That looks very reasonable. Lovely spot too.
@flattythehurdler - you mentioned their car. Are they coming here via plane or ferry? Because that’ll surely be a factor in where they should go.
I think they’re hoping to bring the Tesla. I know you can charge on the ferry. They go in the Tesla to Cornwall anyhow.
Kerry is the clear winner here.
@Fagan_ODowd prepare for an influx of Tory visitors next year. The Telegraph has discovered the copper coast.
The secret coastal road trip that guarantees a taste of the real Ireland
It’s time to discover the Copper Coast – with its unspoilt allure, golden beaches and nary a tourist in sight
ByRachel Everett, TRAVEL WRITER5 October 2022 • 11:50am
‘This spectacular stretch of dramatic, windswept coastline is pure Irish magic – without the masses’ CREDIT: Getty
The Copper Coast is a rugged and ravishing Irish destination that has somehow managed to stay under the radar. It offers rare, wild beauty, crystalline seas, sandy-blonde dunes and splendid coves. It’s one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets – and with good reason. Its rich Viking and Celtic heritage, geological wonders and Irish folklore aside: this spectacular stretch of dramatic, windswept coastline is pure Irish magic – without the masses.
Though small, the area is a mighty outdoor geological museum with over 460 million years of geological events, and the sensational coastal route can be extended to take in some lesser-known spots, including romantic historical ruins, misty mountains, folklore-steeped falls, deserted, golden beaches, glimmering green waters and characterful fishing villages peering out onto the untamed Atlantic.
The wild coastal route can also be combined with nearby stops at the formidable Hook Head lighthouse (hookheritage.ie) – the oldest operating lighthouse in the world, with the Dollar Bay’s little sandy sweep en route – and the mist-shrouded Comeragh Mountains. In Ireland’s ancient east, the Celts named mystical spots “thin places” – where two worlds meet and spirits walk freely – and this is surely one of them.
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Head to Dublin
First things first: book your first night’s accommodation close to the airport – or Dublin Port, if you’re taking the car ferry. Design-savvy hybrid hotel Beckett Locke (lockeliving.com) is a stone’s throw from both and ticks all the boxes for an apartment stay with added luxuries, with two-bedroom suites ideal for groups or families. Once you’re settled, head to Locke’s restaurant The Belis or North 7th Coffee to fuel up for an afternoon exploring the Irish capital.
If you’ve done the tourist trail on previous visits, make for the Docklands area (also known as Silicon Docks, thanks to its reputation as a tech hub), nearby upmarket Ballsbridge, or affluent suburb Dalkey to kick start the coastal theme. Take the boat to Dalkey Island and wander the village as far as the celebrity enclave of Killiney, or walk the Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey and Killiney Hill Circular (13.5km) – a coastal route with sweeping views of Dublin Bay – then tuck into some gastropub fare at The Queens (thequeens.ie) before turning in.
Day one: History
Set off early and make the two-hour drive to Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city and gateway to the start of your Copper Coast journey, founded by the Vikings in AD914. Its prolific history makes it ripe for exploration: a museum pass or Freedom of Waterford ticket (£13; waterfordtreasures.com) includes an expert-guided walking tour and entrance to five museums in the impressive Viking Triangle quarter, including Reginald’s Tower, Medieval Museum and Museum of Time. Wander past the colourful Georgian-fronted houses and sparkly wares of Waterford Crystal to Everett’s (everetts.ie) for lunch, where you’ll find innovative Irish food set in a dashing 15th-century wine vault.
Prepare for spectacular views as you drive along the Copper Coast
After cycling or driving part of the Waterford Greenway (greenwaysireland.org), visit the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark – named after the 19th-century copper mines in the area. The centre offers an education on its 460-million-year geology, while the incredible cliff-rimmed coastline dotted with tiny coves is worth the trip alone.
Later, head to 16th-century Waterford Castle (waterfordcastleresort.com) – set on a private island – where the short ferry ride makes for a particularly unique arrival. The small but perfectly formed castle is also a resort, meaning you can stop for afternoon tea in the dining room, where dainty finger sandwiches and patisserie, homemade scones with clotted cream and fine bone china are the order of the day.
