ShaneMcDonald.ie

Tips to Improve your Twitter Account

Shane McDonald — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 08:24:54 +0000

Easy Twitter Tips to improve your Twitter account

I have been on Twitter 10 years now (as of April 21st 2019) and over the past 7 years I have come to love the platform. For me, Twitter is a source of news, opinion and interesting articles as well as the odd competition which I have won. If you are looking to grow your Twitter audience and influence you are going to have to invest some time on Twitter. These are some Twitter Tips to help in growing your following and presence.

1. Have a good Twitter Profile image

The first of the Twitter tips is to update your profile pic. The Profile Image is the small icon which appears beside each tweet. Your profile picture should be representative of you or your business. Try to make the image one which will stand out.

The key here is don’t leave it as the default Twitter Egg! The profile photo of an egg is indicative of an account which is new. So change this and you’ll get an advantage over accounts with Twitter eggs.

2. Ensure you include a Twitter Header image

At the same time, you should upload a good header image. The header image could be a product photo or something which works along with your profile image to strength your accounts visual appeal. You can use systems like Canva to place a nice quote or even your web address.

3. Your Twitter Bio

Your Twitter Bio should detail what your account is about. It should also outline the content people will expect if they follow you. For example, you could tell people what interests you or what you tweet about.

Feel free to use hashtags or even other accounts. e.g. “I am an account manager for @mentioncompanyhere and I like #Travel”. or “I love Twitter. Follow my account for freebies and great Twitter Tips and advice.”

If you have a website don’t forget to include that. This is one of the key Twitter Tips – so if you do one thing, it’s update your Bio.

4. Daily Twitter Activity

Each day, you should log on to Twitter and do some sort of activity. This is my personal must do from this Twitter Tips list.
This activity may include;

– Tweeting something even if it is just a comment on the weather. This keeps your feed flowing with recent content.
– Retweeting others tweets. If you find something interesting retweet it.
– Responding to any replies or notifications
– Thanking some of your recent followers.
– If you find the content you like the press the ‘Like’ button
– you should follow any Twitter accounts which you are interested in. Normally I follow about 5-10 accounts per day. If I find a Twitter list of Food Bloggers or Travel Writers I may end up following 50 or 60 accounts. Using Twitter Lists you could place all accounts which are foodies in one list or all accounts which give great Twitter tips in another list. This saves you time in reading related content. By monitoring their content I can then see if I want to keep following. Every so often I clear down the accounts I am following based on their content. One good app for doing a follower check is Crowdfire.

5. Tag or include others in your tweets

Every now and again you should mention other accounts using the @account method.
For example “Hi @mrshanemcdonald many thanks for liking my tweet. I am delighted with the Twitter Tips post on your website” would send me a nice mention and I may then follow you as a result.

How do I know if I am doing well on Twitter?

If you follow some of the Twitter Tips above, you should see some growth over the next while. There are a few pointers and KPIs to show your success in growing your Twitter account.

The first is your follower’s growth if it is increasing fast this is one indicator that you are doing well.
You can track your growth visually on TwitterCounter – take a look here at my Twitter account on TwitterCounter to see how it works.
Secondly is your mention notifications, if you are getting a lot of @mentions, either responses or direct mentions, this shows a well-engaged audience.
Check your Twitter Analytics to see your performance month on month
You can also look at how much traffic is being driven to your website via Google Analytics. Strong Twitter performance would lead to good traffic to your website.
If you are enjoying Twitter and you are Tweeting daily – In a way, this is a success of its own as many people start on Twitter and just give up!

Klout is Dead, Long live the King

In 2018, Klout had it’s last score update. There are a few different cites which have digitally passed-away over the years.

You may also be interested to know how long people spend online and on social media – check out this report regarding the Average Time on Social Media.

I hope you enjoyed these Twitter Tips and this is what works for me. If you have any other interesting Twitter Tips or hacks please feel free to leave a comment.

Follow Me on Twitter

My Twitter account is @mrshanemcdonald so if you like this Twitter Tips post why not follow and say hi!

