Jetsettersblog

Follow in the footsteps of Saint Patrick
A DISTINCTIVE new 148 km driving route that celebrates Northern Ireland’s rich and long-established links with the Patron Saint of Ireland has been declared open.

Developed by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and officially launched on 14 March 2011, Saint Patrick’s Trail lets you follow in the tracks of the venerated saint, connects important sites related to his life, legacy and landscape and links several key attractions dedicated to him.

A number of special places associated with the wider Christian heritage in Ireland –including links to St Columbanus, St Malachy and St Comgall – also form part of the trail, which includes Patrick’s final resting place and the only permanent exhibition dedicated to him in the world.

Running from Armagh city (the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland) through Newry city to Downpatrick, then along the beautiful Ards Peninsula to Bangor – all in Northern Ireland – the easy-to-follow two-way route is marked with distinctive road signage and there are also supporting leaflets and a website with printable maps.

Key sites along the trail include the two magnificent cathedrals in Armagh, one of which occupies the site where Saint Patrick is believed to have built a stone church in 445 AD, and Saint Patrick’s grave, which can be found in the grounds of Down Cathedral in Downpatrick.

The trail also takes in various Patrick and Christian heritage visitor sites, including the historic Bangor Abbey founded by St Comgall, Bagenal’s Castle, the Saint Patrick Centre, North Down Museum and St Patrick’s Trian Visitor Centre in Armagh.

Distinguished for converting Ireland to Christianity, Saint Patrick is one of the most known, beloved and enduring of all the Christian saints.

Given the migration of Irish people over generations, celebrations of his feast day (17 March) are widespread around the globe and normally encompass joyous displays of Irish colour, tradition, song, dance, cuisine and a fair amount of ‘craic’ – Irish for ‘fun’.

Captured and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16, legend has it that he tended sheep and pigs on Slemish Mountain in County Antrim for six years. After escaping and entering the church he then returned on a mission to bring Christianity to the Irish people.

Ruth Burns, Destination Marketing and PR Manager from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board says: “Either through history or myth, we are fortunate in that there are lots of special places in counties Antrim, Down and Armagh with strong and interesting associations with Saint Patrick and indeed other important Christian saints.

“Following this trail in whole or in part gives visitors a delightful appreciation of Patrick’s story, his Christian legacy to Ireland and indeed the world, at the same time as enjoying an opportunity to explore more of what Northern Ireland has to offer.”

www.discovernorthernireland.com/stpatrick
www.saintpatrickcentre.com
www.armagh.co.uk

ONE OF THE world’s leading travel magazines has named Monart Destination Spa in south-east Ireland as the runner up in its 2011 Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Awards.

Narrowly missing the top spot Monart came second to the winner from St Lucia with an impressive 94 points out of 100, comfortably seeing off competition from exotic destinations such as the Himalayas, India, Arizona, Bali, Thailand, California, Western Australia, Malaysia and Jordan.

Nestled in the beautiful and unspoilt countryside of county Wexford, Monart is the perfect destination for those seeking relaxation, tranquility and the very best in professional spa therapies.

The enchanting 18th-century Monart House acts as a gateway to the 21st-century Monart facility, which offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of spa therapies and treatments currently available anywhere.

This includes a series of nine individual cleansing, relaxing and rejuvenating thermal treatments in the state-of-the-art thermal spa.

Monart is located in the small town of Enniscorthy, 130km south of Dublin and just 40km from Rosslare seaport on Ireland’s south-east corner.

This is the second year running that it has been listed as one of the top three spas in the world.

Liam Griffin, Managing Director of Monart Destination Spa, says: “To win a world award from such a prestigious and famous company is a tremendous achievement for us and reflects the quality of our facilities and of our treatments.

“We offer an adult-only environment in which highly trained therapists using the best natural products help guests to address a specific health or wellness need or simply help them rest, relax and rejuvenate.

“The spa is designed with both male and female guests in mind, and as well as a place to relax Monart’s gorgeous woodland setting is the perfect place for rejuvenating walks.

“In short we offer space, luxury, privacy and peace…all priceless commodities in today’s world.”

The awards were the result of an annual online vote by the magazine’s readers last autumn.

www.monart.ie

A NEW FREE, INTERACTIVE website, iPhone app and mapping device that lets you remotely tour many of the Irish capital’s cultural gems has been launched.

