STAYCATIONS Gods own dining spots From train carriages to country estates, we take a look at some of the Irish dining spots worthy of a celestial visit. Words by Mimi Murray, Deanna OConnor and Marcus OLaoughaire Ómós First up on Gods food trail is recently opened Ómós in Abbeyleix, a visionary concept by chef Cuan Greene, formerly of Noma in Copenhagen and LEFT: Irish salad at Ómós in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, hailed as a great new dining experience. BELOW: Angelo Vagiotis, head chef at Pullman, the restaurant housed in two Orient Express carriages on the grounds of Glenlo Abbey, overlooking Lough Corrib, Co Galway Bastible in Dublin. The fine dining restaurant is just part of the overall experience at this restored Victorian estate, its neutral tones, stone and wooden interiors a lesson in relaxed refinement. Its hard to believe this estate had fallen into ruin before it was bought by Irish tech billionaire John Collison in 2022. He and a handful of other investors have allowed Greene the time, creative space and money to pull together a unique addition to the Irish travel and food scene. The 13-course tasting menu with wine pairing, or a thoughtful non-alcoholic option, is a joy from start to finish. Its summer menu begins with tomato pie, topped with anchovy brought to the table by one of a large team quietly working away in an open-plan kitchen that exudes calm. No thrown pots or kitchen hysterics here, just a love for the produce and in creating an exceptional meal for guests. Dishes include dry-aged hamachi with rhubarb dressing and magnolia condiment, an Irish summer salad (reimagined rolled ham and egg) line caught fish as well as a snail dumpling that evokes more nostalgia by way of old school chicken Kiev that arrive one after another. Tables at Ómós are mainly held for residents, but some are made available to those not staying. MM Sika Restaurant Look out onto the empyrean sight of Douglas-Firs, Corsican Pines, Giant Redwoods and Atlantic Cedars from your table at Sika restaurant in Powerscourt estate. The eight-course tasting menu is thoughtfully compiled by executive chef Cormac McCreary and each new course is a triumph. Start with canapés that comprise tuna tartar with ponzo, Coolattin cheddar gougère, brioche feuilleté and Guinness and treacle bread paired with a glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut NV. An assortment of tastes bursting with flavour, this is an exciting start to an exceptional meal. Next tuck into foie 28 September 2026 gras parfait with peach, native lobster, tomato and parmesan followed by sole Viennoise, broccoli, sudachi and smoked Dashi Sauce, an elegant dish excellently paired with a Trimbach Riesling. Things switch up a gear with the final savoury course and Wicklow lamb with Baba Ganoush, Romesco and Polenta. MM Pullman Kick off eight divine courses with nibbles and a glass of Billecart Salmon aboard The Pullman restaurant which is presided over by head chef Angelo Vagiotis. Stunningly located aboard two decommissioned Orient Express carriages on the grounds of Glenlo Abbey and overlooking magical Lough Corrib, Vagiotis ethos is to be ever-changing with the seasons. This Michelin-star meal starts with cheese puffs (hastily eaten in one bite), Flaggy shore oysters and Guinness bread, deftly followed by Bonito, topped with caper and raisin, hazelnut and cucumber. The bouquet salad, a signature dish and on the menu since day one is an example of the best use of seasonal ingredients from farm and garden. Fragrant, simple and delicious. A tomato consommé with pea ravioli, red prawn and lovage is followed by Atlantic perch, a new dish that got its first outing the evening we visited. Paimpol beans, the most delicate baby octopus and Luciana top the fish, which is expertly paired with a Spanish Albarino. Service and atmosphere is as good as how I imagine it aboard the Ve- ABOVE: What could be more enticing than a picnic on the shores of Caragh Lake in Kerry, one of the options open to visitors to Ard na Sidhe country house. BELOW: Deanna OConnor, taking the boat out on Caragh Lake. nice Simplon Orient Express and if that is on your bucket list, like mine, The Pullman isnt to be missed. MM Éalú at The Stonehouse Head out around the Slea Head drive and just after the wholesome frolics of the Hold a Baby Lamb (does it get more Godlike?) experience, you will find Éalú at The Stonehouse. On a sunny day there is nowhere finer to sit outside admiring the glistening majesty of the Atlantic spread out before you, with a glass of bubbles expertly chosen by wine buff Clíona Moriarty. With her chef husband Kallam, they took the lease on the restaurant in this unusual stone building and turned what could have been a very standard tour bus café stop-off into one of the Dingle Peninsulas must-visit foodie destinations. Try some sharing plates of baked Cavanbert or some juicy Nocellara olives, pick a small plate like a lobster bisque, or go for a more substantial elevated take on a seafood chowder. But make sure to leave room for dessert. Kallams patisserie skills are of a level rarely seen outside Paris. DOC Ard na Sidhe Country House The ethereal magic