Halloween Deals to get away in Ireland

If you're hoping to get away for Halloween here are some great travel deals to some of Ireland's nicest hotels from the Novel Traveller

Terrifying tales & ghoulish fun this Halloween at Castlemartyr Co. Cork

Who knows what ghostly tales might lurk in the dramatic ruins of an 800 year old castle? Why not take the family on a bewitching break to find out this Halloween at Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork.

The stunning five-star resort, with castle ruins on site, is offering two nights enchanting accommodation in one of the luxurious family rooms, a delicious full Irish breakfast each morning and dinner for the family on one evening in our Italian restaurant, Franchini’s, on an evening of your choice.

There will be plenty of daily activities for the younger guests with a Halloween Kid’s Club packed full of ghoulish fun and games over the midterm period (28th October – 7th November) that is sure to give them a scream. Meanwhile, the adults can escape to the spectacular wellness, spa and fitness centre where the wrap-around glass frontage surrounding the 20 metre swimming pool and Water Room gives unbeatable views out over the country estate.

The family Halloween break is available from €270 per night based on 2 adults and 1 child sharing under 3 years. To find out more visit www.castlemartyrresort.ie or call 021 421 9000.

Castlemartyr Resort,

Castlemartyr,

County Cork

T: 021 421 9000

www.castlemartyrresort.ie

Trick or Treat in Tralee with The Rose Hotel

Family time is precious time and at The Rose Hotel family fun is taken very seriously indeed!

From big, comfortable family rooms to complimentary Kids Club activities during the midterm, family passes to the Aqua Dome right next door –one of Ireland's largest indoor water worlds –to an autumnal walk in the Town Park, The Rose Hotel helps make unforgettable family memories every year.

During Halloween break, Kids Teas are served at 5.30pm just before the Kids Devilish Club opens with a different exciting activity every evening including a broom pumpkin race, Halloween arts and crafts and a fancy dress disco!

Let the little devils enjoy the kids club while the grownups relax and enjoy dinner in The Park Restaurant or a drink in the warm and inviting surroundings of Dott’s Bar.

Free Car Parking, Wi-Fi and access to our gymnasium are also included during your stay.

Halloween Family Room packages start from €174 for 2 adults & 1 child including breakfast, dinner, Kids Teas and Devilsh Club.

For more information: 

The Rose Hotel, Dan Spring Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry

T: 066 7199100 

www.therosehotel.com

Get ready for mystery at Fota Island Resort this Halloween

It’s all getting a little spooky at Fota Island Resort this Halloween! Gather up the mini witches and wizards and whizz the whole family to Fota Island Resort for spook-tacular two night stay in a comfy and spacious room and enjoy all that this private island has to offer. Take a stroll in the woods, if you’re brave enough and keep your eyes peeled for any ghosts and goblins that may be lurking around before attending the spine-chilling Halloween Event… What happens is a mystery that will be unleashed on those that are courageous enough to attend! Family Halloween breaks to Fota Island Resort are available from €200 midweek and €240 at the weekend for a family room that accommodates 2 adults and 1 child, an extra bed can be added at a supplement of €25 (can be arranged with Reservations ahead of your stay).

Fota Island Resort, Fota Island, Cork, IrelandT: 021 488 3700   www.fotaisland.ie

Halloween in the City at The Kingsley

There is plenty of spooky discoveries to be made in Cork City and The Kingsley is the perfect base from which to explore them! Located only minutes away from the bustling city centre and an array of activities waiting to be uncovered. If your little ones are brave enough, surprise them with a guided evening tour through the spooky halls of the Cork City Gaol and experience the eerie atmosphere of this famous landmark. Halloween breaks including overnight stay and breakfast to The Kingsley are available in a deluxe family room for 2 adults and 1 child from €162 midweek and from €187 on weekends, classic family rooms for 2 adults and 2 children are available from €187 midweek and €212 at the weekends.

