DESTINATIONS December 2013
Updated weekly - keep revisiting
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Best Short Haul Airline
Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com
Best Canal/River Cruise Co. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises http://uniworld.ie/
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Celebrate this Year's
Winter Solstice at
Slieve Gullion
As onlookers prepare to gather at Stonehenge and Newgrange to mark the sun rising during the Winter Solstice, there is another if lesser known attraction in Northern Ireland at the Ring of Gullion. It is on the southern end of the summit of Slieve Gullion and is Ireland’s highest known surviving passage tomb which dates to the Neolithic period of human settlement in South Armagh. This prehistoric tomb, which was constructed at an unknown date between 4000 BC and 2500 BC, is aligned to the setting sun of the Winter Solstice.
There will be a series of walks to the passage tomb this year from December 19 – 22 for walkers to witness the spectacular event when the setting sun illuminates the passage chamber of the tomb. Therese Hamill, the Ring of Gullion AONB Officer, will be leading the walks. "Not a lot of people have witnessed the Winter Solstice at the passage tomb on Slieve Gullion,” said Therese. “Set on the summit, the tomb takes advantage of the setting sun on the shortest day of the year to illuminate the chamber inside,” she said. “The tomb is several thousand years old and is directly aligned to the setting sun during the Winter Solstice, which would have taken precise astronomical observation, and we are encouraging people to come along to witness this spectacular event,” she added.
NITB’s Market Manager in the Republic, Fiona Cunningham, says this is a fantastic opportunity to see the beauty of the winter solstice at a historic location and to explore the local area. “The Slieve Gullion area is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a fabulous location to explore on foot,” said Fiona. “It is full of myths and legends, crafts and heritage and there are a number of routes that walkers can follow to explore the local area which include stunning views of Carlingford Lough and many sites of interest including the Kilnasaggart Inscribed Stone which is one of Ireland’s earliest Christian monuments and the nearby Moyry Castle which was built in 1601.
The walks to the passage tomb will take place between December 19 – 22 and leave from Slieve Gullion Forest Drive top car park at 2.30pm on each day and are all free of charge and weather dependent. The walk on December 22 will be led in Irish.
To book your place visit www.ringofgullion.org/whatson - Booking is essential.
To find out more about things to see and do or places to stay in Northern Ireland
contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on callsave 1850 230 230
or click on www.discovernorthernireland.com
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Pathway for Peace
at Derry's Guildhall
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Kicks off Christmas
at Derry's Guildhall
Enjoying the Lumiere lights festival in Derry- Londonderry recently, I met the Reverend David Latimer from the First Derry Presbyterian Church - he enters my profiles of courage list, for his efforts to engage with all sides there to promote peace. You will recall he was the first Presbyterian minister, maybe the only, to attend and speak at a Sinn Fein Ard Fheis for which he some flack and much praise. He has sent me an email outlining another great project. A new Pathway for Peace has been created next to Derry’s Guildhall. It was an idea that David conceived, some time back, during the visit to Derry of Martin Luther King III, eldest son of the late Dr Martin Luther King jnr. in May 2013
It features peace pledges from young people in 70 local schools from Derry and Donegal and is aimed at fostering respect right across the community.
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| Pat Keenan, editor of HOLIDAYezine met the Reverend David Latimer from the First Derry Presbyterian Church |
Each pledge has been written with a maximum of 25 words and made into tiles used to create a symbolic pathway for peace.
Dr David Latimer and Martin Luther King III both believe in the key role young people play in shaping the future of any community or country. David says: "Children and young people with their fresh, creative ideas and perspectives have a contribution to make and a message to share". He added: Too often peace is perceived to be the preserve of politicians.However, if the rough places are to be made plane and the crooked places straight, peace must be seen as the sum of many acts by people of all age’s, creeds and cultures and not just words on a paper or promises that fade away."
Sixty schools/colleges have consented to become involved in this unique initiative. A further 10 schools in County Donegal agreed to participate. Each school/college is also asked to produce a piece of artwork related to their peace pledge.
The Department of Social Development made available the Foyle Street site for the Peace Flame Monument.
Derry City Council provides for Peace Flame maintenance and annual running costs.
The Western Education & Library Board fully supports the Pathway to Peace initiative and is generously financing the Peace Pathway Publication.