Finally, travel back to the mainland and check into Faithlegg, where there’s a stellar spa, golf course and beautiful country views (double rooms from £183 with breakfast; 051 382000; faithlegg.com).
Day two: Beaches
Kick off the phenomenal coastal route at the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East (discoverdunmore.com), a spectacular seaside spot speckled with traditional white-chalk thatched cottages, guaranteed to give a taste of the real Ireland. The beach is a manageable size for families and the Dunmore East Cliff Walk (10km) makes for a fascinating stroll atop the cliffs, with views out to the horizon – including stripey Hook Head lighthouse in the distance.
Stop for fish and chips in the harbour at East Pier (lovin.ie) before driving on to Tramore (tramore.ie), a once-faded seaside resort complete with amusement arcades that now has more of an upmarket, surfer vibe, with cafes to match. The fine caramel sands and clean waters are perfect for a paddle.
Take the afternoon to explore the less-visited coves along this route: a short drive will take you to Bunmahon, Stradbally Cove and Annestown – all small, secluded beaches hugging the route. Stradbally Cove in particular, with its sparkling waters, smooth sands and rocky outcrops, is a true tonic. On your way through the food-focused town of Dungarvan – characterised by its championing of the Irish larder and Dungarvan Farmers Market (dungarvantourism.com) – be sure to stock up on supplies, before heading back towards Dunmore for a DIY cook-up.
Stop off at Stradbally Cove CREDIT: alamy
Stay in the luxurious, traditional Butterfly Cottage (sleeps eight; from £260 per night) beside The Strand Inn, just 20 metres from the beach, or book a classic room at the inn itself (double rooms from £123 per night with breakfast; 051 383174; thestrandinn.com).
Days three and four: Magic
Take a detour inland from Dunmore East to the Comeragh Mountains, Coumshingaun Lake and Mahon Falls, a 45-minute drive through lush greenery that’s steeped in Irish folklore and home to the fabled Magic Road. Turn off the engine on this tiny stretch and wait for the car to move – by itself (it’s actually caused by an optical illusion, but don’t let that spoil the thrill). After all the excitement, drive back to the coast towards Ardmore (ardmorewaterford.com), a seaside hideaway with an artsy feel that lends itself to lingering.
It’s a 45-minute drive through lush greenery to the charming Mahon Falls CREDIT: Alamy
End your trip in style and spend your last night at The Cliff House Hotel (double rooms from £306 with breakfast; 024 87800; cliffhousehotel.ie), a five-star situated on a clifftop with breathtaking views of Ardmore and the ocean. If you’re still craving the great outdoors, take the Ardmore Cliff Walk, a 4km saunter with incredible seascapes, or indulge indoors with a dip in the pool, or an oceanside clay or seaweed bath at the Well by the Sea spa.
The next day, breakfast directly over the Atlantic after a wild swim at the hotel’s sleepy private beach, then set a course for Dublin.
If you’re still yearning for the song of the sea, drive back via the coast in Ring, a ‘Gaeltacht’, or Irish-speaking area. Have a moment of stillness at the pretty pebbled beach, with its iridescent blue waters, salty air and soundtrack of crashing waves, and you’ll be hard pushed not to feel a little magic in the air. The fairies would surely approve.
How to get there
Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com) fly into Dublin and Cork. Irish Ferries (irishferries.com) has car ferry routes to Dublin and Rosslare from the UK. Hertz Ireland (hertz.ie) offers car hire at Dublin airport.
For more information, visit tourismireland.com; visitwaterford.com and discoverireland.ie
Seen discoverIreland were advertising in Walkers Stadium on Monday. We’re on the way back!
Telegraph readers wouldn’t go to Ireland. They can all fcuk off.
They’ve always been welcome in Dunmore East.
They’ve always been in oughterard. Welcome is a different question.
You wouldn’t be getting the Benidorm crowd though
Two cheeks of a nasty right wing arse with the empathy to match
Not sure where to post this.
FRI, 13 JAN, 2023 - 12:45
DARRAGH MCDONAGH
Inmates prefer Lyons Tea to Barry’s and their favourite biscuits to enjoy with a cuppa are Toffypops, sales reports from tucks shops in the country’s 12 prisons have revealed.
A new stock management and point-of-sale system was installed in every prison last year at a cost of €170,565, allowing prisoners’ spending habits to be analysed for the first time.