The Kingsley, Victoria Cross, Cork

T: 021 480 0555 

www.thekingsley.ie

A Cosy October with your Lil Lodgers at The Lodge at Ashford Castle

There is a special family focused package available at The Lodge at Ashford Castle, perfect for the little ones, called Lil’ Lodgers.

The all-important Lil’ Lodgers themselves receive a separate check in and registration, with a Kids pack waiting for them on arrival that includes a colouring book with colours, and an Estate map so every day’s excursions can be closely planned and followed. There’s a Kids Turndown with milk and cookies to look forward to on both evenings too.

The grown-ups enjoy uninterrupted dinner in Wilde’s at The Lodge at Ashford on one night, and the blissful peace of mind that their Lil’ Lodgers are off having a great time under the supervision of professionals (additional babysitting charge applicable)

The Lil’ Lodgers package also includes Corrib Cruise tickets, a fantastic lake adventure on the M.V. Corrib Queen or the M.V. Isle of Inisfree, the two handsome vessels sailing this family-run passenger boat service on Lough Corrib daily.

There are additional local activities that can also be enjoyed, including the remarkable Hawk Walk at Ashford Castle with Ireland’s School of Falconry, the oldest established falconry school in Ireland, which specialises in one hour private excursions where you fly the hawks – now that’s something exciting and unusual to do on your summer holidays!

The Lodge at Ashford Castle provides a warm welcome to guests of all ages. The Nintendo Wii Room is a fun place to spend time together, and there are plenty of outdoor activities in the area including fishing, cruising on the Corrib, nature walking, archery, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding as well as falconry. At The Lodge at Ashford Castle the whole family will be entertained indoors and out, no matter what the season.

Lil lodgers Family Package

Two night stay including breakfast for the whole family in a Duplex Suite. Enjoy some alone time with dinner for two in Wilde’s, while your children are being looked after by the most experienced babysitters, they will enjoy a special Lil Lodgers meal of their own. On day 2 enjoy a day trip on the Corrib Cruiser. Milk & Cookies on arrival the little ones.

Package from €599.00 per stay based on two adults & two children.

For more information:

The Lodge at Ashford Castle, Cong, Co. Mayo

T: 098 413 4418 

www.thelodgeac.com

Get on the water in Ireland or Europe!

Things to do on the water Travel Tuesday 16th August 2016

As the temperature heats up for our Irish sailors at the Olympics in Rio, there's still time to enjoy the water at home or on a European city break this autumn. I'm looking at top things to do in Venice, Paris and at home in Ireland. whether you want to take a day trip or are staying near the water and want to try something different there are lots of ways to enjoy the water at home. I've listed a few below.

A word of caution if you are swimming in the sea in the south or east of the country.

Lions Mane Jellyfish

There has been an increase in sightings of Lions Mane jelly fish in the waters around Ireland. If you see large brown shapes in the water with long tendrils then stay well clear. Their sting can cause symptoms such as vomiting nausea and respiratory distress. seventeen were removed from waters in Dun Laoghaire and Sandycove last week. I saw one in Howth Harbour this morning and apparently they are all over Skerries and Portmarnock.

Some victims can suffer an anaphylactic shock from the sting so please keep away if you see the long brown hair-like tendrils. The weever fish is also present in waters one hour either side of low tide so be on the look out for this creature that can also cause shock and excruciating stings.
for more information see the Irish Water Safety board on  www.iws.ie

Lough Erne

County Fermanagh is a beautiful rural county and unspoilt due to its unique geography. With so many lakes and waterways it hasn't been over commercialised or changed by agriculture. Enjoying wonderful views on the water, I recently stayed at the lovely Killyhevlin Hotel which is only two miles from Enniskillen. A water taxi takes visitors into the town and Erne Tours offers a cruise of Lough Erne under cover of glass. For more information see www.ernetours.com
Enjoy a Saturday evening ruise for £28 per adult and £16 per child. Or take a two hour trip to Devenish Island and see some monastic wonders dating back to the sixth century including a round tower and high cross.
If you prefer to follow a food trail then www.ernewatertaxi.com will bring you on a three hour tour of tasting the best food in the area on Saturday Mornings at 10am for £50 pp. If you would rather a picnic then for £35 they offer a picnic hamper of local produce in one of the many beautiful locations on the lough where you can enjoy the food in a peaceful setting.
 Lough Erne is made up of two lakes, Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne and the best way to see them is to be on them.