or Ard na Sidhe hits you full force as you pull into the driveway and the vista of Caragh Lake down below takes your breath away. The old house, all stone, sits unobtrusively, complementing its surroundings. It still has the feel of an exquisite country STAYCATIONS September 2026 Gods own dining spaces Sensational destinations that put dining experiences at the heart of your Irish staycation Pages 28 and 29 Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa Unplug, unwind and reconnect with a staycation on West Corks blue-flag shores P erched between two sweeping Blue Flag beaches just outside the colourful town of Clonakilty, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa is an Irish seaside resort that offers that unique West Cork welc STAYCATIONS CONTENTS Well-travelled Kiran Mehta on The Land of a thousand welcomes Page 8 The Deerstone in Co Wicklow, an ambient six-acre resort with pet-friendly shepherds huts and deluxe rooms. Irelands best spots to gaze at the skies Pages 12 to 15 Cosy breaks Victoria Square in Belfast, one STAYCATIONS Siren call of Clonakilty Glaswegian singer-songwriter Michael McGovern reflects upon the unique timeless charm of Clonakilty for musicians I ts 10pm on a dark January night. In a post-dinner haze, you decide to take a quick walk around town. A freezing sea mist hangs low across the e STAYCATIONS The highs of Wicklow From hikes short and long to peaks low and high, as well as music festivals and destination cafes, Wicklow is called the Garden County for a reason, writes Eoghan OSullivan F or visitors to Dublin as well as city dwellers themselves Wicklow offers the promise STAYCATIONS The famed Irish welcome Mumbai-based writer Kiran Mehta offers a view on Irelands reputation as the land of a thousand welcomes I was in the Middle East when I first read the words, Céad Míle Fáilte embossed on a tall, white ceramic cup. I am an Indian citizen, but I grew up in Kuwai STAYCATIONS Upwardly mobile Love the great outdoors? Jennifer Sheahan offers a personal selection of memorable Irish camping destinations T here has been a lot of talk this summer about what it costs to holiday at home; €2,000 per week seems to be the going rate for a house near a beach in Kerry STAYCATIONS the best coastal scenery in the country. Im a Galway native by birth and by university, and there are a million things I love about the county, not least of which is the seafood. A local fisherman rowed up onto the campsite beach one evening and sold us fresh fish straight off the boat, STAYCATIONS Skys the limit Look at the stars, see how they shine for you with our guide to Irelands dark skies, writes Domhnall ODonoghue O scar Wilde once mused that everyone was in the gutter, but the lucky among us had our gaze fixed firmly on the stars. And as an Irishman, the witty scribe k STAYCATIONS We have a range of night-time experiences available to book if you would like to join us on one of our night-time adventures, says Roisín Doyle, duty manager at OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory. From the darker nights to the brighter days, our skies are always offering us something spec STAYCATIONS CONTINUED By Day: Rising 600m above the waves, Sliabh Liag is one of Europes highest sea cliffs and served as a Christian pilgrimage site for over 1,000 years. Burren National Park With its limestone terrain, Co Clares Burren National Park is undoubtedly one of Europes most unique r STAYCATIONS LEFT: Aurora Borealis, Derryclare Lough, Connemara, Co Galway. Photo: Failte Ireland ABOVE: A comet soaring across the Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve. Photo: Michael Sheehan RIGHT: An image of the Rosetta nebula taken by Blackrock Castle Observatory. Photo: Blackrock Castle Observ STAYCATIONS Ten top trends in Irish holidays Sauna raves and chilli festivals are among the hot trends in Irish holidays this year, writes Thom Breathnach A new travel season means new trends, new openings and fresh festivals. So whats literally hot for autumn 2026? From country house escapes, g STAYCATIONS TOP: The annual Macnas Halloween Parade in Galway in October is a hugely popular free open air event. BELOW: Seeking a sweet getaway as part of a very tasty current staycation trend? Scéal Bakery in Dublin. travel for skin care and wellness is on the rise, not only for women but also f STAYCATIONS Wonderful Waterford Waterford is a rural gem that will keep you coming back year after year, as Mimi Murray discovers 18 September 2026 T here are two counties in Ireland that have it all, but dont get the attention of heavy hitters such as Galway or Kerry, Garvan Cummins from The STAYCATIONS MAIN PHOTO, LEFT: Young families love the Dunmore East Adventure centre, with great outdoor amenities and an indoor adventure area including climbing wall, Ninja course, Laser, archery and more. ABOVE: A section of the beautiful 46km Greenway from Waterford city to Dungarvan. LEFT: Come STAYCATIONS The people of Limerick have always refused to conform, a spirit wonderfully reflected in its blossoming cultural scene, writes Domhnall ODonoghue If the herd goes right, then here, we go left. Youd be hard-pressed to find anyone more