Irish short break holiday ideas this spring

Ireland is never dull and with its famously warm welcome guests are invited to share in a wonderful spring season.

The country is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the creation of Guinness this year, as well as hosting any number of festivals celebrating the very best in cinema, music and dance.

Here travelbite.co.uk takes a look at just some of the ideas for a short break in the country over the coming months.

250 Years of Guinness

This year, guests are invited to explore the Guinness Storehouse – as the home of Guinness, Dublin, raises a glass to its 250 years of brewing.

To celebrate the anniversary, the Storehouse is unveiling a number of new additions to the international visitor attraction - including a dedicated 250 Exhibition and a new specialised 'History of Stout Tour'.

Now open, the 250 Exhibition is a whole floor dedicated to celebrating the anniversary. Visitors can take home a copy of the original lease, view a short-film showing the illustrious story of the Guinness brand, socialise in a new theatrical bar and have their photograph taken 'Raising a Glass' to Arthur Guinness the man who started it all.

Available to groups of ten or more people, the History of Stout tour is a unique, VIP, history focused tour of Guinness Storehouse, including a private tasting session and lesson on how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness.

Head over to the Guinness Storehouse website for more information.

Gastronomic Holiday Ideas

What better way to follow a pint of Guinness than exploring of the two brand new food trails launching this April? The new routes give visitors to the Irish cities of Galway and Cork fresh insight into the best foodie hotspots and producers in each city.

Following the success of the first tasting trail in Dublin, the team at Fabulous Food Trails has devised the two new city walks to take visitors off the beaten tourist track and into the local food halls, fruit and flower stalls, cheesemongers, fishmongers, butchers and bakers.

Sample handmade cheeses, exquisite chocolate, tender grass-fed beef, freshly baked traditional breads and wonderful seafood such as oak smoked wild Irish salmon.
The walks take a gentle two and a half hours and are led by an experienced and knowledgeable guide.

Tastings are frequent and generous and along the way, the guide will identify good places for lunch or dinner, a cup of coffee or a pint. Groups never exceed more than 12 people.

Fabulous Food Trails also offer longer trails around Ireland as well as themed cooking days including Thai, Indian, Japanese and Chocolate.

Visit Fabulous Food Trails to find out more.

World's First Geopark

For the ecologically minded the Marble Arch Caves & Cuilcagh Mountain Park in County Fermanagh has this month been officially proclaimed as the first international Geopark in the World.

Following a successful application to UNESCO last September to extend the Geopark from county Fermanagh into selected sites in county Cavan, the site became the world's first Geopark crossing an international border.

A launch event took place on January 16th to mark this important world first with visiting speakers from UNESCO, the European Geopark Network and government ministers from both sides of the border.

UNESCO has identified over 50 Geoparks around the world - areas with a significant geological heritage where sustainable tourism can be developed. Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark covers an area of roughly 18,000 hectares and has been recognised by UNESCO due to its internationally important geology and environment.

Tours of the Marble Arch Caves, last for 75 minutes and introduce the visitor to an incredible underworld of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages, high chambers and glistening stalactites. The tour also includes an electronically powered boat ride along a subterranean river through the immense chambers.

Visitors can also hike through the dramatic terrain of Cuilcagh Mountain with its unique flora and fauna.

For more information visit theMarble Arch Caves website.

Festival Spirit

As is usual in Ireland 2009 will see plenty of events and festivals celebrating art and culture throughout the country.

Ones not to miss in Dublin include the Temple Bar TradFest which takes place from February 28th to March 1st and celebrates the traditional music and dance of the country, while the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, in Dublin from February 12th to 22nd celebrates the best of contemporary cinema.

The DLR Poetry Now festival takes places from March 26th to 29th, while over in Belfast the lively Féile an Earraigh festival will visit west Belfast from February 6th to 8th.

Later in spring, check out the comedy, theatre and music at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival from April 30th May 10th.

Finally, a brand new website has been launched by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board detailing upcoming music and cultural events. More information can be found at Northern Ireland Festivals.

Where to Stay

The recently opened Westville Hotel, Enniskillen provides a stylish and modern accommodation option within walking distance to Enniskillen town centre.

Comprising 28 luxurious bedrooms including standard, executive and family rooms and two deluxe suites, the Westville is designed with both the business and leisure guest in mind.

Holidaymakers can relax and enjoy good food and wine in The Terrace Restaurant or the more informal WV Bar. For more information visit the Westville Hotel website.

Chris O'Toole