A little over two hours drive from Dublin brought us to the Killyhevlin Hotel where we checked in and got straight down to enjoying the leisure facilities. The Kids loved the pool while my friend Catherine and I hopped into the outdoor hot tub to enjoy the view of the lakes. The treatment rooms are tucked away in the leisure centre and I enjoyed a speciality Killyhevlin massage which included a head massage and cleansing facial.

The hotel is bright and modern and we enjoyed cocktails before dinner in Kove restaurant while the girls lapped up their mocktails! Being the year of food and drink is just another excuse to travel up North. But the food was mouthwatering and we enjoyed, duck, sea bass and my daughter sampled the children's menu and devoured her chicken fritters. The staff were so friendly and went out of their way to make us feel at home.

The rooms were large and enjoyed views of the lake and a settee which doubled as an extra bed making it great for families. We really enjoyed our meal and went for a little trip on the water after dinner into the town of Enniskillen by Water taxi. Fermanagh turned out to be quite a nice surprise and I look forward to going back and exploring other parts of Lough Erne another time.

Midweek escape

2 x nights bed and breakfast available Sunday to Thursday, one four course dinner in Kove restaurant, with breakfast each morning.  Guests can also enjoy comp use of the Killyhevlin health club, complete with indoor swimming pool and outdoor hot tub.

From only £99 per person sharing. Subject to availability. http://www.killyhevlin.com/

We enjoyed some of the areas local attractions from boating on the water and exploring the Marble Arch Caves. 

The caves have been open over thirty years and have all the features enjoyed at the Ailwee Caves with similar flora above ground to the Burren in County Clare. It was one of the worlds first Global Geoparks making it a must do for geography teachers and great for school trips.

The caves tour includes a boat trip through the caverns but isn't always open if the water level is high. For more details visit www.marblearchcavesgeopark.com
A guided tour is £9.50 for adults and £6.50 for kids. family tickets are £23 for 2adults and 2 children.

To find out more about things to do in Northern Ireland visit http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/information/aboutNI.aspx

Athlone

I took the kids on a Viking Tour from Athlone Castle on a replica Viking ship. Our captain and navigator gave a running commentary which was informative and enjoyable with stories of folklore and natural history. It proved great fun for all ages and an interesting 45 minute trip along the river to Hodson Bay. At €10 per adult and €5 for kids it was good value too. Running from Easter to the end of October you can find more details here http://www.vikingtoursireland.ie/

We were left off on the jetty at Hodson Bay and home to Baysports Boat and Water Sports Centre. This is Ireland's largest inflatable waterpark and will rival any found on the continent. There was plenty to entice my teens and tweens who were given wet suits on arrival and after debriefing were brought out to the floating pontoon by rib.

The hour spent on the slides, trampolines and other delights slipped by but even after all that exertion they wanted to try kayaking. The waterpark is excellent value at €10 per hour for children up to 14 years old. http://www.baysports.ie/

There are lots of things to do at Baysports so why not fill a day on your way to or from your holiday destination around Ireland. We stayed at the Radisson Blu Athlone and enjoyed great location with the kids to see the town and get to Hodson Bay to enjoy the water sports.

Whether it’s a family break or a trip for the cycling enthusiasts there is something for everyone at Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone this summer.

A family of two adults and two children can enjoy two nights’ accommodation, breakfast each morning to set you up for the day ahead, a delicious dinner on the evening of your choice in Element’s Bistro with bike hire to explore Athlone and beyond in the fresh summer air. The Get Your Greenway On package is available from €445 per family, so trade in the daily grind for some leisure time at Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone this summer.

