle to name just a few, have been organised for Limerick Strand hotel guests.

Hotel guests can easily explore Limerick city on foot or hire a bike and take advantage of the green spaces along the Shannon riverbank or go further afield and explore the beautiful wooden trails and parks which include Curraghchase Forest Park, Ballyhoura Mountain Trails & Limerick Greenway. Limerick Strand offers a complimentary range of walking, running, and cycling map routes for hotel guests and are happy to provide suggested driving itineraries if guests fancy venturing a little further for a day trip.

The city is packed with historic places of interest, activities, cultural hot spots, and great food stops including the famous Milk Market.  

To make a reservation call 061 421800 or hello@strandlimerick.ie for more details please visit www.strandlimerick.ie. 

press release

CorkBilly Latest Food & Drink

 CorkBilly Latest Food & Drink

Week 210910. Update #1

Plan to issue this mid-week with updates towards weekend. If you have any food or drink news, DM me a line or two, plus a link and a photo if available. Of course, if you have "big" news, let me know also and we can do a full standalone post.

*********

L'Atitude Bringing The Fizz Back To Friday...

Fizz Friday is back! And the Duck is flat out excited!!! And so are we! The 
Each Friday we'll be selecting a favourite fizz to pour by the glass to bring you on a journey of Pet Nats, Crémants, Champagnes, Frizzantes, Fizz Cocktails, and more....

Pouring from 4.00pm to 7.00pm today.. More details here.

**********

Da Mirco Very Much Back In Action.

Dine in the restaurant or Click and Collect

In case you did not know we are taking online bookings from Tuesday to Saturday and we have our first seating at 5:30 pm and last orders at 9 pm each of these days. If you would like to make a booking online please click on this button and follow the simple steps

Reservations

You can view our September Menus here

Menu

Within this link you will also be able to view our 'Click & Collect' service which thankfully remains very popular ! Only Fridays and Saturdays Collections.

If you are looking to treat a family member or friend , you can now purchase an online voucher for da Mirco Osteria and you can email it directly to the recipient via our easy to use Vouchers option here.

**********

Friday Take Away at BLAIRS INN

Here is Friday's Take Out Menu..... We are also open from 1pm for dining either in our garden or inside providing you have the relevant vaccine cert, menu available on our website www.blairsinn@gmail.com When collecting your take out this weekend be sure to check out our new range of take home craft beers and fair trade minerals. For Take Out you can email in your order as per usual to blairsinn@gmail.com for all orders.  We are available for collection from 1pm to 8pm. The phone line will be open from 12 noon on 021-4381470 for anyone looking to order by phone. *********

Kitchen On The Rocks is in Myrtleville, Cork, Ireland.

We are looking for a strong and passionate chef to join our team.

Here at Bunnyconnellan we have started a new journey, focusing on locally sourced ingredients, foraged foods and refined techniques. If you are obsessed with food, ambitious and in search of a fun and driven work place, please get in touch about the opportunity we have available.

**********

O'Mahony's of Watergrasshill

Kilbrack tomato & Knocklara tostado. New on our small plates menu.

*********

Mannings Ballylickey Family Special

manningemporium Great News! Our two offers on pizzas will be continuing this weekend and for the foreseeable future! We can take preorders from today, just call 027 50456 to secure your preferred time slot.

*********

Reardens Bar: Brand New Menu

All the details here 

Introducing our brand new food menu!

There’s something for everyone to enjoy

#NewMenu

#SomethingForEveryone

#Reardens

*********

Live music is back at The White Horse!

Live music is back at The White Horse! We are ecstatic to announce that live music is back after a substantial amount of time. After months of silence our music venue will come to life once again and we can't wait to experience the moments of beauty, connection, passion and soul that only live music can bring. Check out our amazing line up! The Songlines dates, tickets and details will be announced soon so keep an eye on our socials, this is one you don't want to miss!

*********

It’s good to be back 

IZZ CAFÉ 

*********



The Montenotte Hotel

Introducing our specially commissioned bespoke Montenotte Gin  Our gin has a unique character and flavour with a combination of lavender, rhubarb, pink peppercorn & wild cardamom subtly infused to perfection by
@BlackDistillery, inspired by our Victorian Gardens.

*********

Wines of the World: Do you have a favourite grape variety? Perhaps you'd like to try a few and compare?

The Fat Bastard Deal

This 6 bottle case includes 1 Merlot, 1 Chardonnay , 1 Malbec, 1 Rosè, 1 Sauvignon Blanc, 1 Pinot Noir. This French selection of red, white and rose wines from the Vin De Pay, Languedoc- Roussillon region of Southern France. Check it out here.

*********

Go Pumpkin Picking at Joe's Farm

Pumpkin Picking is now live via this link

https://joesfarmcrisps.ie/pumpkin-picking-booking/

Please read all details before completing booking as changes cannot be made once booking is made.

