Tag: things to do lough derg

Tipperary – Best Holiday Destination 2022

Visitors to Ireland should spend more time in Co Tipperary, according to the prestigious travel publication Condé Nast Traveller. In its recent list of 22 destinations to visit in 2022, Tipperary is a stand out entry for anyone with an interests in food, a passion for the outdoors and sustainable community tourism.

Here at Fuchsia Lane Farm we particularly loved the reference in the guide to “Walk it all off along the blustery shoreline of Lough Derg, where you’ll be joined by kayakers, paddleboarders and cyclists whizzing alongside acres of cheerful wildflower meadows”

So why not get ahead of the curve and make your plans for 2022 to visit Tipperary and meet local people, artisan food producers and experience the outdoors ranging from mountain walks and trekking to lakeside activities such as paddle boarding and sailing.

If you wish to read the full article you will find it here

 

#CondeNastTraveller #Tipperary #LoughDerg #FoodieHolidays

Ardnacrusha Visitor Experience

In the early years of the fledgling Irish State, shortly after Independence, the ambitious project of creating Ireland’s first Hydro Electric Power Station was born.  This facility, when completed in the mid 1920’s provided most of the energy needs of the emerging Republic.  Located on the River Shannon, harnessing the power contained in the volume of water in Lough Derg, this project was an ambitious and visionary undertaking designed to help bring Ireland into the modern world at that time.

Today the Power Station, operated by Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board,  provides a much lower percentage of the Country’s needs, however it still stands as a powerful testament to our founding fathers.  

The centre now provides for group and individual tours and bookings can be made during the summer season online via this link

Ardnacrusha Hydro Electric Station is approximately 50 mins drive from your Fuchsia Lane Farm self catering cottage in Terryglass and you can also include a visit to Limerick city or Killaloe/Ballina as part of your day.

 

 

Coffee in Portumna Castle

Coffee in Portumna Castle

We are very excited with the opening of Portumna Castle and Gardens this weekend as the season begins.  This is always a great place to visit, so full of history and lore and the guides there will really bring the place to life for you.  The kitchen garden, which has painstakingly restored over the years is a lovely place to browse and see how vegetable gardens were managed in the past to supply all the vegetable needs of the ‘big house’.

This season sees a new coffee shop and exhibition space on the Castle Grounds. This is housed in the beautifully restored stables yards and we are sure it will become  a great spot to visit!

#Portumna #coffeelovers #thingstodo #Terryglass #LoughDergBlueway

Portumna Castle Coffee shop

Portumna Castle & Gardens

Portumna Castle & Gardens

Each year we look forward to the opening of this wonderful place on March 1st.  Portumna Castle dates back to 1618 when it was built by Richard de Burgo, the 4th Earl of Clanricarde, being the seat of the de Burgo family for 200 years.  The Castle and Grounds have been restored in recent years and the first floor of the building is now open and houses an exhibition and interpretive panels detailing its history.

The Castle walled gardens are set out as a traditional kitchen garden for the ‘big house’  and some wonderful produce can be seen (and tasted) there in season.  The formal gardens are imposing lawns and gravelled pathways laid out in striking geometric patterns.

This year we all looking forward to seeing the addition of a coffee shop and exhibition space in the old stables adjacent to the Castle.  This should result in a lovely space to spend a few minutes and to soak up the history and ambience of this wonderful place!

#Portumna #thingstodo #Terryglass #selfcatering #Heritage #castles

Portumna Castle Portumna Co. Galway Ireland
Portumna Castle
Portumna Castle

 

Coffee shop at Portumna
Coffee shop underway

The 20 Most Charming Towns in Ireland – Travel Magazine

The 20 Most Charming Towns in Ireland Travel Magazine

The Georgian town of Birr, famous for its castle, telescope and annual Vintage Festival, was recently listed in TravelMag.com as one of Ireland’s Most Charming Towns. The towns ‘jaunty character’, colourful buildings and, of course, the wonderful Birr Castle and grounds, received favourable mention.

Birr is only 30 mins drive from Fuchsia Lane Farm and is the gateway to the wonderful and wild Slieve Bloom Mountains.  Come see for yourself! 