Couples can enjoy a two-night stay with a freshly prepared breakfast on both mornings and an evening meal in Elements Bistro on a night of your choice. Complete the experience with a scenic cycling tour to explore Athlone and beyond in the fresh summer air. The Get Your Greenway On package is available from €145 per person sharing.

Paris

You  can get on the water even on a city break. It's a great way to get a new perspective of a city.

I've a great deal for a trip to Paris next spring and if you do decide to go to the capital of romance then make time to dine on the Bateau Parisienne.

The Bateaux Parisiens is the most upmarket way to take in views on the River Seine. We sat at cloth covered tables and our hostess greeted us with glasses of wine with kir and warm nuts. We browsed the menu as our barge gently pulled away from the gaze of the Eiffel Tower. The kids devoured the roast chicken and gravy while the adults ate salmon and pork belly. Desserts were more-ish and all this while we were serenaded by a live rendition of La Vie en Rose. 

My daughter Nicole enjoying lunch on Bateaux Parisiens

                                       

Expedia.ie offer Return flights and a three night stay in 5-star Juliana Paris on the Left Bank in Paris start from €381 per person sharing, including taxes and fees; saving €157 altogether when you book this flight and hotel together with Expedia.ie For this deal fly directly from Dublin to Paris with Ryanair on Thursday, March 9th 2017 returning Sunday, March  12^th  2017.

For details of the bateaux Parisiens see http://www.bateauxparisiens.com/ prices start from €59 including three course meal wine and cruise.

Venice

Venice has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Built on water it has some of the best collections of art from the Guggenheim to St Marks Basilica. In fact every building is a unique piece of art in this city of warm ochres, siennas and pretty painted facades.

Taking a gondola is a must and water taxis will allow you to haggle.

It's a popular destination for departing cruise ships and a stopover at the begining or end is a great opportunity to experience the city.

If you are tempted to get some Late Deals to Italy Topflight have a great deal to Lido de Jesolo

The Hotel Portofino is a 3* hotel offered on a half board basis.

Price includes flights, return transfers, accommodation for 7 nights, all taxes and services of the Topflight respresentative in resort. Go to 

http://www.topflight.ie/summer-sun/italy/venetian_riviera/lido_di_jesolo/hotel_portofino
for flight details and prices - 7 nights September 3rd from €668 pps

What to do for a break this autumn in Ireland

With so many lovely places to stay in Ireland it's difficult to choose - these are three of my favourites and some places that you can visit while you stay there.

Cork and Fota Island Resort

I escaped to Fota Island Resort with my friend Cheryl and our daughters Nicole and Sarah a short while back. Our accommodation was a family room with large king size and single bed but with plenty of room for another pull out bed where my daughter had a very cosy sleep. There was plenty of room in the en suite with a large walk in shower and generous sized bath − a priority for the kids. While our daughters swam in the hotel pool, under the supervision of a lifeguard, it was time for Cheryl and I to explore the spa. The spa is well presented with good variety in the thermal and hydrotherapy suites. I was whisked into a treatment room by Kasa my therapist for a soothing Indian Head Massage. The bed was heated by an electric blanket and as Kasa worked her magic, the back-to-school-blues became a distant memory. After the hour long treatment I was brought to the relaxation room and served a passion fruit yogurt with fresh melon. Looking out of the relaxation room at a colourful garden of trees and grasses I almost forget that the kids were with us.

hydrotherapy pool at Fota Resort

Our little mermaids were so enamoured with the selection of shampoos and conditioners at the pool that they were showered and ready for the night before leaving the spa. The hotel offers kids clubs and it wasn't so long ago that our daughters would have needed that kind of attention to give their mother's a break. But at 11 years of age they wanted to dress up and with appetites whetted they could not wait to see the menu in the dining room. The sun came out and we had the option of sitting outside too.

