And what a race. An epic, 39,000 nautical-mile, the world-is-a-racetrack circumnavigation yacht race held every four years since 1973. It’s serious business, except for all the in-port parties held at each of the stopover cities.

The Volvo Ocean Race. Photo: Ian Roman

 made quite the impression when it was included as a stopover in the 2008-2009 race. Over 650,000 people celebrated the arrival of the wet and weary crews, with 10,000 people lining the harbour walls in the dark hours of 3am on 24 May 2009 to welcome the fleet into Ireland.

This year, will be the finish line, so you can imagine the anticipation. No less than a nine-day festival is in store from June 30, with marine, sport, culture and arts, entertainment and food. Think concerts by Maverick Sabre and Sharon Shannon, a ballet interpretation of Alice Through the Looking Glass and empty-tummies-be-gone international food markets. That’s only a taster of the craic in store, so stay tuned to find out exactly what’s on.

Galway is hotting up for the Race arrival

We’re excited – but we’re not the only ones.

Those brave racing sailors can’t wait to return to Galway either. It seems when you’re in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a baking sun on your back for 14 hours a day, the memory of a cool Atlantic breeze is one to cherish.

Our woman on the deck, Anna Lynch, has asked the sailors what they remember about the last Galway stop and what they’re looking forward to:

Ian Walker, skipper of Team Abu Dhabi

There is absolutely no question that the highlight of the race for me was the arrival into Galway. The welcome we had and the fact that the race touched all the people in the town, and in the town, everybody touched the race. It was probably one of the best days of my life.

Franck Cammas, skipper of Groupama Sailing Team

At the moment we are sailing on the opposite side of the world. But already it looks like it will be a fantastic party for our arrival in Galway. It was a brilliant stopover last time, lots of people and a great atmosphere. À bientôt aux Irlandais!

Robert ‘Salty’ Salthouse, helmsman of Team Emirates

We had a great time in Galway the last time and I’m really looking forward to getting back there again. The hospitality, the friendship that comes out of there is fantastic and it’s almost like going home. You know that’s how they greet you, so looking forward to getting back there.

Casey Smith, bowman of Team Puma

When we were there the weather was just fantastic. It was beautiful, just beautiful. So if they can line that up again we’re going to stay there! It was a week of perfect weather. I think it was one of the biggest turnouts and the place just went off!

Ken Read, skipper of Team Puma

I couldn’t be happier that Galway was announced as the end of race port because quite frankly – don’t tell anybody this – it was my favourite stopover the last time. The golf, the beer, the camaraderie… I can’t wait to get there.

This year’s Volvo Ocean Race festivities will take place from 30 June – 8 July.

An Fear Mearbh (The Dead Man) lying under a silver horizon in the Atlantic on the Dingle Peninsula.

From the music of native tongues to the legendary Irish heroes, fascinating museums and white sandy beaches, she shares her perfect day on the Dingle Peninsula.

The Dingle Peninsula

was famously described by National Geographic magazine as “the most beautiful place on earth.” And it is stunningly beautiful, the perfect place to wander along a sandy beach or climb a spectacular mountain. Or to watch the setting sun slip gently into the Atlantic in a blaze of crimson and scarlet – preferably with a glass of wine in your hand, over a plate of delicious local seafood.

But that’s not all. From a point on the map just before you reach town the peninsula’s also a Gaeltacht – an Irish language speaking area. Everyone you’ll meet will speak English so you won’t have communication problems. But you’ll often hear the musical Irish language in the streets and in people’s homes, and see signs in shops and restaurants that read ‘Gaeilge agus fáilte’, meaning patrons are welcome to use Irish. It’s the first language of many locals, particularly towards the end of the peninsula, and, like the area itself, it’s a remarkable entry-point to Ireland’s ancient .

They don't make 'em like they used to!

The Dingle Peninsula holds over two thousand archaeological sites, many of which date back to the Iron Age. Everywhere you go there are echoes of myth and legend. In high fields and on wave-battered promontories you can marvel at forts that once held heroes like Cú Chulainn, who rode to battle with the heads of his enemies bouncing at his chariot-rail, and ancient Celtic noblewomen with hands “as white as the snow of one night,” and lips “red as Parthian leather.” Preserved in the native language of the people are stories, songs and poems that celebrate their history, folklore and customs. And one of the best places to get a taste of them is the – the West museum.