For more information visit http://www.travelmag.com/articles/most-charming-towns-ireland/

Kayaking on Lough Derg Blueway

Kayaking on Lough Derg Blueway

Lough Derg is a wonderful, unspoilt and totally underused resource on our doorstep and we are always thrilled to see businesses offering guests an opportunity to get out on the water.  We are really thrilled to see a local business Lough Derg Watersports offering environmentally sound and sustainable activities locally.

, and we fully support this.

As part of promoting the Blueway, Becky and her partner are hosting a Family Fun Day at Kilgarvan quay, just 15 minutes from our cottages.  We expect this to be a great day of fun, food and a chance to ‘get your feet wet’.  Contact Becky on 086 4114822

Family fun day

#LoughDerg #kayaking #SelfCatering #Terryglass #WaterwaysIreland

Mountshannon Arts Festival

Mountshannon Arts Festival

This weekend the  22nd annual Mountshannon Arts Festival aims to be a transformative experience for the village and all those who take part, with something for everyone including music, street art, exhibitions and workshops.

This year’s programme is an eclectic mix of Music, Drama, Street art, Visual Art and Workshops. There’s something for everyone.  Mountshannon is about a 30 min drive from Fuchsia Lane Farm and is on the Co Clare side of Lough Derg.  While there check out the Sea Eagles!

The Festival begins this evening Thurs 25th and runs until Sunday.

Full details and tickets under http://www.mountshannonarts.net.

 

HIGHLIGHTS include:

  • Street Art in the form of murals, sculptures and installations;
  • Drama with Mikel Murfi’s ‘Man in the Womans Shoes’, a new version of Siobhan Donnellans ‘Going Spare’, and Ruti Lachs with ‘Sideways on Planet Piano’;
  • Saint Sister are the headline act in terms of music, Upcoming band Pine the Pilcrow and the wonderful Crash Ensemble
  • Visual Art including paintings, drawings, photographs, papercuts and video will be on display in five venues, including Scariff library and four venues in Mountshannon.
  • They will also have workshops for young and old including handbells, The Expressive voice and Creative writing for women.
  • The Green Fair with stalls, live music, hot food, and fun for all the family takes place on Sunday 4th June in The Aistear.

#artsfestival #LoughDerg #Selfcatering #Terryglass

 

Mountshannon Arts Festival

Take a Break!

Take a break!

If you wish to take a break, then The Cottage Cafe and Tea Rooms is worth a visit.  It is situated the tiny village of Loughmore, Co Tipperary, between the towns of Thurles and Roscrea.  It is a community owned and operated cooperative , selling local produce, arts & crafts – including home made breads, cakes & confectionery, jams, conserves, honey, locally grown vegetables and basic groceries, sweets and ices, plus sundry items. The tearooms provide a warm and welcoming haven for every customer, where you can sit, chat & enjoy wholesome, nutritious food, most of it sourced locally. The Cottage Market in the garden on the first Sunday of every month from 12.00am to 3pm.

The cooperative venture was initiated due to the lack of a shop in the village and is the brainchild of two local women, Mary Fogarty and Meave O’Hehir,  who shared a passion for their community and the need to provide a local service to counter rural isolation and help maintain a ‘sense of place’ locally   The Cottage Cafe has won numerous awards and commendations in 2014 it was awarded Best Cafe in the Country by the Irish Times Newspaper.

Well worth a detour if you are travelling to Fuchsia Lane Farm from the Dublin, Kilkenny, or Cork side of the country!  If you are staying with us then include it on your trip to Roscrea, The Devils Bit, Holycross or The Rock of Cashelcottage loughmore

The Cottage Loughmore

Portumna Forest Marathons 7th May & 11th June

Portumna Forest Marathons

Portumna is a small town in the heart of rural Galway, just 10 mins drive from Fuchsia Lane Farm. The name Portumna comes from the Irish word Port Omna, meaning the landing place of the oak tree. So not surprisingly, perched on the edge of the quaint little town is a magnificent 450 hectacres of coniferous woodland of Scots Pine and Norway spruce. Portumna Forest Park is also home to a whole host of animals including Fallow deer and the red Squirrel. Every June, the agility of the wild animals in their natural habitat is mimicked by the ‘best of the best’ of distance runners from all over Ireland. In recent years participants have come from all over the world in their quest to find the ultimate Ultra marathon.

For more information and online entries visit http://www.forestmarathon.com/index.html

 

 

Portumna Forest Marathon