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Tag Archives: staycation

Stay cautious on your staycation urge Clare gardaí

GARDAÍ in Clare are urging people to stay cautious on their staycation. With holiday makers looking forward to a summer break at home, the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána have launched a campaign urging road users to ensure that they stay safe on the road. “We want people to enjoy their summer holidays. If you are planning a staycation, please ensure you plan your journey in advance, take frequent breaks and do not allow any distractions while driving. Ensure everyone in your vehicle is wearing their safety belt and make sure all children are in a suitable safety seat,” says Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. “Be mindful of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists and motor cyclists. Park safely and legally when visiting beaches, beauty spots as well as other public amenities. Parking illegally can lead to unnecessary risk and dangers such as forcing pedestrians to walk on busy roads. It is important …

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Co-operation urged to cope with surge of domestic tourists

THE peak of the holiday season is coming within weeks, and west and north Clare are going to see huge numbers of visitors, as staycations will again trump foreign travel for most people this year. With the influx to come in mind, Fianna Fáil’s Joe Killeen put forward a motion calling for greater preparedness. The councillor’s motion called for, “Clare County Council, Fáilte Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Gardai and other relevant agencies, as well as pubs and restaurants, to come together to assess their facilities in preparation for the summer staycation and make the changes necessary, including temporary emergency parking, provision of extra toilet facilities and refuse collection, in order to promote greater preparedness for the anticipated influx of tourists.” In a written reply, Director of Service Leonard Cleary outlined some of the steps that are being taken. “In the post-Covid tourism context, visitors are encouraged to spend more time outdoors experiencing the Clare tourism attractions. …

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Lahinch and Kilkee bask in afterglow of staycation boom

AFTER an unusually warm and sunny weekend, Kilkee was overcast and somewhat autumnal on Monday afternoon. Staycationers were fewer than they had been even 24 hours earlier, but shopkeeper Donal Hayes wasn’t complaining as he said the season which is ending has been the best one for many years. While the pandemic has crippled many businesses and even some entire industries, it has actually helped his shop. “It’s been a huge benefit to us, I hate to say it, but it was. The only poor weekend was Whit weekend, I think that was the way for the whole of the town. The summer was excellent, last weekend was as good as any over the summer. You can see today it has quietened a lot so we’ll see how it goes until the October Bank Holiday Weekend, if we can get the weekends out of it we’ll be very, very happy with that.” Asked if business would have been up five …

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Ennis Gives Extra value to visitors who Stay & Spend

HOTELS in Ennis have joined forces in creating an ‘extra’-ordinary incentive to attract tourists. The Old Ground hotel, Temple Gate Hotel, Hotel Woodstock, Treacy’s West County, The Queens Hotel and Auburn Lodge as well as Rowan Tree Hostel have come together under the ‘Promote Ennis’ banner to  create an ‘Ennis Gives Extra’ promotion, to coincide with the launch of the government backed ‘Stay & Spend’ Scheme, the details of which were published last week. ‘Ennis Gives Extra’  will see the first 10 people to book for a two-night stay for two during the month of October across each of the participating hotels rewarded with a voucher to spend in Ennis on check-in. The voucher can be spent in selected restaurants, bar/restaurants and shops in Ennis town centre.  A number of shops have already signed up with more due to come on board. A spokesperson for Promote Ennis outlined, “Ennis has it all – safe shopping, great food, and access to …

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I could get very used to travelling in a convertible. It's the human's 325i.

Lockdown Staycation Part II

So, this is the second part of our lockdown staycation. After visiting the Twelve Hotel in Galway, I got a taste for another adventure so last weekend we went off to another of my favourite places, BrookLodge in Co Wicklow. Because the weather was so nice, the humans decided to take that funny car with a tent instead of a proper roof. It was bought last year but it seemed to spend most of the summer in the garage with bits being done to it but it seems to be ready now. I only half listen but I believe it’s had softer springs fitted since I drove in it last and it really makes a difference. I can snooze comfortably in the footwell now and that’s all that matters. Even though rain was threatening as we arrived in Aughrim, the roof was folded down for the last bit of the journey, allowing me to sniff the air. As we pulled …

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Daisy enjoying the view over Galway Bay toward the Clare coast.

Twelve Stars for Barna Staycation

What a great weekend. I knew something was up when I saw the case coming down from the attic. I haven’t seen that since before the lockdown. I hoped I was going to be included, even though I love going to my dog-minder and I was reassured when I saw my bag being packed too. I knew we were heading North and I suspected we were going to one of my favourite places, The Twelve Hotel in Barna and I was right. As soon as I came in the front door it was like I had never been away as I was greeted by name before going to the dog concierge area to get my picture taken. I never get tired of posing. We just had time to look over our lovely room and have a quick stroll before it was time to go down to the bar for dinner. The Twelve is one of those enlightened places where dogs …

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Drive for provision of motor-home parking in Ennis

THE Ennis Municipal District is to motor ahead with exploring suitable locations for the development of overnight parking for motor-homes near the town centre. Both Ballyalla and Ballybeg lakes have been flagged as potentially suitable sites for the venture which, if it goes ahead, is expected to result in an economic boost. Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Paul Murphy has led the calls for the facility saying holidaymakers don’t just want to visit seaside locations. He pointed out that the ‘staycation’ market needs to be targeted “particularly in these current times as foreign travel will not be very prevalent for the foreseeable future.” He outlined that the main requirements are a chemical toilet discharge point, regular wastewater discharge and running water. “The fees recouped would be year round and a facility like this would bring additional business to Ennis. Similar facilities currently exist in Cobh and Bantry and have proven to be a great success.” Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer replied, …

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