Mary Hopkins’ Wild Atlantic Way
with Mary Hopkins, Founder, Hopkins Communications. (Ireland)
Mary, tell us a little about yourself:
A twin child of the Wild Atlantic Way (from Ballyhahill, County Limerick, now living in Cork) I have quite recently shaken off the pressures of a media-mad business life, set my children up for life and I’m on a mission to enjoy every day to the maximum.
Career-wise, tell us about founding Hopkins Communications:
In 1990, I took the plunge and started our agency in Cork city. I was pretty fearless, felt I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain. I made tremendous friends through my work, through volunteering, and through my leadership roles in several business organisations, and received outstanding support to grow my business.
Hopkins Communications is now the region’s largest communications agency, handling media-buying (TV, radio, print, digital), public relations, event management, experiential marketing, graphic design and print for a host of large and small businesses, trading nationally and internationally. Being a family business is one of our USPs it gives consistency, which clients love. www.h-c.ie
You’ve retired - well, from the office part of the job! How are you enjoying life after work?
It took me two years between re-structuring the company and closing my chapter, happy in the knowledge that the new business partners (my son Mark and my daughter Judy) would look after the business and grow it.
Now that Dave and I are retired, we’re like mad ones, planning trips, hopping up and down to West Cork, attending Munster/Ireland rugby matches, a lot of sailing, some creative writing, the odd holiday abroad, loving our grandchildren, and looking up old friends now that we have time on our hands.
You love Ireland and travel the length and breadth of the country frequently. What are your thoughts on the tourism industry in Ireland at the moment?
Perched at the gateway to Europe,
I think we have an awesome country, warm and welcoming people, great traditions, world-class music, wonderful art & craft, fabulous scenery, and the best food in the world. This is Ireland’s time to shine. www.discoverireland.ie
Some highlights from your Irish travels:
Dave is a ship’s captain, so I feel safe sailing around the coast with him. Some of our favourite places are Baltimore, Ahakista and Bantry in County Cork; Derrynane, Port Magee, Knightstown and Dingle in County Kerry; Inishboffin and the Aran Islands (particularly Inis Meann) in County Galway. We’ve hit nasty swells and storms, fallen overboard (that’s me - four times!), slept aloft in balmy weather and travelled with the dolphins, basking sharks, whales and the loveable little puffins. Then it’s exciting to tie up and scoot ashore to the little pubs and restaurants, where there’s always a welcome and scrumptious food. We’re shoving on in age but always seem to be the last to leave ...old habits die hard.
What do you love about the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW), in particular?
Stretching from Kinsale, County Cork, right up to The Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, it reminds me of Highway No 1 along the Californian Coast, except it’s more vivid, colour wise that is.
Everything seems to be exaggerated, green being the stand-out colour, with hues of copper, russet, silvery grey and of course, the blue/teal/white of the ocean as it embraces the colours and reflections of the seasons.
Some of your favourite restaurants, pubs and attractions along WAW:
County Cork has fabulous hostelries along the Wild Atlantic Way. Courtmacsherry is a joy to behold, as is Baltimore, home to Bushe’s Bar and The Waterfront in the square. Then on to Castletownbere and the snug in McCarthy’s Bar, stopping into The Tin Pub in Ahakista to see Mary O’Sullivan. The Bank House on Whiddy Island is another little gem - I had the best salad in Ireland there this summer. A veritable feast of not just good food, Cork and West Cork have carved a crafty niche for themselves with the popular annual Cork Craft Week in August. www.baltimore.ie www.corkcraftanddesign.com
County Kerry’s coolest town is Kenmare, bursting with great restaurants, hotels and bars, notably Packies, The Lime
Tree and my personal favourite, The Horseshoe. Home to the famous 5-star Park Hotel and Sheen Falls Country Club - a real treat, Kenmare has several midpriced hostelries and the standards are consistently good, with gorgeous art and craft outlets in the town and hinterland. As for Killarney, what can I say?
The Brehon Hotel is awesome as is the centrally-situated Great Southern Hotel. Pop over to see Fungi the dolphin in Dingle and you could stay at the wonderful Dingle Skellig Hotel, which commands Dingle Bay like no other. A visit to Ballybunion is also a must, with fantastic beaches and a world-class golf course. Festivals are big in Kerry, with the internationally renowned Rose of Tralee Festival and the traditional Puck Fair in Killorglin in August. www.discoverireland.ie/kerry www.ballybunionbythesea.ie
Skipping up to County Clare, via the Shannon Ferry at Tarbert, there are so many attractions, it’s hard to pick the special ones. I’d recommend getting family passes for the intriguing Bunratty Castle and Folk Park - you too could be King of the Castle for a night! www.shannonheritage.com
The Falls Hotel in Ennistymon is probably my favourite mid-priced hotel in Ireland, with spa treatment rooms, large pool, sauna and outdoor tub. Then uptown to Byrnes Restaurant or pop over to the nearby town of Lahinch, which hosts the Irish Open this summer.
Glorious Galway! I love this city, with its rich music and cultural activities everywhere you go, and much to do for all ages. The city is known for its involvement in The Volvo Ocean Race, Galway International Arts Festival, Galway Races and its oyster festival. You have to visit Sheridan’s Cheesemongers & Wine Bar, McCambridge’s food emporium in Shop Street, the awardwinning Fork Restaurant at Nox Hotel and my favourite, Kirwan’s Lane.
There’s also an interesting hostel offering, named Snoozles, on Quay
Street and Foster Street.
Connemara, Sligo and Donegal are just a revelation every time I visit. Shimmering lakes and rocky waterways are everywhere, and the landscape stretches for miles, overseen by The Twelve Pins and Benbulben in The
Yeats Country - Sligo. Upwards towards County Mayo you have classy Westport town with its interesting restaurants, and Killary Harbour, a natural fjord, which is probably my favourite place in The West. Sligo and Donegal beckon as we move northwards to Strandhill and the wonderfully wild ocean that sweeps around the coast, dominating its surroundings. Enniscrone is another lovely town and if you’re interested in the historical houses of Yeats Country, swing by Lissadell House where Constance and her family will welcome you.
Ah, it’s Donegal at last! It’s simply beautiful, bleak, blustery and breathtaking all in one! With Gola Island, Glenveagh National Park, magnificent
Mount Errigal, beautiful beaches and rolling seas all around the coast.
Last but not least - the top of Ireland - Tory Island. Saint Colmcille founded a monastery on the island in the 6th Century, and mythology is alive and well here! Designated a Special Protection Area for birds by the EU, you’ll see blackbacked gulls, guillemots, oystercatchers, falcons, ravens and other beauties in abundance. In fact, Tory is one of a few places where the endangered corncrake is heard - I had the pleasure of hearing its ratchety chanson one late night after a party in the community hall. I almost fell off my bicycle with the shock and was convinced it was a recording - it was so loud and wonderful in the stillness of the night. www.welovedonegal.com
Then it’s exciting to tie up and scoot ashore to the little pubs and restaurants, where there’s always a
welcome and scrumptious food.
Any WAW secret gems we should know about?
The Lighthouse on Clare Island. There are several lighthouses taking guests around the Irish coast see www.greatlighthouses.com
A Taste of West Cork Food Festival.
A festival like no other, in 40 towns, villages and islands in West Cork.
It runs en fête over a 10-day period every September. www.atasteofwestcork.com
Man Friday Restaurant, Kinsale. Consistently good. www.manfridaykinsale.ie
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’ve enjoyed re-living my experiences here, and it makes me so much more appreciative of the wonderful people I’ve met along my own wild and wonderful way. I feel a road trip coming on...