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East Coast & Midlands
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East Coast & Midlands stretches
from the magnificent golden beaches of the East Coast to the
majestic Shannon in the Midlands. This area offers visitors
a wide range of unrivalled facilities and amenities to suit
the young and old. Some of Irelands finest heritage attractions
are sited on the region.
The Midlands
is a truly beautiful region of Ireland that offers everything
from sports and historical monuments to walking trips through
the stunning countryside. The natural beauty of the Midlands
will truly astonish you and a stroll beside one of the many
lakes or rivers is a breathtaking experience.
If you are
a golfer, some of Ireland's finest golf courses are found
in The Midlands, including the world-famous K Club. The Horse
Museum and National Stud is also here, and is home to some
of the world's finest thoroughbreds. |
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Why
East Coast & Midlands?
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The region
will play host to the 2006 Ryder Cup, which will be played
at the stunning K Club in Co. Kildare – one of 80
in the region. |
| • |
Close
proximity to both Dublin and Belfast airport |
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Discover
our Celtic past at the impressive monuments of Brú
na Boinne and the World Heritage Site of Newgrange |
| • |
Quality
accommodation, many with leisure and spa facilities |
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All types
of activity holidays on offer including Way Marked Ways
and Cycling Routes |
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| Activities
View
Activities Map
Below is just a selection of attractions
to be found in the East Coast and Midlands region. For more information
click
here
| 1. |
Canal Walks
The Barrowline, The Grand Canal, The Royal Canal are all wonderful
areas of natural beauty and very beautiful places to walk. |
| 2. |
Canoeing
If you like the wilds of nature, tackle the white water stretch
at Ballymahon, County Longford. |
| 3. |
Coastal Walks The Cooley Peninsula,
County Louth, is a place of great natural beauty. At its heart
lies Carlingford, a medieval town of narrow streets and castles
next on the shores of Carlingford Lough. |
| 4. |
Cruising
The Royal Canal, Lough Ree and River Shannon all provide beautiful
scenery along the many cruising ways in the area. |
| 5. |
Equestrian
Take one, three & five day trail rides through the Slieve
Bloom Mountains to explore Ireland’s hidden treasures
from Cromwells Camp to the Ridge of Capard. |
| 6. |
Fishing
Tench is widely distributed in the loughs, rivers and canals
of the Midlands. Pike is a specialty, with the Shannon, the
River Inny, Lough Derravaragha and the Gowna lakes offering
some of the best action in Ireland. |
| 7. |
Horse Racing
Curragh Racecourse www.curragh.ie in Kildare is the headquarters
of horse racing in Ireland since the first race took place in
1741. It is also one of Ireland's premier sporting venues. |
| 8. |
Horse Drawn Caravanning
Take to the road in Wicklow and Portaloise, County Laois, and
have the freedom to explore Ireland at your own pace www.irishhorsedrawncaravans.com. |
| 9. |
Sailing
Carlingford Lough, County Louth, boasts a natural beauty that
makes activities such as sailing, fishing and walking all the
more enjoyable. |
| 10. |
Walking
Walk the Wicklow Way or the Slieve Blooms to experience the
wild and rugged countryside of this wonderful region. |
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Culture View
Culture Map
Below is just a selection of cultural
attractions to be found in the East Coast and Midlands region. For
more information click
here
| 1. |
All Ireland Drama
Festival, Athlone, County Westmeath
The prestigious All Ireland Drama Festival based in Athlone
began in 1953 and is acknowledged as the premier amateur drama
Festival in Europe. |
| 2. |
Avondale House & Forest
Park, County Wicklow
Avondale House was the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart
Parnell (1846-1891) one of the greatest political leaders in
Irish history. |
| 3. |
Ballindoolin House & Gardens,
County Kildare
A 100m herbaceous border, parterre, Nature Trail and Tree Folklore
Trail enhance the surroundings of the Georgian house. |
| 4. |
Castletown House, County Kildare
Castletown is the largest and most splendid country house in
Ireland, but it is also, arguably, the most important as it
brought about a revolution in Irish architecture. |
| 5. |