The dining room welcomed with a piano in the corner. The steak was too mouth-watering to ignore so we ordered two while the kids opted for delicious homemade burgers from the children's menu. It isn't often that I refuse dessert but the main course was so satisfying and delicious I hadn't the room or inclination for pudding. Babysitting facilities are also provided so parents can get a real break. Cheryl and I settle into the bar safe in the knowledge that our mermaids were happy upstairs in the room. A passing waiter asks if we would like cocktails and we didn't want to appear rude so we agreed. As we sat back in our leather armchairs we sipped away any thoughts of making school lunches the following week.

My daughter Nicole loved the baby cheetahs

Next morning, after a long and colourful breakfast that includes, waffles, pancakes and plenty of fruit, the girls insist on another swim before check out. The skies clouded over in typical Irish fashion and it starts to pour as we drive our short trip to the wildlife park. Fota Island Resort offers free entry into the park with special packages, so this is worth checking out on booking. Surprisingly the sky clears and we see the tigers and rhino in the Asian sanctuary at leisure. This is a lovely sized park where the animals are happy and have the choice to hide away or come see the spectators if they choose. A little train runs around the rim of the park taking passengers to the reasonably priced cafe. The highlight for our daughters is the two new baby cheetahs, they send the girls into a frenzy as they frantically post pictures on their Instagram accounts. We realise on our return that we have taken so many photos of the animals we have almost none of the girls.

Taking a right out of the park brings us to the historic town of Cobh, only five minutes away. This town is a huge treat for kids who are fascinated by the Titanic story and the museum is a must see. The great thing about Fota Island is the variety of family friendly activities so close together. There are three golf courses on the resort and a stately house with one of the finest art galleries outside the National Gallery in Dublin. As we set off home on the long road back to Dublin we all agree that one night on Fota Island just isn't enough!

Fota Island Resort is an oasis with lovely facilities and a zoo close by. Terrific for couples or families.
There is a FOTA Wildlife Park Package - Prices for midweek for 2 adults and 1 child start from €235.

Current prices for Two Nights B&B with Dinner on one evening start from €685.

Prices for a self-catering lodge for 2 adults and 2 children start from €485.

Cobh is close by so why not bring the kids to the Titanic Experience - they will love it!
find out more here http://www.titanicexperiencecobh.ie/

Belfast and The Culloden Hotel

The Culloden is the jewel of Hastings Hotels in northern Ireland and being only ten minutes from Belfast city centre you can really enjoy all that the city has to offer. Listed are prices for a stay and some fun things to see or do this autumn including the CS Lewis tour which I took with my daughter last year.

·         Fans of Game of Thrones are also in for a treat when they visit the Causeway Coast, and they will find several locations used in the filming of the series, such as The Dark Hedges, Ballintoy Harbour, Dunluce Castle and Cushenden Caves to name but a few.

The Culloden Estate and Spa is located in a prime position for anybody who wants to get out and about during their stay to see all that County Down has to offer. Here are five of the main picks:

·         Mount Stewart is a stunning country house next to Strangford Lough, with beautiful gardens and rooms to explore. In particular, if you’re around for Jazz in the Garden which takes place in the grounds one Sunday a month, this is a great day out. You can bring a picnic and enjoy the great music in the picturesque settings.

·         The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Cultra is a fun and educational day out for all the family. Both museums in the complex offer a real feel of stepping back in time, with the Folk Museum bringing you back to past ways of life in the early 20^th century, and the Transport Museum hosts impressive displays of transport from over the years.

·         Pickie Family Fun Park in Bangor has been a summer favourite for many generations, and is just as much so now. Kids can enjoy the train, the swings or the swans and their accompanying parents can have the added nostalgic value of days spent there when they were younger.

·         Those of an active inclination can visit the Mourne Mountains for a day. All the peaks, including Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s tallest mountain, are reachable in a few hours, so it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. Those who take on the climb are rewarded with absolutely breathtaking views at the top.