The West Kerry Museum

You’ll find it in , a village to the west of Dingle town. It’s a little gem, beautifully curated, full of fascinating exhibits, and small enough to keep kids interested. The display’s laid out around a timeline which reaches from prehistory to the present day, providing a perfect starting point for your exploration of the area. It’s housed in the old village school and has a charming café and a small, very good bookshop catering for adults and kids. The shop stocks books in Irish and English, tour guides, and a brilliant series of maps showing the routes of local walks of historic and archaeological interest. The café serves tea and coffee, home-made scones, cakes, bread and soup. On a fine day you can eat outside opposite the village church and watch clouds drifting over the mountain.

And if the day is fine enough to sit outside be sure to ask for directions to Béal Bán, which means ‘The White Mouth’. It’s a beautiful, curved beach about five minutes away by car, with miles of white sand where kids can play and where adults can dream. Maybe about the high deeds of ancient Celtic heroes. Or maybe about your next plate of delicious local seafood.

Read more from Felicity about her beloved Dingle on her lovely blog or in her memoir The House on an Irish Hillside which will be published 7 June.

Have we got you hooked? Our blog has more about Ireland’s History and Heritage.

Naturally, our ears pricked up. You can vote on Twitter or Pinterest for your favorite country [cough Ireland!], and share the reason.

Ireland is currently ranking at 13th… so please vote for us!

There is a snazzy Nikon DSLR and iPhone to be won. Not to mention the oodles of good karma for those who vote for Ireland, naturally.

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Forgive that little outburst of song. It’s just the mere mention of the word ‘zoo’ drums up golden childhood memories for me of sun-drenched days strolling around Dublin zoo, ice-cream in hand (and granted, slightly all over face) with that musky animal-y smell on the breeze. Magic!

On the island of Ireland we’ve got zoos a plenty, wild-as-they-get wildlife parks and farm stays all bursting with animal awesomeness. So I’ve thrown together a few of my favourite wildlife and animal destinations.

Hope they get your seal of approval, that you have a whaley good time and that you kangaroo…, sorry.

Dublin Zoo

Chota the Red Panda

Sitting pretty in a whopping 70 acres in the resplendent Phoenix Park, is one of the world’s oldest zoos (doors opened back in 1830) and home to over 600 hundred animals housed in some seriously impressive habitats. Being a child and being told, ‘Hey kid, we’re goin’ to the zoo’, is the adult equivalent of being told ‘Hey man, you just won 100 billion euro’! Excitement levels blaze into overdrive.

Furry favourites may vary from person to person but personally I’m of the opinion that Dublin Zoos African Savanna habitat is the cat’s pyjamas. The very broad spread is home to giraffes (watch out for the one with his tongue lolling out), ostriches and zebras all just chillin’ out together having the craic. A little further on a formidable looking group of Rhinos betray their tough-guy image by posing merrily for the cameras.

Nelly the elephant packed her trunk and went Dublin zoo-ooo

The African Savanna is also home to a group of consistently cheeky chimpanzees that never fail to bring smiles to faces and some beautiful long-horned oryx. Another firm favourite has got to be the family farm.  I know, I know, you go to a zoo to see strange and exotic animals, but the charm of the farm is how close you get to its stars (right up next to ‘em actually!). Possibly Ireland’s luckiest cows, sheep, pigs and goats are all resident here soaking up the adoration of the crowds. The baby goats are particularly cute with their baaing and scampering around and they do have the added attraction of not rocking a pair of horns yet. During the summer months you can see a real dairy cow getting milked and anyone who fancies themselves a regular Freddie farmer can practice on the life-sized model of Daisy the cow. The family farm is informative as well as totally cute = the perfect combo. We’d need a book deal to go through all there is to see at Dublin Zoo suffice it to say that a burly Gorilla seems to have hit the weights and every time we visit the pottering penguins we get a hankering for an ice-cream . Oh, and they have their very own Youtube channel, have a peek.

Farm Stay fun

Whats' good for the Geese is good for the Gander

Picture it now, the sun glistening off a babbling brook as you lay back on the grass watching the leaves sway lazily on the oak branches above you. After a riverside picnic it’s over the gate, through the fields and back to the farm, pausing a moment to bid the pigs, geese and a wobbling, gobbling turkey a good day. No, this isn’t a scene from Little House on The Prairie, its reality down on in the kingdom of – just one of a ton of Irish farm stays.

Self-catering is the name of the game on Hazel Fort Farm; the fully furnished cottages are as delightful as only country cottages can be. A whole cast of farm animals saunter around the farmyard; pot bellied pigs, white geese, goats and a few super-friendly border collies. You can go pony trekking, catch a fish for supper or visit just a short stroll from the farm. Of course there’s plenty of farm stay destinations all over the island, just pick one, grab your wellies and you’re set. This is old-school Irish charm at its best with a hearty dash of animal action for good measure.