Looking forward to seeing you all for Pumpkin Picking soon

You can call me Al. Our bird on the outstanding Hawk Walk at Aillwee Cave

You can call me Al. Our bird on the outstanding Hawk Walk at Aillwee Cave

Al, with Galway Bay in the background

We are hanging out with Al, a Harris Hawk and our bird on the walk through the woods by Aillwee Cave in the Burren. We include CL (Al is her bird for the walk) and our guide James of Aillwee. Al has been speeding up and down paths (sometimes millimetres from the ground), more often skimming through the often dense hazelwood, for his rewards of little nibbles.

Al checks out his handler

But now, after an hour or so, we are on the way back and he is now on my arm. Suddenly he tenses, he knows dinner is coming from James. His grip increases - you feel the enormous power in his solid bone claws (the rest of his bones are hollow). He is excited as any other hungry animal, just think of your puppy when he hears the rattles of nuts, and he shifts often. Finally, the red food is at hand and he tears (literally) into it.

Quite a feed vanished in no time and soon he is picked up any stray bits and licked between his toes. James says he that after a feed like that he’ll be in a lazy mood in the morning and won’t be assigned to any early duties.

Our afternoon had a more gentle start, in the arena where the Birds of Prey staff put a few different birds through their paces. First up is a Red Kite, a medium large bird found mainly in Western Europe and North West Africa. Kites have a fantastic ability to glide and turn and that was well illustrated here by our bird called Éiru.

Next came a falcon, “one of the fastest animals on earth.... And his eyesight is on another level, he can spot a pigeon at four miles.” As he was put through his paces, by James, swallows crowded around him in the air, safe in the knowledge that they are one of the few birds that the falcon cannot catch!

And the arena show closed with a trio of Harris Hawks (not including our Al!). Theses hawks, found in Arizona and down through South America to Argentina, are unusually social and will look after their weaker group members. They are the only social raptor and even hunt in groups, anything from three to twelve birds. Twelve would certainly make a formidable opposition in the wild.

Hungry Al

With the arena show over, we were taken to meet Al, who had a good look at us. It seemed that he approved. Just joking. These birds have little interest in humans other than as providers of food. Soon we were in the woods and Al was showing off.

Whistle for Al

He would fly away, until out of sight. Then James would whistle and Al would come at a fantastic speed, up the path maybe, just a few inches above the ground. Sometimes, he didn't oblige with such a photo friendly run but would pick his way through the trees. In either case, he would come to a stop, seemingly at the last minute and land on your hand, facing back the way from which he had come. As time went on, he responded to my whistle (doesn’t really matter who he gets his food from!).

Éiru, the Red Kite

James filled us in on these hawks. Al by the way is an 8-year old and has been doing these walks since year one. They are weighed every day and that determines the amount of food each bird will get. In the wild, they can live to between ten and twenty years, double that in captivity.

Dinner for Al!

Their diet in the wild consists of reptiles, birds, rodents and rabbits. Here they get lots of chicken and quail and anything else they see themselves. While we were in the wood, Al spotted a pigeon, the fastest pigeon I’ve ever seen and he just managed to get into the thicker part of the wood before the hawk arrived. Trained Harris Hawks have been used to remove unwanted pigeon population from buildings in the US and the UK.

All the birds of prey take a note of their surroundings as this falcon does here on arrival at the arena.

James kept emphasising the magnificent eyesight of these hawks. It seems to be an amazing system, with nine tenths of it going back into the head, a kind of sophisticated control room. This Swedish study revealed that Harris Hawks have the best colour vision “found in the animal kingdom to date.”

So big thanks to Aillwee and James for the amazing opportunity to see Al at close quarters. If you book the Hawk Walk, your companion can also come to record the event for a much reduced fee. And again, there is a combined ticket for Hawk Walk, the Arena Demos and the Cave itself. All the details at Aillwee Cave. And don't forget a visit to the Farm Shop for some fantastic tastes of County Clare and Ireland.

Milandes

* I didn’t realise it but I did come across the Harris Hawks before - they are very popular for falconry displays. I met mine at the Dordogne’s Chateau des Milandes (the former residence of song and dance star Josephine Baker, in the news recently for having been awarded the French Légion d’honneur). Birds put through their paces that day also included a Kestrel Falcon, a Barn Owl, an eagle owl, various other falcons and an American fish eagle. You don’t have to go to France to see them at close quarters as many are right here in County Clare!

** Check out our visit to the food treasure trove that is to be found at the Farm Shop in Aillwee; details here.

Jog with your dog, bound with your hound or SUP with your pup! Wild Atlantic Wag - Enniscrone’s dog friendly festival

Jog with your dog, bound with your hound or SUP with your pup

Wild Atlantic Wag - Enniscrone’s dog friendly festival

Pic: Trevor Henry

The Wild Atlantic Wag is a festival like no other - it’s a weekend of dog centred fun and activities in the Sligo seaside village of Enniscrone on Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th September 2021. The festival centres around a beach canicross race on Sunday and includes SUP with your pup, a fun dog show, dog themed murder mystery tour, dog themed sandcastle competition and lots more. The event is run in aid of the RNLI in Sligo. 