·         Finally, the long-awaited reopening of Exploris Aquarium in Portaferry arrives in August. Exploris is a great interactive opportunity to get up close and personal with the array of marine life in Strangford Lough, and a fun and educational family day out. Exploris will re-open on August 15.

A Voyage of Discovery in Belfast with CS Lewis

Nicole with the searcher statue dedicated to CS Lewis, do you spot a certain wardrobe?

Every city has its literary giants and Belfast is no exception. Authentic Ulster promotes a tailormade CS Lewis tour which takes a fascinating three hours.  While my 11 year old daughter, her friend and I enjoy the wisdom of our entertaining guide Sandy Smith, we discover that the mountains at Cavehill provided the inspiration for one of the most famous giants in literature. 

Cavehill is visible from several parts of the city and resembles the profile of a giant lying on his back. Sandy informs us that while Jonathan Swift was visiting Belfast and looking at the same mountain he found inspiration to create the character Gulliver. It's the perfect start to the tour, as we stand at the site where the young Clive Staples Lewis spent his early childhood. My daughter is already enthralled without the need of a flashing screen or interactive exhibit. The Chronicles of Narnia is undoubtedly the series that CS Lewis is best known for and Sandy is quick to question the children in our group about The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe. He then takes us to Lewis's Grandfather's house which was the rectory attached to St Marks Church. 

We stand at the front door and see that the young Lewis would have been at eye level to the beautifully moulded door knob − the head of a lion. The wardrobe story is next and we are taken to Belmont Tower which is only around the corner. A permanent exhibition holds all the information needed to become proficient in the CS Lewis story. Here we learn it was Lewis's other grandfather, who worked at the Harland and Wolfe shipyards, that crafted the famous wardrobe where he used to play hide-and-seek as a child.
To experience the CS Lewis Tour visit www.authenticulster.co.uk ,

Dublin and the Marker Hotel

The Marker in Dublin has some exciting packages if you are looking for a weekend in our capital city

Room only €219 per room per night

Breakfast inclusive €249 per room per night

Other packages we would do –

·         Bord Gais Energy Theatre package (tickets not included) – overnight stay with pre-theatre menu & complimentary glass of bubbles and breakfast the following morning – from €319 per night

·         Luxury Lie in & Le Drunch – stay on a Saturday night, complimentary late check out the following morning and then Le Drunch (which is our late lunch / early dinner offering on a Sunday) in our Brasserie – from €279 per night

·         Food Fetish – dinner, bed and breakfast – from €319 per night

·         Urban Escape – dinner, bed and breakfast and two one hour spa treatments – from €519 per night

·         Sumptuous Stayover – overnight stay with breakfast and two 30 minute spa treatments – from €399 per night

One of the great new attractions in Dublin which opened this summer is Epic.

Epic Visitor Museum at CHQ Building Custom House Quay

Open 7 days per week 9am-6pm

There's an Epic new attraction in the CHQ described as Dublin's newest immersive visitor museum. I brought along two pre-teens, to see how Ireland's Diaspora changed the world, and was surprised and impressed at how the interactive displays kept them busy.

Getting passports at emigration

On entering the fully accessible building, we were handed our passports, which instantly gave the girls something to do. The adults seemed just as amused with the task of stamping their passports as they completed each section of the exhibition.

Stamping passports as we passed through the museum

The ambience and initial imagery is unmistakably celtic, and I did wonder if this was going to be fun for the kids, Our island's tragic history makes gloomy reading and the story of emigration even more downbeat and ever cyclical. However, the constant stamping got the kids through the initial horrors of famine, destitution and poverty without determent, and the girls had their phones out from the initial display. Using their cameras and social media is as much a part of an experience for this generation as the exhibits, and because the displays became more fun and interactive as we passed through each section the girls stayed longer to find out more.

The layout of the exhibition is cavernous which neatly blocks the themes of music, arts, sport and literature into tidy separate sections that are easy to navigate.