Fota Island Wildlife Park

Awwwww baby giraffe!

It’s an island covered in lush vegetation, where beasts roam free around the grounds and it’s a major tourist attraction. Sounds familiar right? I reckon Steven Speilberg must have had a snoop around before Jurassic Park.

Thankfully, the inhabitants of Fota are nowhere near as cranky as that villainous T-Rex so you’re chances of making it back off the island are… 100% really. Zoos are cool, but Fota is seriously- cool (big distinction folks): it’s a wildlife park. Many of the 70 species of animals on Fota are let loose, free to amble around the 70-acre grounds to the amazement of visitors. Of course, only the best-behaved animals are granted this freedom. It was slightly surreal when I was just walking along and all of a sudden…!BAMB!… a kangaroo hopped on by, and later a capybara (think giant hamster) popped out from the bushes, which for me, was so much more exciting than seeing them from behind a fence. Within the enclosures on Fota you’ll find some rare and endangered species, such as Rothschild giraffes, European bison and Scimitar-horned oryx. With a couple of little cafes, a kiddies playground and a HB fun train (which to my chagrin, is for kids! Still got halfway round though…) Fota Island provides a memorable day out with lots of up-close animal encounters of the cute kind. Dr. Doolittle would only love it!

Belfast Zoo

Slightly grumpy mama, totally lovely baba

I’m starting to think Belfast City is getting a wee bit greedy to be frank. It’s the home of the astounding , you’ve got the resplendent Cathedral Quarter and all the thrills and delights of center. As if that’s not enough it’s only got the wildlife extravaganza that is too. Yes, our next stop on this animal expedition of Ireland is Belfast Zoo. Within the Zoo’s 55 acres there are over 1,000 animals representing around 150 species. Any ornithologists out there (spelled right first time! Wahey!) will surely flock to the Bird Park. Exotic birds from the far reaches of the globe whirl and twirl by in a frenzy of colour, beautiful blue-bellied rollers and hornbills among many more. The Elephant and Giraffe enclosure boasts 28 Rothschild giraffes, a gang of Asian elephants, zebras, meerkats (yes I watched the show!) and the unfortunately named warty pigs (they were quite warty in fairness). Over in the Rainforest house Monica (my better half) was slightly freaked out by the unsettlingly massive fruit bats clinging to the ceiling so we swiftly moved on to the fabled whistling ducks (I could’ve swore one was whistling the intro to Coronation Street but it stopped as soon as we found the duck in question so…. you never know!) We stopped off at the lush lake area for a bite to eat at the picnic tables watching the flamboyant flamingos and regally crowned cranes chatter and prance on the water. You’ve also got a kiddies playground and a lovely little farm in the same area. All in all Belfast Zoo dishes out good old animal fun by the ship-load and is actually quite important, too, as the majority of its animals are endangered in the wild –keep up the good work fellas.

So you see, we’re quite a wild bunch here in Ireland. We love animals great and small from the towering giraffe to the humble farmyard cow and even warty old pigs. Whether its strange and exotic beasts or indigenous wonders you’re after, you can think of Ireland as a modern day Garden of Eden (minus the nakedness and talking snakes of course!).

Some teeny things bug me about nature however… such as bugs. Well, them and the lack of roof and central heating and sturdy flooring, and possibility of sunburn/rain/wind chill (all in one day – this is Ireland after all).

I have friends who really love nature. Who enthuse about ‘sleeping under the stars’, ‘going into the wild’, ‘being one with the environment’. Now and again, I have to go on holiday with these friends. Usually, this means an increasingly heated conversation over tent poles versus spa pools, camp fires versus library bars, and star gazing versus star rating.

Until now.

Inside a yurt at Chleire Haven

Glamping: the holy alliance of glamour, camping and pampering, has saved the [holi]day. These ingenious eco-dwellings offer the surround sound of nature with the luxury standard. It’s the newest and most exciting unusual accommodation option in Ireland.

There’s a glamp site for your every mood.

Got the kids? Go Native [American] with a tipi. Wanting to retreat to a comfy bed with a dash of star-gazing? Yurt alert. Want to experience nature by saving it? You’ll want a reclaimed gypsy caravan or eco-fantastic geodesic dome.

Ireland has them all, and all over too.

Which one will inspire your screensaver or summer holiday?

Tipi by the sea on Cape Clear

The Cape is Clear

To get lost in nature properly, you have to bid civilization farewell.