Data from the system shows inmates spend an average of €675,997 every month in prison tuck shops on products including soft drinks, chocolate, toiletries and even games consoles.
An average of €271,318 is spent on cigarettes and tobacco every month, accounting for more than 40% of sales across the estate, and as much as 53% in Cloverhill, which mainly caters for prisoners on remand.
Inmates also spend an average of €28,211 a month on vaping products. These were particularly popular in the Dóchas Centre for female offenders, where €1 in every €4 was spent on e-cigarette kits and liquids.
Some €32,409 is spent each month on toiletry products, including baby powder, lip balm, Vaseline, Brylcreem and shower gel. One inmate at Wheatfield Prison bought factor-20 sunscreen in October.
The country’s busiest tuck shop is in the Midlands Prison, where sales of €500,814 were recorded during a period of less than four months between the beginning of last August and November 25.
This was followed by Mountjoy (€459,799), Wheatfield (€361,226) and Cloverhill (€273,384). Total sales during the 117-day period amounted to nearly €2.6m, with prisoners spending an average of €22,129 every day.
Jaffa Cakes were popular among prisoners, with 7,022 packs sold in a four-month period last year.
Sales reports show a clear preference for Lyons Tea over Barry’s among the prison population, with inmates purchasing 245,281 bags of the Dublin-based Lyons brand compared to 159,920 bags of Cork-based Barry’s.
The latter was more popular in Munster, however, outselling Lyons by almost three to one in Cork Prison and beating the rival brand by a comfortable margin in Limerick. Barry’s was also the most popular choice in Castlerea and the Midlands Prison.
Toffypops were the most popular biscuits, with 17,028 packs sold during the sample period. They were closely followed by Boland’s Chocolate Bites (15,342 packs) and Burton’s Wagon Wheels (9,667).
Other popular cookies included Jaffa Cakes (7,022) and Custard Creams (6,916). The humble digestive biscuit was bought 3,481 times, along with 3,024 packets of Rich Tea.
An average of €54,815 is spent on chocolate every month in prison tuck shops, along with €13,781 on jellies and other sweets, and €42,570 on soft drinks. Inmates also spent €2,600 on games consoles through tuck shops over the four-month period, along with €618.38 on games.
Some €10,516 a month is spent on newspapers and magazines. However, only Arbour Hill and Wheatfield recorded details of the individual titles purchased by inmates.
They showed the Irish Sun was by far the most popular daily newspaper among prisoners. It sold 883 copies at Wheatfield during the sample period, while its nearest rival, the Irish Daily Star, was bought 106 times.
A total of 243 copies of the Sun were bought at Arbour Hill, compared to 78 copies of the Irish Times, 66 copies of the Irish Independent, and 45 copies of the Star. Regional titles the Leinster Express and The Kerryman were bought 14 times.
The Sunday World was the most popular Sunday newspaper, selling 58 copies in Arbour Hill and 306 in Wheatfield. This was followed by the Sunday Times in Arbour Hill (40) and the Sun on Sunday (48) in Wheatfield.
Every prisoner receives an allowance of between €6.30 and €15.40 per week, and can earn more by performing work in areas such as cleaning and laundry. However, they can also receive money into their accounts from family and friends.
In 2021, inmates were paid a total of €3.1m in allowances and banked an additional €4.9m in gifts and transfers from outside the prison system.
About 1,500 retail items are available to inmates through the tuck shops. The Irish Prison Service has said profits generated from the outlets are used to support inmates through the Prisoner Assist Programme Fund, hardship payments, and other services.
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Obviously one lad reading the times in Arbor Hill 
Heading to Castlegregory next week for a couple of nights. Any family friendly restaurants around there worth going to?
P.s. Why are there no AirBnB options in Kenmare?
Been a while since we were there but spillanes was good. We were leppin after the water sports thing they do at the beach
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Most of the pubs around Cadtlegregory do decent food and are good for kids up until 9 o clock or whatever.
There’s a place called Gregory’s garden that has a good pizza restaurant and a high end fish and chip restaurant that’s really good, right in the middle of town
Yes.
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Pizza place is good. Try and get out to Murphy’s in Brandon. It’s a religious experience
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