DublinCultureTrail.ie allows users to virtually visit the top museums, galleries, historic buildings and cultural centres through video, photographs, interviews and behind the scenes footage.

It showcases the people, stories history and artists that make culture happen in the city.

Among the attractions you can tour are Trinity College, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the James Joyce Centre, the Chester Beatty Library, The GPO and City Hall.

The trail is especially useful for planning your own unique cultural trail and in helping you learn more about the city’s distinct history, heritage, tradition and vibrant contemporary cultural life in advance of a visit.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative in Trinity College, Senator David Norris said: “This is a new way of making collections more accessible on a daily basis to the public both around the country and internationally.

Norris, a former lecturer and well-known James Joyce scholar, plays a large part in Dublin’s Bloomsday – the annual celebration of Ireland’s most important literary icon and his most famous novel Ulysses, through street theatre, costume and public readings.

“The trail is fantastic because it combines creativity, imagination and new technology, which together brings collections alive to everyone,” he added.

The virtual trail was initiated by the Temple Bar Cultural Trust, which also organises the popular Culture Night event in Dublin every September.

This event sees Dublin – and many other cities and towns around the country – buzzing with activity as Ireland get ‘cultured’ for an evening.

Grainne Millar, head of cultural development at the trust said: “The culture trail opens up a whole new experience for locals and tourists and provides a great opportunity to encourage greater use of our attractions.”

You can download the app for free from the iPhone App Store.

www.dublinculturetrail.ie

HOOK HEAD Lighthouse, sitting majestically on the tip of the Hook Peninsula at the entrance to Waterford Harbour in south-east Ireland, is the oldest operational lighthouse in the world and has been named as one of Ireland’s top 14 visitor attractions by Lonely Planet Ireland Guide.

Hook is a unique example of an almost intact medieval lighthouse. Built in the early thirteenth century it continues to serve its original function and also welcomes visitors for guided tours and for a variety of special events held there during the year.

Upcoming events include the Maritime Festival (April 30th to May 2nd), the Tall Ships Festival 3rd July (the race of 70 majestic tall ships starts 10 miles south of Hook Head), and the annual series of summer lectures.

Visitors to the lighthouse can hear about its 800-year history together with the stories that have grown up around it as they climb the 115-step stairway to the lantern.

From the top of the 36m-high lighthouse tower, made of local limestone, visitors can enjoy views of the magnificent Hook Peninsula, and keep an eye out for seals, dolphins and even whales.

Ann Waters, Hook visitors centre manager, says: “We get many visitors coming here from overseas and they all go away having enjoyed the unique experience of learning about the lighthouse’s past and the vital work of the lighthouse keepers over many centuries.

“On a good day the visit is topped off with fantastic views from the top of the tower over the surrounding landscape, and on a stormy day visitors can get a real feel for the treachery of the ocean and the importance of the light to the safety of mariners.”

www.hookheritage.ie

THE STREETS of Belfast’s historic Cathedral Quarter will again resonate with laughter and music when the 12th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival kicks off on 28 April 2011.

The two-week festival is a key event of the cultural calendar in Northern Ireland’s capital and is regarded as the city’s bravest and boldest arts festival.

Featuring a feast of comedy, music, theatre, literature and visual art, the festival pioneers affordable and accessible arts and presents a balance of the old and the new, mixing emerging talent with established stars and the local with the international.

It includes comedians from around the globe such as Jeremy Hardy, Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Russell Kane, Canadian master of the one-liner Stewart Francis, the outrageous Scott Capurro and Miles Jupp with his acclaimed new show.

Musically the festival offers an eclectic programme ranging from the critically acclaimed singer songwriters John Grant and Mary Gauthier, to the wonderful hybrid sounds of Ska Cubano which returns to the festival with its unique Latin American brand of ska.

Former comedian Ade Edmondson of the UK TV The Young Ones fame will also be bringing his band, The Bad Shepherds, with their repertoire of punk classics reinterpreted in a folk style.

Festival Director Sean Kelly says: “The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival has grown to become one of the leading arts festivals, not only in Belfast, but on the island of Ireland.

“As well as comedy and music the festival will present a strong literature programme featuring poet Simon Armitage and John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and a series of classic Irish theatre with works by Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde.

“With an outdoor film arena, a global food and music village, a Great Art Hunt and lots of family entertainment this year’s festival will attract both those looking for a quality cultural experience with a difference and those seeking an entertaining day out.”

Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter takes its name from the Hiberno-Romanesque St Anne’s Cathedral, which represents the ecclesiastical heart of the city.

The quarter, a designated conservation area, is made up of a mixture of cobbled streets, squares and imposing architecture and offers a superb backdrop to the annual arts festival.

www.cqaf.com

THE MAGNIFICENT must-see Kylemore Abbey in the spectacular west of Ireland will become an even rarer sight this springtime, thanks to thousands of rare bulbs planted in its gardens.

Following an extensive planting project last year that used only bulbs introduced to Ireland before 1901, its acclaimed Victorian walled garden is due to burst into bloom with rare varieties of daffodils, tulips and crocuses that will provide a unique glimpse into the stately gardens of the past.

The garden is planted with 11,000 bulbs every year but only varieties of flowers and vegetables that were around in Victorian times are used.

Head Gardener Anja Gohlke explains: “There are two growing seasons in the garden at Kylemore – spring and summer.

“It was typical of Victorians to change the layout of the garden every year and replace bulbs which finished flowering with different bedding plants and at Kylemore, we continue this method of gardening.

“It’s intensive, but the continuous variety is worth it.

“Each year we research the availability of ‘heritage’ and ‘heirloom’ varieties for the garden, and by using these, Kylemore is helping to prevent beautiful heritage varieties of flowers and vegetables from disappearing forever.”

The award-winning six-acre walled garden is part of the majestic Kylemore Abbey site, which nestles on the shore of Lough Pollacappul at the base of Druchruach Mountain, in the heart of the rugged Connemara Mountains.

Built in 1867 as a castle it is steeped in history and regarded as one of Ireland’s most romantic buildings.

In 1920, Kylemore became a Benedictine Abbey and since the 1970s, the Benedictine Community has opened the abbey and estate to the public.

Kylemore is a must-see when visiting the west of Ireland.

Each year it attracts thousands of visitors to view the abbey, walled garden, pottery and beautiful gothic church and to enjoy the breathtaking views around the stunning loughshore location.

www.kylemoreabbeytourism.ie

** Opening day: May 14, 2011 **

Chebeague Island, Maine) -Chebeague Island Inn is preparing for the upcoming season with new ownership, new developments and new packages for summer on the coast of Maine.

Occupying a cherished spot on the most beautiful island in Casco Bay, just 15 minutes from the mainland, the iconic Greek Revival-style Inn has been lovingly restored and remains the favored destination it has been for generations of vacationers for the past 90 years.

The 2011 summer season runs from May 14-October 17. Here is what to look forward to both on and off the island from opening day at Chebeague Island Inn:

NEW BAR: Raise a glass at Sunset Landing, the new indoor-outdoor bar at Chebeague Island Inn. Located at the entrance to the Inn’s dining room, Sunset Landing seats 8 intimately at a shiny copper bar lined with custom-made stools by Maine-based furniture designer Greg Lipton. Sit and sample retro-style cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned and the French 75. Sunset Landing also has local beers on tap, including Allegash White and Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale (both brewed in Portland).

The bar menu, from Chef Justin Rowe, features small-plate offerings like crunchy lobster corn fritters and local oysters on the half-shell.

NEW NEIGHBOR: Fresh from the revitalization of Chebeague Island Inn, new owners Prentice Hospitality Group have expanded with the attainment of a property on a neighboring island: Diamond’s Edge Restaurant & Marina.

Long a popular destination for fine dining, Diamond’s Edge is located on Great Diamond Island, just 20 minutes by watercraft from the Inn. Justin Rowe, Head Chef of Chebeague Island Inn, will oversee all dining operations at Diamond’s Edge where he’ll tap his classic French training and New England roots to create mouthwatering contemporary American cuisine.

NEW PACKAGES: There is an array of new summer packages at Chebeague Island Inn, from on-island golfing to off-island kayaking and hands-on culinary immersion.

The Island State of Mind package includes a two-night stay that kicks off with a welcome cocktail; a one-hour couples massage and a bottle of Chebeague Island Inn bath salts to enjoy on property or at home.

The double-occupancy package also includes breakfast daily; afternoon tea and pastries, and nightly turndown service. Island State of Mind starts at $359 per night based on double occupancy, with a two-night minimum in a Garden View Room with Private Bath.

BIG EVENTS: Mark your calendar for special events all summer long at Chebeague Island Inn – from an Opening Day party to 4th of July festivities featuring pyrotechnics, open-air dining and Independence Day drink specials to an End-of-Season bash that you won’t want to miss.