Taking the ferry trip from the rugged coast out to , Ireland’s southernmost inhabited island, will do the trick literally and metaphorically. The island is 3 by 1 miles wide, and it counts as a neighbour that bastion of lonely isolation; the and lighthouse.

So far, so ‘hello tranquility’. The next natural step, according to Chléire Haven, is the womb-like cocoon of one of their tipis or yurts.

Yurts are magical structures; originally from Mongolia, they’re portable, bent wood-framed dwellings with a circular wall made from lattice and covered in thick felt. Inside you’ll find a log stove, real beds, large scatter cushions and beanbags, for lying on while star-gazing through the circle in the centre of the roof. Guitar and dog-eared copy of War and Peace optional.

You’ll have to poke your nose out eventually, for the edge-of-the-word cliff-teetering, wind-swept views – the closest to the Lord of the Rings set you’ll get in this hemisphere.

A cup of yurt in Teapot Lane

Tea parties in Leitrim

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to walk up anywhere that calls itself Teapot Lane.
Lucky, then, that at the end of this lane are button-cute yurts; hand-crafted with king-size beds, wood-burning stoves, rugs and lanterns. Now that’s what I call a tent.

Oh yes, the nature part: five acres of woodland in the shadow of epic mountain. There’s a fairy fort in the garden, an organic farm on the doorstep, and sandy beaches a walk away.

They even do holistic treatments, including Swedish massage and reflexology.

Boutique yurting in Westmeath

Boutique-calling in Westmeath

Importing them from Mongolia means these guys are serious about yurts. Roomy but cosy, lantern-lit but eco-friendly. A special mention goes to the Shepherds Huts and their fine china granny-chic.

You bet they have the surroundings to back up their nature claim; there’s a walled garden, lake and boat house, even a crannog to smother you in mother-naturely love. It’s open year round, and has no aversion to a little festival now and again.

The sounds of Green Village Music and Arts Festival last year will shake the huts on September 29th, but before that Ireland’s only dedicated yoga festival, Flourish Fest, will be stretching its supple legs around the site for a weekend of yoga, meditation, wellness and therapies.

The view from your tent in Dromquinna

Striking Kerry Gold

“Welcome to something completely different” smugly oozes the website. You’d be smug too, boasting tents specially designed by safari tent experts in India that put the rolling r in luxury.

Dromquinna Manor in is the newest glamp on the block. Think of them as a hotel room with a soft roof (double skin roofs in fact, so you won’t even hear the rain). Each tent has a private veranda and deck, but you don’t actually have to get out of bed to take in the bay views.

For the stunning nature pitch, just look up ‘Kerry; Ring of’ in the dictionary. Or better yet, a Google Image search.

Going native in Tepee Valley in Armagh

Tipi or not Teepee

Yes, it’s fun as an adult to reclaim camping by dressing up tents as hotel rooms and yurts as cosy cabins. But sooner or later, we’re going to have to give camping, and glamping, back to the grubby hands of youth.

Here’s where: Tepee Valley Campsite in has traditional Native American tepees – with totem pole of course – along with yurts, a geodesic dome and a gypsy caravan named, adorably, The Rosie Lee.

Views are offered in the form of farming countryside, down to the and across to in the distance.

You’ll also find tipis in Fermanagh’s Orchard Acre Farm, and adorable (and heated) camping pods in Drumhoney Holiday Park.

Storytelling around the campfire at night is essential.

Ireland’s weird and wonderful places to stay don’t stop there. From lighthouses to towers and castles, the Landmark Trust does brilliant unusual accommodation in Ireland.

So how is it that our landscapes are big business, and known for an epic vastness of changing skies, rolling hills and distant peaks? One answer would be Ciaran McHugh‘s work. He employs wide angle panorama photography to capture that ‘woooaaaahhh’ feeling as you strain your neck and eyes to take in a scene. This means stitching together several shots, sometimes up to eight, to form a single, eye-candy panorama. Naturally, we asked him to share his favourites.

Second Beach, Rosses Point, County Sligo

It was growing up in the West of Ireland that inspired me to work in photography, especially the panoramic work I enjoy most. This format gives me the tools to capture vast places like , , , or the Atlantic coastline.

Nearly everywhere you look in the West, you can bet on a sweeping vista mountains tumbling down to the lakes and the ocean, to take your breath away.  is particularly spoilt in this regard. The photograph above of ’s Blue Flag beach with Benbulben mountain in the distance is one of my personal favorites.

Storm clearing at Doo Lough, County Mayo

The challenge I set myself as a photographer is to take original photographs which capture the essence of the landscape and help to renew our sense of wonderment at the natural beauty of our surroundings. After waiting through a day of sleet and rain at the  Pass in County Mayo, the weather broke to reveal bright sunshine and this scene. This photo was composed from six separate shots.

