Make a Trip of It

We are so grateful to everyone for taking the time and effort to celebrate with us in Ireland and want you all to get the most out of your trip!

We have wedding events planned from Thursday to Saturday.

Thursday & Friday we encourage you to stay at Harvey’s Point Hotel.

On Saturday we will be providing transportation to the club in Dungiven from Roe Park Resort hotel in Limavady. If anyone plans to stay Sunday to unwind and recover before more traveling, Roe Park Resorts has a spa, restaurant and golf course on site.

Beyond that, you may want to explore more of Ireland before or after wedding festivities, so keep reading for our hotel, pub, restaurant and activity recommendations!

Content

• Pack and dress in layers - the weather changes quickly, typical to have 4 seasons in 1 day!
• Bring a raincoat but no umbrella (it will just get destroyed in the wind).
• Remember your outlet adaptors!
• Leave the Dyson at home - unfortunately hair tools will just break or catch fire. Alternatively, we suggest buying cheap ones at Boots.
• You can find anything you forgot, especially at Penny’s/Primark.
• Dinner is usually served “early” by New Yorker standards so plan accordingly
• Uber isn't a thing! Taxis will only be in big cities.
• Most cell phone providers have affordable international travel plans - we suggest setting this up ahead of time, especially for driving navigation and so you’re not asking for the wifi password everywhere you go like its 2014
  

Helpful Tips

Near Dublin Airport

Tip: If you have an early flight out of Dublin airport, it’s much less stressful to stay at one of the airport hotels the night before. Most of them offer shuttle service directly to the airport.

Premier Inn Dublin Airport is budget-friendly but has everything you need for a night & a shuttle.

Dublin

Accommodations

You’ll find all kinds of hotels from the Hilton Garden Inn and Intercontinental to Clontarf Castle Hotel. We also suggest looking for Air BnBs and B&Bs.

Activities/Sightseeing

• The Spire
• O’Connell Street
• Grafton Street
• Temple Bar - The

Vintage Cocktail Bar

• Brazen Head
• Howth market
• An Post
• Croke Park
• Iveagh Gardens
• Dublin Zoo
• Mulligan’s
  

• Guinness Storehouse
• Kilmainham Gaol Museum
• Trinity College, Book of Kells

& Old Library

• St Stephan’s Green
• National Museum of Ireland
• St Patrick’s Cathedral
• Dublin Castle
• Phoenix Park
• Ha’penny Bridge
• Stag’s Head

Near Shannon Airport

Traveling up the West Coast

(from Shannon)

Activities/Sightseeing

• Wild Atlantic Way
• Cliffs of Moher
• Galway - Quay Street, Galway Market, Connemara National Park, Salthill Prom, Spanish Arch, Eyre Square, Galway Bay
• Aran Islands
• Sligo
• Donegal
  

Near Belfast Airport

Belfast

Accommodations

• The Merchant
• The Fitzwilliams
• Titanic Hotel
• Europo
• Hilton
• Clayton

Activities/Sightseeing

• Titanic Museum
  
• Belfast Castle
• St. Georges Market
• CS Lewis Square
• Cathedral Quarter
• Victoria Square
• murals
• black cab tours

Restaurants

• Bootleggers
• James St
• The Lantern
• Bank Square Brasserie
• Flame

Derry City

Bars & Restaurants

• Peader O’Donnell’s Bar
• Tracy’s Bar
• Blackbird Bar
• Guildhall Taphouse
• The Walled City Brewery (& food)
  

• Castle Street Social (food)
• Browns in Town (food)
• Meekong (food)
• El Tapas Gra (food)
• Artis (fine dining)
  

Accommodations

• Bishop’s Gate Hotel
• City Hotel Derry
• Shipquay Hotel
• Maldron Hotel
• Holiday Inn

Activities/Sightseeing

• Free Derry Corner
• Bogside Tour
• Free Derry Museum
• Craft Village - good coffee shops
  

Highlights: Near/In County Derry

Activities/Sightseeing

• Wild Atlantic Way
• Giants Causeway
• Portrush
• Portstewart
• Sperrin Area of Outstanding Beauty
• Dunluce Castle
• Carick-a-Rede rope bridge
• The Dark Hedges
• The Gobbins Cliff Path
  

• Roe Valley Country Park
• Mussenden Temple
• Magilligan Point
• Ballintoy Harbour
• Ballycastle
• Dark Hedges
  

Highlights: Glamping

Accommodations

• Rathmullan House
• Lough Eske Castle
• Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa
• Redcastle Hotel
  

• Rosapenna Hotel
• Shandon Hotel & Spa
• An Chuirt Hotel Gweedore

Activities/Sightseeing

• Fanad Lighthouse
• Donegal Castle
• Glenveagh National Park
• Doagh Famine Village
• Wild Ireland
• Slieve League
• Malin Head
  

• Glenevin Waterfall
• Glencolumbkille Folk Village
• Ballymastocker Beach
• Bundoran Beach
• Oakfield Park
• Grianan of Aileach
• Fairy Bridges

• The Harbour Restaurant
• Fuery’s Diner
• La Belle Donna
• Quay West Restaurant
• Olde Castle Seafood Bar
• O’Donnells Bar abd Restaurant
• Blueberry Tea Room
  

Accommodations

If you prefer to stay outside of Harvey’s Point, Donegal Town is about a 10-15 minute drive and has multiple hotel options:

• The Central Hotel Donegal
• The Abbey Hotel Donegal
• Mill Park Hotel
• The Gateway Lodge
• Donegal House
  

Highlights: Animal Activites

South

Activities/Sightseeing

• Dingle
• Tralee
• Killarney
• Kilkenny
• Waterford
• Ring of Kerry
• Cork - it is a bit far; about a 3 hour

drive from Dublin, and a 4 and a half hour

from Donegal, but since Kathleen studied

here & visited many times, we have

many recommendations!