enthusiastic about Limerick than Stephen Cunneen, o STAYCATIONS ABOVE: Pat Shortt, in a scene from Wreckquiem, by Mike Finn. Photo: Maurice Gunning BELOW: Blindboy in conversation. Photo: Fáilte Ireland and Barry Cronin made, theres a sense of striving in our work that I think makes it stronger. Daly is also a producer at the Limerick Literary Fest STAYCATIONS Spiritual journeys to sacred sites I s this the year that you will try at last one of the legendary pilgrim routes that are dotted across Ireland, a trip you always meant to make, but somehow never got round to? There are so many wonderful and fulfilling pathways to sites of saintly i STAYCATIONS fasting in the cave overnight, in the hope of seeing visions of the Otherworld. Todays pilgrims visit a vastly developed Station Island, with a huge basilica covering most of the original ground, and definitely stay above ground for their purgatorial rituals. Visits to the island are boo STAYCATIONS LEFT: Praying at St Patricks Purgatory on Lough Derg, Donegal, where pilgrims attend fasting, barefoot prayer and allnight vigils. Pic: Paul Faith / AFP RIGHT: A sheep at St Finbarrs Oratory in Gougane Barra, West Cork. Pic: David Creedon CONTINUED Ice Age, runs east to west across t STAYCATIONS neck Pass and along stretches of old pathways for some 96km (56 miles). This, it is said, was the route taken by Declan driving in his chariot to the royal court at Cashel. Although reverence for St Declan certainly cannot be denied, it is likely that this route was already well known fr STAYCATIONS Bookmark this guide to Dublin In the capital city, the stories of literary greats are whispered at every corner, waiting to be heard, writes Kiran Mehta W.B. Yeats, the trump of our hates; His early political views resting on, his love of Maud Gonne, who wouldnt go out on his dates! STAYCATIONS passions a quotation. His words seem truer today than when they were first uttered. With continuous exposure to rage tweets, satirical memes (which trend right before election time), a continuous stream of Instagram stories and posts, how much of what we think is actually our own though STAYCATIONS Gods own dining spots From train carriages to country estates, we take a look at some of the Irish dining spots worthy of a celestial visit. Words by Mimi Murray, Deanna OConnor and Marcus OLaoughaire Ómós First up on Gods food trail is recently opened Ómós in Abbeyleix, a visionary c STAYCATIONS home, rather than a hotel. The welcome is warm, and whether you come for the famed afternoon tea or stay on for dinner, you are guaranteed to feel entranced. On the menu is fine dining paired with a surprisingly reasonably priced wine list. The pan-fried duck breast with cherries and smo STAYCATIONS Buddies on tour Jennifer Sheahan serves up a guide to holidaying in Ireland with a convoy of chums and their families P icture this: its a cold, wet day in January. Youre lying on your couch binging re-runs of Arrested Development and avoiding reality, when your phone buzzes. You pi STAYCATIONS [SPONSORED] GUIDE TO GREAT BREAKS: continues overleaf DRUIDS GLEN HOTEL & GOLF RESORT noon to find my friends four-yearold had strewn the contents of my makeup bag across the ground floor. He enjoyed himself but I have since learned to shut the door. Plan food, but dont overthink STAYCATIONS [SPONSORED] Your guide to a wealth of great breaks, activities and Looking for an inspirational break in Ireland? Here is a guide to some of the best staycations currently on offer YOUR GUIDE TO GREAT ALL-ISLAND STAYCATIONS Fernhill Hotel & Estate offers a peaceful escape in the hear STAYCATIONS [SPONSORED] adventures Sligo Park Hotel Your Sligo starts here Take a break in Sligo Park Hotel, just minutes from Sligo town and the coast and countryside nearby. SLIGO PARK HOTEL each morning, a three-course evening meal each night, tea or coffee with a scone, evening music, a gu STAYCATIONS [SPONSORED] Magical breaks with the very best of food, fun and YOUR GUIDE TO GREAT ALL-ISLANDSTAYCATIONS Iveagh Garden Hotel, a short walk from iconic Dublin attractions like St Stephens Green, Dublin Castle and St Patricks Cathedral. IVEAGH GARDEN HOTEL T h e f o u r - s t a r I ve STAYCATIONS [SPONSORED] entertainment for all Slow the pace, take in the sheer beauty of this unique 500-acre estate MOUNT JULIET ESTATE stunning deluxe bedrooms Wake up and enjoy a full Irish & Continental Breakfast in the morning A Choice of either a 2Course Set Meal in Elles Bistro or Aftern STAYCATIONS Galway, the Venice of the West John Daly finds that Galway delivers plenty of reasons to be cheerful for staycationers looking to recharge their batteries Macnas performing An Treun - The Summoning Of The Lost for the 2025 Halloween parade in Galway city. Photo: Ray Ryan Galway Oyste STAYCATIONS Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful Benedictine monastery and iconic attraction set in 1,000 acres of mountainside in Connemara, Co Galway. memories regardless of the climatic pain endured. One vivid afternoon etched in my memory happened back in 2010 as we made our way down the Maumturks range STAYCATIONS Escape to The Lake Hotel STAYCATIONS STAYCATIONS 40 September 2026