Dusk at Strandhill beach, County Sligo

This photograph of surfers catching the last waves of the day was taken shortly after sunset on a wet evening at beach, County Sligo. Strandhill is considered one of the major European surf hotspots, as well as being this photogenic.

Markree Castle, County Sligo

This panoramic shot of  was taken from the bank of the Unsin River which flows though the castle’s 800 acre estate. The castle has been painstakingly restored by the current owner Charles Cooper, who is the 10th generation of his family to live at Markree Castle.

Ashford Castle, County Mayo

This photograph of the famous , in County  was taken during the severe winter of 2009. I waited hours in the freezing cold for the right light, and once I got it I headed straight to the castle for another of photographer’s vital tools; coffee and scones.

The Long Walk from the Claddagh, County Galway

This panorama of The Long Walk in City was taken after sunset at the mouth of the river Corrib at the edge of . The Claddagh area of Galway is most associated with the ring that bares its name, the Claddagh Ring, which was first created in the 17th century.

Derrynane Beach, County Kerry

This photo was taken in the late afternoon while I was on holiday near the stunning beach at , County . The sheltered sandy beach in the natural harbour of Derrynane Bay and could be mistaken for a Caribbean island. Its crystal clear waters are a brilliant turquoise blue even on the dullest days.

Ross Errilly Abbey, County Galway

Another technique I use is infrared photography, which gave the hauntingly atmospheric feel to my Ireland’s Abandoned Ruins collection. It focuses on timeworn subjects that are in the process of being lost to the ages and reclaimed by nature. The Franciscan Abbey of Ross Errilly was founded in 1349 on the banks on Black River on the Galway-Mayo border. It is among the best-preserved medieval monastic sites in the country.

We know what you’re thinking – you want that Lough Doo photo on your wall, don’t you? Don’t worry, Ciaran has thought of that. You can get canvas prints on his photography gallery.

Don’t worry, we’re way ahead of you. Ireland knows exactly how to impress little beady eyes, and how to tire out tiny pattering feet. We’ve sussed out some of the best places to amuse the little ones and soothe the parents.

Up in the trees

As a young ‘un myself in the 90s, I thought pedal boats were the height of sophistication. But now navigable routes have reached new heights, including a 300m long tree canopy walk at which stands 9m above woodland. The audio trail provides the park’s history, highlighting the flora and fauna before entering the 19th century underground tunnels and finally reaching the top of the 5-storey Moylurg viewing tower.

Lough Key Tree Canopy Walk

If you’d rather keep your feet on solid ground, Lough Key’s outstanding location will make the entire day fairly easy on the eyes so enjoy some old-fashioned sightseeing in the grounds, attempt Boda Burg (a 47 room obstacle course) and order the children to frolic in the playground, Adventure Kingdom.

The Aisling Project from Ballymun, Dublin said:

 A magic place – we all love it – it was great fun. The staff were excellent to us. The children learned a lot about the history & love the Boda Borg – we’ll be back again!

Keep the adrenaline pumping at , and .

To infinity and beyond

Planetariums are fantastic for aspiring astronauts whether they’re from the Buzz Aldrin or Buzz Lightyear space school. has taken educational trips to another level with its Digital Theatre projecting images taken by the Hubble Telescope and creating a 3D space-age experience. Your space cadets might have played on astro-turf but surely they’ve never seen an Astro Park? Stroll among the (stainless steel) planets and keep walking to the top of the hill and you’ll have reached the outer edges of the Universe. Yes it’s that easy! And what future space explorer doesn’t want to launch his/her own rocket? It’s a basic physics lesson disguised in explosive fun.

An exhibition at Armagh Planetarium

Also go stargazing at and .

So many museums…

Inside the Natural History Museum

My favourite museum as a child was the in Dublin city. I found it difficult to resist touching the hundreds of stuffed animals, not to mention convincing my brothers that the dinosaurs would come to life when we weren’t looking and recreate Jurassic Park.

The is at Collins Barracks, a former army base in Dublin 7. Mum of two, Emily O’ Sullivan, couldn’t recommend it more:

 Dragging small children around museums can be a tough call, but the Heritage Trail at Collins Barracks fires their imagination and really gets them involved in the whole experience. You can pick up pens and a work sheet at the front desk, and off they go, trying to find the objects marked on the trail. Our little boy got a huge kick out of the Soldiers & Chiefs exhibition and enjoyed learning about the museum’s history as an army barracks – the pictures inside really bring it to life; our little girl, meanwhile, settled down to draw pictures of what she’d seen in the Activity Area. Best of all, the museum’s massive central square provides all the space they need to burn off some energy after all that culture!

