Latest news with #BridgeHouseHotel
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Slow travel in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands can be exciting for all the family
Switching off, it's the hardest thing to do. We all lead busy lives which sometimes makes it impossible to slow down, take a breath and just be in the moment. Technology doesn't make this any easier. We're always just one click away from instant access to news and emails, not to mention the hours we spend scrolling through social media. Yet on a recent break to Offaly, I found myself managing to do just that as I switched off, relaxed and enjoyed a wholesome family break in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. READ MORE: Explained: What is Ryanair's new baggage rule and when does it come into effect? READ MORE: Discover Indianapolis and get back to what America is really all about Despite being just a 90-minute drive from Dublin, Offaly is one of those counties that is sometimes overlooked by Irish tourists. And, I must admit, I am one of those tourists. Although I love exploring our little green isle, apart from one visit to the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore over 10 years ago, I haven't ventured back to the Faithful County. The truth is with the likes of the Boyne Valley, with historic sites like Newgrange and, of course, Ireland's only theme park and zoo in Emerald Park, and the Wild Atlantic Way with 2,600km of coast which takes you from Donegal down to Cork, Offaly can sometimes be, well, hidden! But Offaly is ripe for exploring, offering a laidback option, especially for those who love and appreciate the outdoors. Last month I packed up my nephews and niece, aged 17 and 10 and 15, respectively, and set off for a break that ended up really testing how much they loved me — and me them! Two of them were out of their monthly phone data allowance, you see, which I thought would send them spiralling, while the youngest, who just got his first phone, realised 20 minutes down the motorway that he forgot his altogether. Thankfully, it's a short drive to Offaly and a game of 'Spot A Yellow Reg' kept them occupied until we hit our first stop, Birr Castle Demesne. A stretch of the legs was just what we all needed and no better place to do it than at Birr Castle with acres of both manicured and wild gardens to explore. Birr Castle is the home of the 7th Earl of Rosse, who still resides in the castle, and his family. At 89 years old, the Earl takes great pride in his grounds and still manages to look after his much-loved gardens, which are well discovered by many tourists as well as locals walking their dogs. Birr Castle is home to the 7th Earl of Rosse Given the castle is the residence of the Earl, it is not generally open to the public — apart from the odd tour during the summer — but the grounds and gardens of the demesne are publicly accessible, and include a brilliant science museum, which displays many incredible artefacts, the lovely Courtyard Café which serves delicious open sandwiches, soups and ice creams, as well as a reflecting telescope which was the largest in the world for over six decades. A walk in one direction of the grounds brings you along a space trail, where you will make 11 mapped-out stops, to learn all about our solar system — a real treat for two of my party who are true space lovers. There's also a great little playground on site for smaller kids as well as a gift shop. The Birr Castle Treehouse is usually a real draw for children and you can certainly see why, with its tree decks linked by rope bridges and secret tunnels, but unfortunately it is closed until 2026 for works — a great excuse for us to return next year! With the sun gods shining down on us the day of our visit, a trip to the Meelick Weir, which joins Offaly to Galway, was the perfect way to cool down. The weir walkway is about 300 metres in length — a short five-minute stroll, or two if you race it like my three did! You can pick up a tea, coffee or soft drink before you head onto the walkway and enjoy a leisurely stroll cross-county with the sounds of gushing water as you pass. Pure bliss. The 4-stay County Arms in Birr, Co Offaly When you come off the walkway you can continue on for a lovely trail walk. We were pushed for time so made our way back, stopping at the Banagher Outdoor Pool on the River Shannon for a quick dip before dinner in County Arms Birr. This is one of Ireland's most unusual, and free-to-use, pools, situated with Offaly on one side and Galway on the other. Dinner at County Arms, a 4-star hotel, was just what we needed after an active day of sightseeing. While the hotel is all-luxury, the food on offer in Bar 62 is comfort at its finest. We tucked into nachos, pizzas, pasta and a smash burger. My niece claimed the pizza was 'the best I've ever tasted' which is high praise from a sometimes-moody 15-year-old — she's certainly never said that about any of my cooking! Our home for the night was in Kinnitty, just 15 minutes away from Birr, staying at Giltraps Glamping. This is an excellent option for families as kids will be thrilled by the elevated camping set-up. The Teletubbies-like grounds, which are kept in immaculate condition, are stunning for a morning tea on your deck while the quaint lodges offer everything you need for a relaxing stay. Giltraps Glamping in Kinnitty Boasting the comfiest of beds, you'll have a restful night sleep. And while wifi is offered for kids desperate for their phone fix, there are no TVs so you can still switch off. We played board games into the night before rising to a hand-delivered breakfast basket with sausage, egg and bacon baps and pastries which set us up for an epic afternoon of biking in Lough Boora Discovery Park. When we say hidden gems, Lough Boora Discovery Park is exactly what is meant. Made up of more than 2,000 hectares of cutaway boglands, this place is weird and wonderful in equal measure, with biking and hiking trails, picnic and play areas and a fairy route, a sculpture garden and even a Thomas the Tank Engine (that's the weird!) — though I was quickly corrected by the 10-year-old that this train is, in fact, Percy not Thomas! You can enjoy lunch at Ballycommon Bakehouse which looks out onto the water at Lough Boora Discovery Park You can wile away hours here just taking in the rugged landscape and gorgeous views before having lunch overlooking the water at Ballycommon Bakehouse on the parklands. This is a nature lover's paradise and was the perfect way to end our midweek 'slow travel' excursion that even three kids found exciting. That's a win!