County Museum, County Louth
The award-winning County Museum is the caretaker of the history
and culture of County Louth for the people connected to the
county, whether at home or abroad. |
| 6. |
Dwyer McAllister Cottage, County
Wicklow
Nestling in the shade of Kaedeen mountain in County Wicklow,
it was from here that famed rebel, Michael Dwyer, fought the
British and finally made good his escape over the snow-covered
mountains. |
| 7. |
Kildare Town Heritage Centre,
County Kildare
Located in the restored 18th century market house, this is a
multi-media exhibition centre telling the story of Kildare past
and present. Your host, 7th-Century monk Cogitosus, will take
you on a journey through time. |
| 8. |
Larchill Gardens, Kilcock, County
Kildare
Attractions include Pets corner, a sandpit, playground, woodland
walks, lake and wildflower meadow, all before you can sit back
and relax in the coffee shop. |
| 9. |
Lockes Distillery Museum, Westmeath
Licensed in 1757, Lockes produced triple distilled Irish whiskey
for over 200 years. Today it is the last remaining example of
a small pot still distillery in Ireland. |
| 10. |
Tullynally Castle & Gardens,
Castlepollard, County Westmeath www.tullynallycastle.com
Seat of the Earls of Longford, this Gothic revival castle is
still occupied by the family. A Tibetan and a Chinese garden
have been added to the extensive grounds. |
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Golf View
Golf Map
Below is just a selection of golf
courses to be found in the East Coast and Midlands region. For more
information click
here
| 1. |
Ardee Golf Club,
Ardee, County Louth |
| 2. |
Arklow Golf Club, County Wicklow
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| 3. |
Ballymascanlon Golf Course,
Dundalk County Louth |
| 4. |
Blainroe Golf Club, County Wicklow |
| 5. |
Castle Barna Golf Club, County
Offaly |
| 6. |
Delvin Castle Golf Club, County
Westmeath |
| 7. |
Druids Glen Golf Club, County
Wicklow |
| 8. |
Glasson Golf Club |
| 9. |
Headfort Golf Club, County Meath |
| 10. |
The Heath Golf Club, Killenard,
County Laois |
| 11. |
The K Club, Straffan, County
Kildare |
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History View
History Map
Below is just a selection of historical
attractions to be found in the East Coast and Midlands region. For
more information click
here
| 1. |
Battle of the Boyne
Site & Bru na Boinne
The Battle of the Boyne, between King William III and his father-in-law,
King James II, was fought on 1 July 1690. It is a hugely important
site in the history of Ireland. Renowned for its wonderful heritage
stretching back 5,000 years to the UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Bru na Boinne includes the ancient passage graves of Newgrange,
Knowth and Dowth. |
| 2. |
Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre,
County Longford (tel +353 43 22386)
The Centre interprets an Iron Age bog road that was built in
148BC close to the River Shannon. The oak road is the largest
of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe. |
| 3. |
Clonmacnoise National Monument,
County Offaly One of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites
founded by St Ciaran in the 6th Century and situated on the
water meadows of the River Shannon. |
| 4. |
Emo Court House & Gardens,
Portlaoise County Laois
Located close to Portlaoise, Emo Court was designed by the architect,
James Gandon in 1790 for the first Earl of Portarlington and
is a magnificent example of neo-classical style. |
| 5. |
Hill of Tara, County Meath
The Hill of Tara, located 48km northwest of Dublin, dates back
more than 5000 years to the neolithic age. Tara is known in
both myth and history as the traditional seat of the High Kings
of Ireland. |
| 6. |
Killruddery House And Gardens,
Wicklow The most successful Elizabethan-Revival mansion in Ireland.
The gardens at Killruddery are the oldest in Ireland and are
amongst the most important in these islands. |
| 7. |
Old Mellifont Abbey, County
Louth
The first Cistercian monastery in Ireland founded in 1142 by
St Malachy of Armagh. Its most unusual feature is the octagonal
Lavobo c.1200. |
| 8. |
Powerscourt House & Gardens,
County Wicklow
Located in a stunning natural setting at Enniskerry, this is
a magnificent period home dating from mid-18th century, overlooking
wonderful terraced gardens and an ornamental lake. |
| 9. |
The Bog of Allen
The Bog of Allen is an important part of Ireland’s natural
heritage. It began to form 12,000 years ago after the last ice-age
when open lakes were gradually filled in with peat to form fens.