This is only the beginning of museums and galleries suitable for junior learners. Whatever aspect of Irish culture and heritage, modern or historic, we’ve got a museum to cover it.

Maritime matters can be explored at the Titanic themed TITANICa, Titanic Belfast and . Step back in time on New Ross’s , , the and . Make sure to avail of free entry into all our National Museums too.

Ahaarr me hearties…

Aaaaaarrrr

Captain Jack Sparrow is single-handedly responsible for reviving pirate love amongst the young and old. While the old must contend with Jonny Depp’s stellar performance, the young can indulge in some themed fun at in Westport. Inspired by Ireland’s very own, fearsome pirate queen, Grace O’ Malley, the park is laden with treats, including The Pirate Queen Swinging Ship. The Pirate’s Den isn’t as menacing as it sounds; think of it as a ball pit with soft furnishings. The dungeons may be a little scary but no more so than learning about Ms. O’ Malley’s dastardly deeds. This place is almost two attractions in one as it’s located in the grounds of the beautiful Westport House and Gardens: Grace O’ Malley’s ancestral home.

More outdoor adventures can be had at ; and .

Some mountain madness

They’ve watched and/or read The Chronicles of Narnia right? Well how about marching them up the Mourne Mountains, the ones that inspired CS Lewis’ inner wardrobe world? Local walking guide Loretto Coyle provides “a family walk with a neolithic twist to the top of Slieve Gullion. There are great views from the top and an opportunity to see inside a Court Tomb.”

Or see the mountains from a completely unique mode of transport: mountain boarding. Children as young as seven can hop on a board and beginner’s lessons last two hours, giving them ample to time to learn the basics. Gary Parr from says “getting people, especially children, to leave after their session can be a problem, everyone wants more!”

These kids can't get enough of their new wheels

And if this isn’t enough mountain mayhem try the at the foot of the Mournes. Eight foot of maize is the main draw but once you arrive you realise they’ve squeezed in go-karts, archery, laser clay, a petting zoo and a barrel train. What’s not to love?

Ireland is crammed with natural beauties to admire and explore such as the , and the . Or perhaps your children are , can’t live without their  or enjoy splashing about doing . 

Traditional Irish Recipes are the kind of munchables that send our tummies into grumble overdrive. The following recipes for success; Potato Bread, Roast Beef and White Wine Steamed Mussels have the whole office crowded around my desk. All of the recipes here come from the wonderful historical abodes that make up Hidden Ireland and we couldn’t think of nicer places to eat nicer food. Of course when I say eat I mean scoff and munch like some sort of feral animal.

Right, where’s that napkin…

Potato Bread from Hilton Park in County Monaghan

Why can't every house be a 300-year-old Georgian palace, surrounded by verdant parkland, its own lake, Corinthian columns and roof-level balustrade?

Ever heard of a multi-tasking house? Well, meet Hilton Park in County Monaghan. As well as making all the other houses jealous, this pile of perfection hosts literary weekends (an event last March welcomed the literary genius of Pat McCabe) as well as cookery courses.

This piece of their culinary legacy from owner Fred Madden is his mother’s wondrous Potato Bread Recipe.

Lucy Madden’s Potato Bread Recipe

Ingredients

700g potatoes, peeled

yum, and mum, is the word– Lucy Madden's Potato Bread

700g plain flour

1 teaspoon ginger, grated

2 sachets (approx 50g) active dry yeast

110g butter

50g caster sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon of salt

2 tablespoons of water

Icing sugar

Cooking Method

Boil the potatoes and then put them through a sieve and allow to cool. Sift the flour with the ginger and then mix with the potato. Sprinkle in the yeast and then rub in the butter. Add the sugar, the eggs, the salt and the water and knead until a silky elasticity is achieved. Put in a clean bowl, cover with a clean cloth and leave until the mixture has doubled in size.

Punch down the mixture and then knead again briefly. Place the dough in a greased round cake tin and leave to prove again until the dough reaches the top of the tin. Cook at gas mark 7 /425F/220ºC for about 40 minutes watching that the top doesn’t burn – you may need to turn down the heat after twenty minutes or so. Turn out and while still warm, sprinkle with icing sugar and eat.

Roast Rib of McGrath’s Beef With Roast Potatoes and Buttered Leeks

Jealous? Of a stunning period house shrouded in aged oak trees in serene Cork countryside? No, of course not...