RTÉ News
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Well known hotelier and businessman Christy Maye dies
Hotelier and well known businessman Christy Maye has died. Mr Maye owned the Bridge House Hotel and the Bridge Centre in Tullamore, Co Offaly and the Greville Arms Hotel in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. He was one of the founders of the popular Tullamore Show. He is also known for bringing the first ever disco to Ireland. In the 1960s, Mr Maye came up with the idea of "Disc A Go Go", which began in Mullingar Parochial Hall. Mr Maye is survived by his wife, Eileen and their three children and families.
Irish Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Are Tullamore locals are the friendliest Irish people? We think so!
Having just bought my first house, the idea of a holiday seems pretty unrealistic this summer as we continue to make a house a home — so the opportunity to discover counties of Ireland I'd never seen before, is one I'll snap up. One of those is Co Offaly, where I stayed last month, at the Bridge House Hotel. Nestled in the beautiful town of Tullamore, the hotel dates back to the 1720s, and that rich history made our visit even more enjoyable. Thinking of a hotel from the 1700s, one may expect something extremely outdated, and perhaps a bit boring, but our impression of the Bridge House Hotel was much more than that. The drive from Belfast took less than three hours, and we were lucky that our stay coincided with glorious weather, making a sunny drive, windows down and music on, less uncomfortable. On arrival, we parked a very short walk away from the hotel's main doors, in the hotel's free car park. The hotel lobby was breathtaking and grand. There were families and friends enjoying the lobby area when we arrived for check-in, something that always makes me feel relaxed and at home when away. Having invested over €2.5 million in renovations in recent years, including a €150,000 transformation of its lobby in 2024, the hotel remains a hub of local pride and is a strong supporter of Tullamore's local economy – and that was evident in the footfall that we saw in the communal gym area and restaurant We stayed in one of 50 newly refurbished rooms, and it was one of the nicest rooms we have stayed in, in a very long time. Our suite boasted double doors which opened up onto a private balcony area, with views right across Tullamore. Having just set our overnight bags on the bed, there was a gentle knock on the door where a wonderful staff member welcomed us the the hotel, along with a beautiful plate of fresh sweet treats. It really is the small things that make a huge difference and you can see that every guest is treated as special as the next in the Bridge House. Everyone around the town is equally as friendly. The hotel is located smack bang in the middle of the town, surrounded by local shops and hospitality venues. And the locals were the friendliest of bunches, and are very proud of their town. And so they should because it is beautiful. Both having very demanding jobs, it is a real treat for us to be able to switch off, so after a walk around Tullamore, we headed straight for the hotel spa facilities, and it was a well-needed detox. Staff at the spa desk welcomed us to the hotel with a politeness and charm that is typical of those Irish towns dotted around the country. The pool area, including outdoor pool, was busy but not too overwhelming and we spent around two hours in the pools and sauna. Ironically, chilling, doing absolutely nothing makes for hungry work so afterwards we headed for dinner in the hotel restaurant. We were ready for a good feed and that is exactly what we got. We opted for two courses each, and a cocktail — and as I write this review, my mouth is watering thinking back to the food we were served. The menu was not exhaustive, but there was certainly something for everyone, and we found it to be very reasonably priced. We had soup and wings for starter, and then for the mains I opted for the turkey and ham dinner, and my partner had the burger. Both portions were huge — I couldn't finish mine — but I gave it some go because it was 10/10. The cocktails were also delicious — the perfect way to wash down a great meal, served by brilliant staff After a great night's sleep, we headed to the gym at 8am, trying to keep our usual weekly routine in check. The gym has everything you need for a good workout and after the session we were very ready for breakfast, which was served buffet style on the first floor, before we hit the road ready for the journey home, with full bellies and even fuller hearts. And on the drive home we spoke about how we will definitely be returning to the Bridge House Hotel. The staff were attentive and friendly and facilities within the hotel are 10/10. The best part, though, is the town of Tullamore matched the great vibes of the hotel.