Remember the new season gets rolling on May 14, 2011.
For more information, please contact (207) 766-5850, or

visit www.chebeagueislandinn.com

About Chebeague Island Inn:

An icon of classic Maine hospitality, Chebeague Island Inn has welcomed generations of vacationers to the coastal beauty of Casco Bay since the 1880s.

Restored and re-launched in 2010 by family-owned hospitality company Prentice Hospitality Group, the Greek revival-style Inn has 21 guest rooms, each individually designed with furnishings by local artists and artisans.

Chebeague Island Inn provides the highest quality culinary experience with a creative, thoughtful and responsible approach by preparing menus featuring authentic flavors from locally produced ingredients and Atlantic catch.

There are ample activities for guests to enjoy, including tennis, swimming, biking or boating from the Inn’s private moorings.

For more information and to make reservations, visit www.chebeagueislandinn.com

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commission has decided not to change the Youth, Resident Only and Statewide Pheasant Seasons.

The Youth Pheasant Hunting Season will run from Oct. 1-5. The season is statewide with the exception of road rights-of-ways.

The season will have a daily limit of three roosters, with a 15-bird possession limit.

To be eligible for the youth season, hunters must be 12 years of age by Dec. 31 and no older than 17. Youth who are 10 years old are also eligible under the mentored-hunting license.

Youth and mentored hunters must be accompanied by unarmed adults.

The 2011 Resident Pheasant Season will run from Oct. 8-10. The season is open on public lands only, including walk-in lands and road rights-of-way that are adjacent to public lands. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges are not open during the Resident Pheasant Season.

There is a daily limit of three rooster pheasants and a possession limit of nine during the Oct. 8-10 season.

The Statewide Pheasant Hunting Season will run from Oct. 15, 2011, to Jan. 1, 2012. The pheasant season daily limit will be three roosters, with a possession limit of 15.

The 2011 Grouse Hunting Season will run from Sept. 17, 2011, to Jan. 1, 2012. Hunters can have a daily limit of three birds in any combination of sharp tailed grouse, prairie chickens or ruffed grouse, and a possession limit of 15, in any combination.

Hunters who applied for spring turkey and black bear controlled hunts can find results on the Idaho Fish and Game website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/ch/turkbear.cfm.

Successful applicants also have been notified by mail. It is the responsibility of hunters to find out whether their names were drawn in these hunts.

For drawing odds, go to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/ch/odds.cfm

Turkey hunters who have a general turkey tag will need to buy the controlled hunt permit that costs $7.75.

Hunters who don’t have a general turkey tag must buy one as well as the controlled hunt permit.

Those drawing a spring bear controlled hunt and who already have a general season tag may exchange the general season tag for the controlled hunt tag or may keep the general season tag and buy the controlled hunt bear tag.

Any exchanges of tags must be completed at a Fish and Game office.

For questions or comments go to

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/inc/contact.cfm

PIERRE, S.D. – One of South Dakota’s oldest state parks now has one of the newest campgrounds.

Hartford Beach State Park near Milbank, established in 1945, now features a new 57-site campground, in addition to the original lakeshore campground.

“The new campground will allow more visitors to enjoy the beauty and historical significance of Hartford Beach,” said Park Manager Jeff Nodsle. “The new sites sit on a hilltop overlooking Big Stone Lake.”

Referred to as the East Campground, it is located a one-half mile east and about 80 feet higher in elevation than the original West Campground.

The 57 new campsites include two paved ADA sites, and all sites feature 50-amp electrical hookups.

A new dump station and a comfort station with two family shower rooms serve the additional visitors to the park.

Two new camping cabins will be installed later this summer.

Other areas of the park have also been improved.

The disc golf course between the two campgrounds has been redesigned, with a new parking area for course users. In addition, changes to the original West Campground open spaces between the sites and provide more parking.

“Harford Beach’s original campground was designed in the 1960s, when campers were smaller and families usually brought just one vehicle,” said Nodsle. “The trees and the turns that make the campground unique made access difficult for some larger camping units.”

Campsites have been re-numbered to reflect the changes. Campground maps are available online at www.gfp.sd.gov

The East Campground will be ready for campers June 23. Campers can begin making reservations at the new campground on March 25. Reservations can be made online at www.campsd.com  or by calling 1-800-710-2267.