I was especially impressed by the books in the literature rooms which recounted tales from various classic novels when pulled from the shelf. The guides were especially helpful in this part of the museum and eager to show off the novelties.

Those Diaspora who had achieved acclaim on the silver and small screens were recorded especially well and I was so engrossed that I lost the girls at that stage. They were more amused by the sports room and found a place to make better use of snapchat and instagram.

The images taking me through Italia 90 made me quite reminiscent of our innocence as a nation and I was even emotional watching the pope in the Pheonix Park in 1979. Although, I'd imagine the JFK speech will impact largely with the American Visitors to the museum.

The girls were getting into the swing of the museum by the time we reached the sport room

I was genuinely astonished to see the Irish Diaspora's contribution to science and astronomy and this particular display was the most innovative with fluorescent light effects.

The room of notorious Irish was possibly the most fun for the girls and they were educated about historical facts while they partook in the interactive quiz. I have to admit that I danced around from option A to B a couple of times myself. Every bit of space is used with the displays in all the rooms making the floors, walls and free standing surfaces equally interesting and informative.

We did spend over an hour at the museum which made the entry fee of €16 for adults and €8 for kids good value.

With plenty of opportunities to see their names in lights the girls got involved with the personalised postcards and twitter feeds. If you do visit this summer be sure to use the hastag #epicireland to see your tweet in lights. Some heavyweight social media experts like @tedrubin have been to visit here already! It's good to see a top quality attraction like this in Dublin. With the range of healthy eating options upstairs at the CHQ I really hope that visitors are directed to this attraction this summer and it will put in an interesting afternoon for those living in Dublin or visiting from the rest of Ireland too.

Another new attraction to open this summer in Dublin is The Witness History Exhibition at the GPO

Struggling to keep the kids entertained this summer? Come explore the GPO Witness History Visitor Centre

If you’re looking for a fun and exciting day out the whole family can enjoy, why not stop in and check out the GPO Witness History visitor centre this August. Located in the historic GPO building on O’Connell Street in Dublin, the centre is a great place for the whole family to learn more about the seismic events that shaped Ireland’s modern history.

The centre uses timelines and artefacts to show visitors the circumstances that led to the Rising, including the cultural revival and struggle for Home Rule. There is something for everyone to see and enjoy no matter if you are a tourist or a local. The extensive list of things to do and see is sure to captivate people of any age. View an original copy of the Proclamation, and learn the interesting story of how it was printed. See one of the Mauser guns used by the rebels during the Rising, and learn about Ireland’s complicated relationship with Germany at the time.

GPO Witness History is interactive and engaging, with the centrepiece being an immersive 15 minute audio-visual experience which puts you in the midst of the action at various battles between rebels and British forces around Dublin, including inside the GPO itself. Feel the tension inside the GPO as the roof starts shaking under British bombardment, and watch as the rebel leaders make decisions that have impacted this country to this day.

A character in period costume roams the centre, happy to tell you all about his or her life in 1916 Dublin.

Children and adults alike may enjoy the various touchscreen games. Can you avoid British soldiers as you seek to deliver a message to rebel strongholds? Can you sort letters to New York, London and Galway faster than the rest of your family? There’s nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition!

See the conflict from both sides and through the eyes of the bystanders, with many eyewitness accounts available to enable visitors to draw their own conclusions on the events of Easter week. Video booths showing short interviews with some of Ireland’s most preeminent historians give balance to key themes from the Rising. Compare life for a wealthy child in Dublin at the time with the life of a child of the tenements, with mock-ups of both children’s living arrangements side by side.

After passing through the commemoration gallery, detailing how the rising has been remembered in the 100 years since, take some time to sit down and discuss your GPO Witness History visit over refreshments in the café, and don’t forget to find a memento from the shop, stocking a variety of beautiful Irish-made goods.

If you are interested in learning more about this unique exhibit of Irish history, visit the GPO Witness History website at www.gpowitnesshistory.ie to book tickets and to find out more about the GPO Witness History Visitor Centre.