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| 10. |
Workhouse Museum, Donaghmore,
County Laois
The museum relates the stories of the families who lived and
died in the workhouse after the Great Famine and land war. |
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Luxury View
Luxury Map
Below is just a selection of luxury
attractions to be found in the East Coast and Midlands region. For
more information click
here
| 1. |
Belfry Restaurant
and Cookery School, Mullingar, County Westmeath
The Belfry Restaurant, with its tall spire, stands proud in
its idyllic setting in Mullingar. The former church, was converted
by the Murphy Family in 2001. |
| 2. |
Irish National Hunt Festival,
Punchestown Race Course, County Kildare
A four-day spectacle (late April/early May) that attracts the
cream of National Hunt Racehorses from across Europe. |
| 3. |
Fairyhouse Race Course, County
Meath
Fairyhouse is the home of Ireland’s premier National Hunt
race, the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, which is run
every year on Easter Monday. |
| 4. |
Ivyleigh House, Portlaoise,
County Laois
A superb hotel, recently refurbished, and noted for its ambience,
luxurious surroundings and unique home cooked breakfasts. |
| 5. |
Osprey House Hotel & Spa,
Naas, County Kildare
This new stylish 4-star contemporary hotel sets out to be 'a
world apart'. Leave the stress behind and indulge in their luxurious
bedrooms with in-room interactive IT facilities, the Fusion
cuisine, the unique ‘time:bar' in a 3-storey Atrium with
gigs every weekend. Spa treatments include Rasul baths, Salt
Grotto and Black Mud. |
| 6. |
Quaglinos Restaurant, Dundalk,
County Louth Award-winning centre of Town Restaurant serving
modern Irish Cuisine using fresh local produce with emphasis
on fresh seafood, oysters, lobsters, veal and game. |
| 7. |
Rathsallagh House Golf &
Country Club, Dunlavin, West Wicklow
Rathsallagh is a large country house converted from Queen Anne
Stables in 1798, with its own championship Golf Course. Set
in a peaceful oasis of 530 acres of rolling parkland with thousands
of mature trees, lakes & streams. |
| 8. |
The Curragh Irish Derby, County
Kildare
The undisputed highlight of the Irish racing season. The Curragh
is the headquarters of horse racing in Ireland since the first
race took place in 1741. |
| 9. |
Thoroughbred Horse Sale at Goffs
in Kill, County Kildare
There are seven sales spread throughout the year, and even if
you’re not in the market it’s worth a look. |
| 10. |
Tinakilly House, County Wicklow
Tinakilly House is a romantic secret hideaway, 29 miles south
of Dublin. A 4-Star Country House Hotel and Restaurant, Tinakilly
is internationally renowned for splendid fresh food in elegant
Victorian surroundings. |
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Scenery View
Scenery Map
Below is just a selection of scenic
attractions to be found in the East Coast and Midlands region. For
more information click
here
| 1. |
Cooley Peninsula,
County Louth
The Cooley Peninsula has been inhabited for thousands of years
and is rich in pre-historic sites. |
| 2. |
Glendalough Visitor Centre,
Wicklow
The Visitor Centre contains an exhibition on the story of St.
Kevin and Glendalough, with regular guided tours of the monastic
site. |
| 3. |
Midland Lakes, County Longford
The midland lakes are justly famous for the quality of their
brown trout fishing and are a must for all “lock style”
enthusiasts. |
| 4. |
River Shannon, County Longford
The west of Longford is bordered by the Upper River Shannon.
Rising in County Cavan, the river flows 250km to the sea at
Limerick, the longest river in the British Isles. |
| 5. |
Sally Gap, County Wicklow
Sally Gap is one of the two east to west passes across the Wicklow
Mountains and offers both drivers and walkers spectacular views
across mountains and glens.
Slieve Blooms Mountains, County Laois Enjoy the beautiful scenery,
quiet roads and a labyrinth of walking trails and forest tracks
plus miles of rivers and a number of lakes. |
| 6. |
The Rock of Dunamaise, County
Laois
An impressive sight built on 150ft high limestone outcrop situated
on the Portlaoise-Stradbally road. It is one of the great fortifications
of Ireland where Vikings, Normans, English & Irish have
fought over its possession. |
| 7. |
Wicklow Mountains National Park,
County Wicklow
The Park consists of a core area of 3,700ha around the Upper
Lake at Glendalough and the mountains around the Glenealo River
to the west, with the total area of the park is now about 20,000
hectares. |
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