Recently, Flower magazine took an inside look at Glin Castle’s exquisite interiors and gardens, and met the heiress, Catherine FitzGerald, who has reopened its doors. Here are a few activities and excursions in and around the area.
GOLF
Glin is within an hour of some of the best links in the country, including Adare Manor, Tralee, Lahinch, and Ballybunion.
VILLAGE OF ADARE
Spend a day in Adare, often called the prettiest village in Ireland. Once the fief of the FitzGeralds, it was restored in the 1820s and ’30s and is distinguished by stonework, thatched-roofed buildings, and a circa 1390 14-arched bridge.
Go shopping at the antiques emporium of George Stacpoole (011.353.61.396.409), then eat lunch at Adare Manor, an opulent hostelry with a spa and newly restored golf course. Dunraven Arms also has rooms and a highly rated restaurant. Nearby, The Wild Geese Restaurant celebrates southwest Ireland’s bounty.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Spend a memorable day in the southwest on Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula or northwest at the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, where you can hire a local storyteller and stroll picturesque walking paths while you learn the area’s fascinating lore.
ON THE WATER
Hop a ferry from Tarbert to Killimer to spot the dolphins that swim alongside. Continue to the cozy Long Dock pub in Carrigaholt, where challenging cliff walks overlook the windswept Atlantic. In fine weather, take a day trip to Scattery Island, where Saint Senan lived, to see ancient ruined churches and a deserted village. Also take the Tarbert Ferry to Gus O’Connor’s Pub in Doolin on the Wild Atlantic Way. It’s famous for great pub fare and lively Irish music and dancing. Another musical option is Poet’s Corner Bar in the luxurious Old Ground Hotel in Ennis.
VILLAGE OF GLIN
In the village of Glin, see the ruins of the original Glin Castle, followed by lunch at O’Shaughnessy’s Pub (011.353.68.34115), where garden illustrations by Catherine’s grandmother Veronica are displayed in the ladies’ powder room.
By Marion Laffey Fox | Photography by Claire Bingham | For more about Glin Castle, visit glin-castle.com