Firmus Energy, at zero cost, offered to connect a gas pipeline to the Peace Flame.
Kicks off Christmas
with the Perfect Festive
Football Gift
Cracking selection of Premier League match breaks
to choose from including Liverpool, Man United,
Everton, Tottenham and more
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The full list of match packages and prices is available
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With Christmas fast approaching, Thomas Cook Sport have come up with, what sounds like the perfect gift idea for Irish-based football lovers – a match break to see their favourite team in action.
With this match break pressie in their stocking, some lucky Irish supporters of the Premier League’s big guns could be waking up on Christmas morning to the prospect of a dream fixture at Anfield, Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge – or even the Nou Camp or Bernebeu. Packages include match ticket, travel and accommodation, and prices vary depending on the team.
Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest periods in the Premier League calendar, and this festive season sees some highly attractive ties available from Thomas Cook Sport including:
Man City v Liverpool (26 Dec 2013) €129pp
Newcastle v Arsenal (29 Dec 2013) €195pp
Everton v Southampton (29 Dec 2013) €115pp
Chelsea v Liverpool (29 Dec 2013) €460pp
Man United v Tottenham (1 Jan 2014) €160pp
Liverpool v Hull (1 Jan 2014) €185pp
There’s also an extensive programme of matches, both home and away, for the remainder of this season to choose from. Price includes official match tickets and an overnight hotel stay (B&B) based on two sharing*. Select packages also include a stadium tour; match programme or exclusive access to hospitality areas at stadium.
Sharon Harney of Thomas Cook Sport Ireland says:“Whether it’s Liverpool, Man United or any of the other top teams, getting a ticket to go and see your team in the flesh is more than just a gift – it’s a dream come true!
*Return flights can be arranged separately on booking.
Contact Thomas Cook Sport Ireland in Dublin on (01) 514 0405.
The full list of match packages and prices is available
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Winners of the Blue Insurances
Travel Media Awards
Travel Media Awards
Organised by TravelMedia.ie, in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, over 170 guests, members of the travel trade and media listened as Kathryn Thomas presented the awards. Votes were independently audited and managed by the Department of Tourism at DIT (Dublin Institute of Technology).
....and the winners for 2013 were:
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Diane Poole OBE accepted the award for Stena Line
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Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com
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| Fiona Brown accepted on behalf of Hastings Hotel Group |
Best Travel Web information resource
TripAdvisor www.tripadviser.com
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| Fiona Cunningham accepted on behalf of Northern Ireland Tourist Board |
TripAdvisor www.tripadviser.com
Best use of Social Media in Irish Market
by a travel company operating in the Irish market - Tour America www.touramerica.ie
by a travel company operating in the Irish market - Tour America www.touramerica.ie
Lifetime Achievement Award
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| Lifetime Achievement Award: L to R: Kathryn Thomas, Edmund Hourican, Maureen Ledwith, Jonathan Adair |
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Free Talk about
visiting South America
Gohop.ie, in association with the Tropical Medical Bureau, are hosting a free South America Information Evening on Wednesday 2nd December 2013, in the Tropical Medical Bureau at 54 Grafton Street, Dublin 2 from 6:15pm.
If you are thinking of travelling to South America then this event is a must. Gain an insight into the best places South America has to offer with advice from those well travelled in this part of the world.
Speakers include:
Michael Harrington has been managing the Nuevo Mundo luxury travel program to South America since 2006 and has helped bring South America to the Irish market beyond backpacker travel. He has a degree in Geography and Spanish and a Masters in Tourism.
"Having travelled numerous times to this exciting continent, I am delighted to share my first hand knowledge. My top experiences over the years include hand-gliding over Rio de Janeiro, exploring Easter Island in the heart of the Pacific, and ascending 6000m volcanoes in Chile's Atacama Desert."
Dr Graham Fry is the Medical Director of the Tropical Medical Bureau which he established in 1988. It now has 22 clinics around Ireland. Dr Graham Fry (TMB) who has in-depth knowledge about health and the risks involved in travelling to far flung destinations will give his insight and thoughts into worthy precautions to take when travelling to South America and beyond.
GoHop.ie offers the lowest airfares on all airlines out of Ireland.
GoHop.ie is fully bonded and licensed with the IATA.
Visit www.gohop.ie
or visit their page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Gohop.ie.
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