Cork

Restaurants

• Amicus
• CoqBull
  
• Market Lane
  
• Liberty Grill
  
• Quinlan’s
  
• Orso Kitchen and Bar
  
• Elbow Lane
  
• The SpitJack Cork
  

• The Glass Curtain
• Son of a Bun
• Jacques Restaurant
• Luigi Malones Cork
• Sophie’s Rooftop Cork
• Isaac’s Restaurant
• Restaurant 14a
• Jacob’s on the Mall

Accommodations

• Kingsley Hotel – luxury living overlooking the River Lee; fine dining, spa, indoor pool
• Fernroyd House - Bed & Breakfast – quaint authentic Irish family living, cozy rooms and delicious breakfast
  
• The River Lee
  
• Hotel Isaacs Cork
  
• The Imperial Hotel and Spa
  
• Lancaster Lodge
  
• The Address Hotel Cork
  

Cork

Pubs

• Dwyers of Cork - cocktails, food, live music
• Washington Inn – Recommend going earlier in the night or on Wednesday. Tuesday/Thursdays are the students night out so it gets crazy with students
• Reardens/Havana Browns – does have food, pub on bottom floor, usually live music, as the night continues they open the upper floors and depending on the night it goes all the way to the “secret garden’ rooftop
• Franciscan Well – local brewery and beer garden, pizza, and now cocktails!
• Sin e – classic old pub, traditional music almost every night
• Mutton Lane Inn – kind of tricky to find but a cool atmosphere, typical little pub
• Jim Cashman’s – my dad loved this place
• An Brog – more late night (after a few pints) its fun and a little quirky
• Oliver Plunkett – serves dinner/ traditional music/ chill, but also turns more lively later
• Old Oak – (across from Oliver Plunkett) big, three bars, cheap specialty shots, music
• An Bodhran – cozy and frequented by old Irishmen
• Costigan’s – bit bigger, also near Washington Inn/James Street
• Brick Lane – good fun and turns into more of a night club some nights

Cork City

Activities/Sightseeing

• Lee Sessions – traditional Irish music and dance, travels around Cork City
• An Spailpin Fanac – Tradition music night on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• English Market – local fresh foods and vendors
• Elizabethan Fort – 17th century star fort on Barrack Street
• Cork City Gaol – historic prison with tours, gives insight into the city
• Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral
• Black Rock Castle – science centre and observatory
• Shandon Bells/Church of St. Anne – climb up the bell tower to a great view of Cork City
• Butter Museum – displays of tradition craft of butter making & its role in Irish culture and society
• Lewis Glucksman Gallery – modern art gallery on UCC campus; café style dinning
• Cork Opera House – concerts, comedy, theatre, opera, panto, live music gigs
• Everyman Palace Theatre – Victorian theatre
• UCC Campus – 10 minute walk from city centre but looks like Hogwarts, cool to walk around.

Highlights: For the Kids

Tip: Strollers will be useful in cities like Dublin but for much of the country side, you will need a carrier.

Check out the Stork Exchange in Dublin Airport for baby and children’s equipment rental.

Located in a magical woodland, Wild Ireland on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal is a unique wildlife sanctuary and home to many rescued animals including brown bears, wolves, lynx and wild boar. The paths are perfect for little legs and strollers.

Ards Forest Park Sand Dune Trail near Dunfanaghy, County Donegal is not only perfect for buggies but is ideal for little legs not ready to graduate on to more difficult hiking trails yet.

Highlights: Golf

Check that oversize luggage for your clubs and take advantage of world class courses with spectacular views.

(Many places will offer club hire if you call ahead)

Fun fact: Royal Portrush in County Antrim will be hosting its third Open Championship in July 2025.

While you can certainly do it on your own, you will find inclusive packages with specialist golf tour operators who arrange an itinerary, tee times & accommodations.

Most of Ireland’s courses, especially Links, are open year round. But courses are at their best April through October.

It is best to call ahead to book tee times. Most clubs will offer special visitor and group rates for green fees.

Ask about packages that allow you to play 2 or 3 courses over your trip!

Highlights: Spas

Tip: spas in Ireland tend to be more affordable than in New York and many hotels have spas on site so we suggest taking advantage of this for a detox & unwind!

SPAS:

Roe Park Hotel (Limvady)

Galgorm (Ballymena)

The Rabbit (Ballyclare)

Zen Day Spa (Newry)

Dunamoy Cottages and Spa (Ballyclare)

Corick House Hotel and Spa (Clogher)

The Secret Spa and Glamping (Derry)

Spa Exprience (Belfast)