Event organiser Karen O’Connor is a dog trainer and behaviour consultant, with a passion for canine fitness. “The inspiration behind the Wild Atlantic Wag festival was to get dogs, and their people, active and having fun”, Karen explains, “There are so many activities you can do with your dog and Enniscrone is just the ideal location for most of them. The whole point of the weekend is for dogs and their owners to be outside having fun and also to promote responsible dog ownership”. 

Canicross is a recognised sport consisting of cross country running with a dog attached to you using a hip belt, bungee lead and appropriate harness for the dog. The Wild Atlantic Wag version is on the long, sandy beach at Enniscrone starting at 10am. Some of the country's top canicrossers, who will be representing Ireland at the world championships in April will be taking part. 

Pic: Trevor Henry

There are three distances - 5km, 3km and 1.5km for juniors (under 12). This event is chip timed so prior registration is essential. All entrants will get a goody bag including a bespoke medal, dog treat and specially designed WAG socks. Canicross equipment is recommended but isn’t essential. Some equipment will be available to borrow on the day. Otherwise, you can take part with a handheld lead and collar but no prong collars, choke chains or retractable leads are allowed. 

The run will be followed by a pet themed sand art competition and fun Dog Show and K9 Olympics. Events include dog-and-owner races such as an egg and spoon race with a twist - the lead must be held in the same hand as the spoon, and categories such as Best Sausage Catcher for the dogs.

The fun dog show starts at 1pm in The Hollow behind the beach. The classes are a little out of the ordinary with categories including, ‘Waggiest Tail’, ‘Best Mixed Breed’, ‘Best Trick’, ‘Fancy Dress’ and ‘Looks Most Like Their Owner’. 

On Saturday, SUP with your pup is the order of the day where dogs and their owners try stand up paddleboarding at Enniscrone Pier with Harbour SUP. Buoyancy aids are essential for both - a limited number of dog life jackets will be available on the day. Sessions must be pre-booked; the first is at 2pm and a second will take place if there is sufficient demand.

Everyone is invited to take part in a murder mystery walk around the village at any point over the weekend. A notorious puppy farmer has been found murdered in Enniscrone, after the pedigree puppies he sold turned out to be mutts. Find the clues around the village to work out who committed the dastardly act and what they used Just get a map and follow the clues to solve the mystery and a tasty ice cream treat at Maple Moose. 

According to Discover Enniscrone, dog friendly accommodation is available in Enniscrone at the Ocean Sands Hotel and several other establishments. Their website www.discoverenniscrone.com    will help in planning a visit to Enniscrone. Full details of the Wild Atlantic Wag festival are available on Facebook (@tailsandtrailsireland). Early booking is recommended.

Liberty Wines welcomes historic Ferreira to its Port portfolio

Liberty Wines welcomes historic Ferreira to its Port portfolio

 

Liberty Wines is delighted to be appointed Ireland agent for Ferreira. Founded in 1751, Ferreira is the oldest Portuguese Port house and remains the leader in the domestic market.

It is thanks to the leadership and foresight of Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira that the house became the force it is today. When most other Port houses bought bulk wine from farmers, Dona Antónia recognised the importance of vineyard ownership to guarantee quality. By the time of her death in 1896, Ferreira had become the largest Douro landowner, including the illustrious Quinta do Vesúvio, Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta do Vale Meão and the house’s flagship Quinta do Porto vineyards.

Planted in 1771 and acquired by Dona Antónia in 1863, the 27-hectare, sustainably and dry-farmed Quinta do Porto lies on the north bank of the Douro, where the warmer mesoclimate and southerly aspect give wines characterised by exceptional concentration, weight and structure, with exuberant ripeness yet wonderful balance. Old-vine parcels, described by winemaker Luís Sottomayor as “over retirement age”, produce low yields of intensely flavoured grapes that form the backbone of many of the top Ports in the Ferreira range.

David Gleave MW, managing director of Liberty Wines, says: “Ferreira enjoys a special place in the history of the Douro and has remained a personal favourite since I first came across it in Portugal in 1987. We’re delighted to begin selling these wines, as they are distinctive in style and complement those produced by Offley.”  

The Ferreira Ports available through Liberty Wines are as follows:

Ferreira Dry White Port NV                                                            RRP € 21.99
Ferreira Dona Antónia 10-Year-Old White Port NV                   RRP € 20.99 (37.5cl)
Ferreira Ruby Port NV                                                                    RRP € 21.99
Ferreira Tawny Port NV                                                                  RRP € 21.99
Ferreira Late Bottled Vintage Port 2016                                      RRP € 29.99
Ferreira Dona Antónia 10-Year-Old Tawny Port NV                  RRP € 32.99
Ferreira Dona Antónia 20-Year-Old Tawny Port NV                  RRP € 55.99
Ferreira ‘Quinta do Porto’ Single Quinta Vintage Port 2019    RRP € 102.99
Ferreira Vintage Port 2018                                                            RRP € 119.99

press release