Ballyvolane House rather stole my heart the first time I set eyes on it and the same must be said for the recipe we’ve wrangled from their foodie-loving owners, Justin and Jenny Green. This Roast Beef dish is, we imagine, best munched after an early morning spent fishing on the six miles of the Blackwater River, privately-owned by the house.

Roast Rib of Beef Recipe

Serves 6

Pretty sure I could take this on alone - Roast Beef with Creamed Leeks and Roast Potatoes

Ingredients

8lb rib of well-hung Hereford beef on the bone. (Ask your butcher to saw through the chine bone for easier carving)

12 Irish rooster potatoes

2 large garden leeks

Cooking Method

For the beef, pre-heat oven to 220ºC/gas 6.

Rub olive oil lightly into beef and season with salt and pepper. Place in oven for 30 minutes. Then reduce heat to 160ºC/gas 3 for 1 hour. Allow beef to rest for 20 minutes before serving. Wrap in foil to keep hot.

For the roast potatoes, wash, peel, chop potatoes into evenly sized pieces. Place in roasting tray and season with salt, pepper, olive oil and bake for 1 hour.

Wash and chop leeks at an angle and place in saucepan. Put 4oz butter and 4 tbsp water with the leeks. Cover with a lid, cook for 5 minutes. Strain, then season with salt and pepper.

Serve with Bernaise Sauce.

Steamed North Sea Mussels from Tyrella House in County Down

Supermodel looks and a very fashionable ivy-stubble - Tyrella House is one handsome gent. And we're reliably informed that the canon is out of use.

Inside this house of outstanding beauty, located in an area of outstanding beauty by the Mountains of  Mourne, lives a man who is capable of creating food of outstanding beauty. Oh, and it’s tasty, too. The food that is, we haven’t tasted the mountains. Lord of this particular manor and his kitchen is David Corbett and we have him to thank for our final recipe. This one’ll give you hair on your chest and ‘mussels’ on your arms! I’ll get my coat…

Steamed North Sea Mussels

Serves 4

'Erm, yes hello, could I get six more bowls of these please? Yes, I'm dining alone.'

Ingredients

2kg mussels

1 onion

30g butter

20cl white wine

pepper, thyme, parsley and bay leaf for seasoning

Method

Clean mussels (removing the ‘beard’).

Chop the onion and let it melt slowly in hot butter in a large heavy pan.

Add mussels, the white wine, pepper and herbs.

Stir well and cook for 6 to 7  minutes, stirring the pan from time to time so the mussels reach the bottom of the pan and open.

Once all the mussels are open, remove from the pan and keep in a warming oven.

Let the juices rest for 5 minutes and then pour slowly (through a strainer) over the mussels.

Serve immediately.

My final word? Nomnomnnomnomnomnomnomnomnomnom…

We have a lot more where they came from. Try these recipes for soda bread, Irish Stew, Guinness Bread,, carrot cake, and Irish cream liqueur.

But what if you don’t have a trophy cabinet of little golden surfboards, or have never even stood on a board before? And have the upper-arm strength of an eight-year-old girl?

Is Ireland the place to learn to surf?

We sent Mark Folens to find out.

I am not really the beaches type. I have ethereal pale skin and a natural aversion to sunlight (much like Robert Pattinson, I like to console myself).

Looking like this was the plan. Not, eh, the reality.

Despite my Daz white complexion and suspicious squinting at the big flaming ball in the sky, last July I found myself on a sun-drenched beach in – in shorts – in the name of surf. Well ok, surf lessons. I told you I didn’t do this often.

is not your typical surfing town. There are no palm trees; no stalls of luminous plastic sunglasses. The beach is not teeming with bronzed demigods or dreadlocked men brandishing ukuleles. But that’s part of what makes it so special. That, and some of the best waves in the world.

This patch of coastline is home to The Peak – one of the most famous waves in Europe – and the almost constant swell means the breaks here are consistent. The European Surfing Championships has twice been held in Bundoran (including last year).

The awesome waves “for which Bundoran is renowned,” says Lonely Planet, have Stormrider Surf Guides describing the coastal town as a “true surfer’s paradise.”

Well of course it's easy on dry land!

We lined up as dawn was breaking to be handed our wetsuits, for modelling “the latest bloated seal look” according to my friend Brian. Not that anyone was looking at us. All eyes were on our majestic setting – lush dunes and hillsides laced with yellow gorse and purple heather.

Our instructor rolled up (straight from the set of Baywatch it appeared) in a typical weather-beaten jeep packed with surfboards. Paul was a local, had been carving waves his whole life, and rocked the beaded-ankles, black-tangled-hair look with the suave of Wolverine meets Russell Brand. I tried not to hate him.

