New landmark
From Gothic gate lodges to luminous lighthouses, the Irish Landmark Trust is known for its painstaking conservations of historic spots that you also get to sleep in. Its latest property, Killee Cottage in Mitchelstown, is an adorable thatched number, sleeping two so it's all gorgeously romantic in an old-fashioned way. From €340 for two nights (minimum stay).
Or what about one of Dublin's best kept secrets? The Merrion Mews sleeps six in three double bedrooms. They warn you that as you're above the stables where the Garda horses live, you may hear hooves in the night. Sounds like heaven (to me). From €884 for two nights. irishlandmark.com
Snap happy
Teaming up with Terra Firma, Mayo's Knockranny House Hotel has a walking and photography weekend coming up. Photographer and guide Joshua Nueva will take you off the beaten track for a four-five hour walk in the Wild Nephin National Park, aimed at snappers from the beginner to the keen hobbyist. Includes two nights B&B, dinner and a packed lunch, from €380pps. August 27th to 28th, knockrannyhousehotel.ie
Angels over Roscommon
The Boyle Arts Festival is always a lovely time to visit Roscommon and this year Fregoli Theatre Company adds to the magic, taking to the streets with Angels, a 30-minute performance of wonder and joy (and sequins). August 5th, at 12pm in Roscommon Town Centre, and 2.30pm in Boyle. roscommonartscentre.ie/ boylearts.com. Stay at the Abbey Hotel Roscommon from €105 per room, abbeyhotel.ie
Unwrapping Yeats
Want to know more about WB? There's an app for that… Yeats Unwrapped uses your GPS to guide you through Sligo, so whether it's peace dropping slow on the shores of Lough Gill, or something slithering through the Sleuth Wood (actually Slith Wood, but never mind), you'll get to know all about it. Developed by the Yeats Society, it's a great way to get out and about on some poetic peregrinations. The free app is now available on Google Play and IOS. Stay at the Glasshouse from €149 per room, with discounts for longer stays, theglasshouse.ie. And while you're there, drop into Shells Cafe in Strandhill for its weekend Summer Wine and Cheese Nights overlooking the sea. From €8.50 for a glass of rosé, shellscafe.com
Sinking feeling?
While the “complete Titanic experience” might sound a little damp, it’s anything but at Belfast’s Titanic Hotel.
An overnight for two, with tickets to the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction, plus car parking and breakfast, comes in at €170 per room. With Good To Go accreditation, they're nice and safe, plus the hotel's main bar, the Drawing Office, is both gorgeously glamorous, and large enough to satisfy the most socially distant of dining. titanichotelbelfast.com
Garden party
Imagine your own private garden, right on St Stephen's Green. Staunton's on the Green, the gorgeous refurbed townhouse, is offering exclusive use of its back garden for your own special event. So if you've something to celebrate, or just feel like cooking up an occasion for the craic, this could be the spot. Garden hire is €500, but it's free if you've booked five bedrooms at Staunton's that night (rooms from €149 per room). Plus they'll do snacks and sips to order. stauntonsonthegreen.ie
Putting beer on the map
Like gin, Ireland's craft breweries have been growing apace, and the microbrewing industry is keen to let you know that beer is just as wonderfully local and richly diverse as the finest of wine. So to help you discover how the different landscapes of Ireland – from Louth to Limerick, Carlow to Clifden and Dungarvan to Dublin – result in different flavour sensations, the new online Irish Beer Map at irishbeer.ie links you to what's going on in your neck of the woods. It's also a handy guide for when you're on the road, with links to the individual breweries, some of which have tours, tastings and special events. Try Dick Mack's Brewhouse in Dingle, and while you're at it stay at local landmark, Benners, from €229 per room including a brewery tour, dinglebenners.com
