INSIDE INFORMATION
With a wealth of lakes and forests, you don’t have to head to the coast to enjoy the best of Ireland’s waterways
WHEN deciding on a holiday destination at home, it is likely that one of our many coastal treasures are the first to spring to mind — but they now have some competition.
The inland counties of Ireland’s Ancient East — Cavan and Monaghan — have largely remained hidden gems when it comes to home vacations. However, with 2020 (and possibly beyond) the era of the staycation, these two counties are stepping up and proving why they should be on the map as a leading holiday destination.
The area is not short on diversity, offering a little bit of everything you could want in a holiday.
A reasonably short drive from all areas of the country — our accommodation at the four- star Hotel Kilmore in Killygarry was only around an hour from the M50 — this is the perfect location for anyone searching from some tranquillity away from the city, without having to drive for hours.
With 130 lakes in Co Monaghan and 365 in Co Cavan, you cannot visit the area without trying your hand at water activities. Whether you’re an experienced adrenaline junkie or a first-timer when it comes to water sports, Castleblaney Outdoor Adventure Centre in Lough Muckno Leisure Park is the right fit for everyone.
LOCATED in what was originally the estate of the Blayney family, from whom t he t own of Castleblayney takes its name, the facility offers beautiful views of the lake. There’s water activities for the entire family, including kayaking, paddle boarding and tree climbing. There’s no admission fee for the park itself, but rental charges do apply for activities. Wetsuits are provided, so just bring old shoes and swimwear.
For those of you who aren’t quite brave enough to take to the water, the park is also a popular fishing spot, and offers walking trails and a picnic area.
If you’re more interested in a scenic stroll than water sports, Dun an Rí Forest Park in Kingscourt, Co Cavan, offers stunning riverside walks and picnic areas. The forest forms part of what was formerly the Cabra Estate, which was owned by the Pratt family, amily, and the ruins of what was formerly Flemings Castle remain. There is a car park on site, but make sure to bring coins with you — entry y costs €5, and neither cash nor r card payments are accepted.
Relying on the Irish weather is never wise, so planning some indoor activities is a must. Allow yourself to tap p into your creative side by visiting a workshop at Crafts of Ireland, a rural craft studio just outside Virginia. Run by y the incredibly talented Sandra ra Coote, she offers classes in a range of crafts, including crochet, knitting, lace making, pebble art, wool spinning and traditional baking.
However, the stand-out workshop is l earning the art t of needle felting. This involves making pictures using dyed wool from the Roscommon sheep, the oldest registered native breed of sheep in Ireland, which roam in the field next to the workshop.
Home to one of the nation’s most famous poets, we stopped off in the village of Iniskeen, Co Monaghan, to commemorate Patrick Kavanagh. As the writer of internationally beloved poems such as Raglan Road and The Great Hunger, it’s no surprise that the Inniskeen native is the pride and joy of the community. Originally opened in n 1994, the Patrick Kavanagh Centre recently received a €1.2million i revamp, and has seen around 1,200 visitors pass through its doors since reopening in July. Situated in a former church, the st state-of-the-art visitor experience c captures Kavanagh’s life and the evolution of his poetic skills through h a series of touchscreens, memory m boxes and letters.
Visitors can also watch a brief film reciting some of Kavanagh’s b best known poems, set to a backdrop of video footage filmed in the local area, including Muckno Forest and Castleblaney, as well as some scenes filmed on Dublin’s Raglan Road.
Kavanagh’s burial site can be found in the adjoining graveyard. The simplicity of his grave makes it easy to overlook, marked with just a small wooden cross bearing his name and the words: ‘And pray for him who walked apart on the hills loving life’s miracles’.
With many of Kavanagh’s poems inspired by the land of Iniskeen, visitors can also walk the selfguided Kavanagh trail, which meanders through the landscape that shaped Kavanagh as a poet.
THERE’S no shortage of options when it comes to dining. The Courthouse Restaurant in Carrickmacross has a varied menu, offering a cosy, intimate environment while still ensuring customers feel comfortable by maintaining plenty of social distancing between tables. You can enjoy your meal alongside a delicious cocktail, as it also has an extensive menu, from cosmos to espresso martinis.
If you’re on a higher budget, The Old Post Inn just outside of Cloverhill is most definitely one of the superior dining experiences in the area. The award-winning restaurant — which also serves as a boutique wedding venue — is situated in a quaint 200-year-old building, and offers a lavish evening menu including fillet steak and venison.
If you fancy trying your hand at some delicious recipes, you can take part in the restaurant’s cookery courses, which take place in a cottage on the same site.
Lisa O’Donnell was a guest of Fáilte Ireland, whose Make A Break For It campaign is encouraging Irish people to explore their own country this year. For details on Ireland’s Ancient East or indeed the Hidden Heartlands from last week’s review, see discoverireland.ie