The boards were passed down the line and in a moment of brash arrogance I christened mine the Chariot of Poseidon. (Looking back, I think the board was just trying to punish me for that from then on).

“The key to surfing is balance,” shouted Paul as we practiced the basics on the sand. Each board has a sweet spot and an inch outside this zone “will have you chomping on seaweed”. Even when the elusive area had been identified, there was still the matter of standing.

Not pictured: Mark swallowing sea water

To stand on a surfboard you must lie on your chest and push yourself up with your arms while tucking your legs in beneath you. This might sound easy but if you have the arms of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and upper-body strength of an eight-year-old girl like me, it’s a bit of a challenge.

All too soon, it was time for the water.

I waded towards the waves (which doubled in size before my eyes) with rapidly depleting optimism. First try, I was swiftly overturned. And the second… And the third.

Each attempt to stand ended with me spluttering saltwater and chasing after my surfboard. My friend Brian was up in no time – even the girl who got stuck in the arm of her wetsuit found her feet.

Paul swam over to give me some pointers, namely don’t be so stiff and that I needed to use my arms to push off the board quicker.

Standing never felt more accomplished

“Just relax,” he said with a wink, “the worst thing you can do is overthink it.”

So I stopped thinking and started paddling. Suddenly, a wave taller than most bungalows (or so it seemed at the time. You’ll have to allow for some poetic license here) was heading for me. The stars aligned, the monster of water closed in and I sprang to my feet!

For at least five seconds.

I know, but as far as I was concerned, Theseus had slain the Minotaur!

For the rest of the afternoon not even a shout of ‘shark!’ could have wiped the grin off my face.

All too soon it was time for dry land, to get out of our wetsuits and into a Dry Martini (Brian’s line – totally stole it).

Back at the pub, I made a silent toast to myself for conquering the ocean, swirling my Tullamore Dew with my newly vindicated Tyrannosaurus arms.

Salt water never tasted so good.

If you want to learn to surf like Mark, check out Bundoran Surf Co. If this doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are many other water-based activities and watersports to be enjoyed in Ireland. Want more? Check out this interview with Surfing Champion, Stevie Burns.

He can coax out of an everyday scene the most evocative compositions. I’m talking clouds almost three-dimensional in their bouffant-ness, seas swelling and splashing against the picture, and sands so full of texture I fear they’ll scratch my screen.

Lucky for us, this whisperer can wield a camera lens. We asked him to show us his favourite places in Ireland to photograph.

This is what he whispered back:

As a landscape photographer living in Ireland, I’m spoiled for choice when it comes to locations to photograph.
However, there are three counties in particular that I have a magnetic attraction to; Mayo, Donegal and Cork.

Mind-bending Mayo

Out past in County , the road narrows and winds all the way down to the Silver Strand. Nestled in the shadow of Mweelrea Mountain, this is one of the most spectacular beaches in Ireland.

Silver Strand in County Mayo

I took this shot one mild March evening when the sun cast a glow across the coastline. I think the composition really captured the beauty of the location.

The sun rises on Donegal

is a photographer’s paradise. A county where it’s possible to get lost in a landscape – despite never being too far from a town/village/shop/pub/B&B. Donegal has some of the least explored, and as a result, most untouched land on the island, hence why I hold so many of my photography workshops here.

Glen Head County Donegal

One of my favourite shots from Donegal is this view across the wild ragged coastline near Malinbeg. On this particular morning, I sat in the early darkness, listening to the roar of an unseen Atlantic. As dawn broke revealing a distant Glen Head, I tripped the shutter as the rising sun turned the sea spray golden.

However, my favourite sunrise image is this view of the ruined church at the base of Mount Errigal in Northwest Donegal.

Poison Glen, Donegal

In the stillness of a warm summer morning with the sounds of cuckoos calling in the distance, I stood by a tripod, tripping the shutter as the sunlight crept down the Glen and across the spire of the church.

Worth Popping the Cork

The in West Cork is simply beautiful. Less explored than the Ring of Kerry, it’s exactly the type of place you imagine when you hear people say they ‘want to get away from it all’.

Sunrise over the Healy Pass, County Cork

Photographers by their nature need two key things; patience and persistence. In this case my persistence paid off when, after religiously making the journey to the summit of the Healy Pass, a fleeting shaft of sunlight created this dramatic lightshow.

Get your jaw dropping and see more of Peter McCabe’s landscape photography of Ireland, or join him on one of his photography workshops.