A full list of Social Media Tools

If you are looking for a great list of Social Media Tools please visit this great link – https://bulk.ly/social-media-tools/

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Top 20 Glastonbury Festival Tips – Get the Most out of your Glastonbury Festival Experience

Shane McDonald — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 15:15:10 +0000

I have been to Glastonbury 3 times, 2013, 2015 and 2016 and I even played 2 of the official stages in 2015. The Glastonbury Festival is an amazing experience and lack of pre-planning can affect your enjoyment. These are my Glastonbury Tips for before, during and after the Glastonbury Festival. There were 18 but I have extended them with 2 great additional tips.

1) Bring the Right Stuff

The gates to the Glastonbury Festival open early on the Wednesday morning of the festival. Before you get to the gates you should have a think and plan your packing.

These are a few items you should think of bringing to Glastofest;

Good fitting wellies: If it rains the areas become very muddy quickly. Invest in a good pair of wellies which fit correctly. However, based on the recent weather in the midlands and south of the UK, there could easily be further rain issues affecting the Glastonbury Festival this year. (unlike last year’s weather)
Bring Hiking Boots or Hiking Shoes also: If it is sunny you don’t want to be dragging your feet around in warm wellies.
Phone PowerBar: You will need to charge your phone, 3 or 4 fully charged power bars might get you through a few days.
Torch: When it gets dark, certain areas of the site are unlit and a torch will help you find your way
Sunfactor and after-sun: You are standing outdoors most of the day waiting for your favourite band, don’t get burnt! You will need sun factor this year! Last year I brought it and never used it, as the weather was so wet.
Wet Wipes: You may not have a chance for a shower but at least you can be fresh-ish!
Sandwich Bags: These can help keep your phone and other items dry (should it rain)
Black Bin Liners: Can make for a quick and cheap poncho
Transistor Radio: Get one for a few quid so you can enjoy WorthyFM the Glastonbury Festival radio station.
Batteries: Bring some batteries for your radio and torch.
Toilet Rolls: If you are camping, this is a vital accessory … bring 3 or 4 each in a small plastic bag to keep them dry.
Hand Sanitiser: A useful and cheap alternative to soap which is not something you find in the drop toilets here.
Bring Layers: The temperature could be 27C and sunny or 12C and windy in the evening, so be prepared.
Tickets: Don’t forget your tickets as you won’t get in without them … no matter what the excuse.
Don’t bring anything you value … it will probably be ok but don’t risk it!

Also, this year with the extended security searches everything will be searched. So if you can buy it, (e.g. beer, snacks) don’t bring it with you. There will be extra long queues on day one as a result so be prepared for this.

2) Download the Glastonbury Festival Smartphone App to schedule your week in advance

There are over 100 areas where you can catch a band, everything from a small stage in the corner of the site to the impressive Pyramid stage. The official Glastonbury EE smartphone app has the full listing for all the main stages. You can also plan your trip by marking the bands or events you want to see. This way, you can identify clashes. If you do have a clash I would recommend going to the band which either are harder to get a live concert of or the one which is more unusual. In the past I have seen the Moody Blues when there was a clash – I felt it was a once in a lifetime chance to see them live. I have used the smartphone app every year and it certainly helps – there is even a Glastonbury site map to help you get around.

To download the Official Glastonbury App powered by EE visit http://ee.co.uk/why-ee/tickets-events/glastonbury

3) Expect Delays

If you are driving to Glastonbury for day one you will encounter delays. Last year some people were in the cars for up to 24 hours coming from London. Ensure you have enough petrol, water, snacks and patience when you are getting there. Don’t worry it will be worth it.
Every year we go, we always stay at a nearby town called Nunney the night before, in a lovely pub/hotel called the George at Nunney, this is only 30 minutes from the Glastonbury Festival entrance. It’s a handy tip to get a bit closer to the event in advance.

Also, don’t forget the extra security which will be in place this year as mentioned in point 1 above which might cause further delays!

4) What to expect when you arrive at the Glastonbury Festival

Once you park your car or disembark your bus you will need too queue for entry. There will be a long queue and last year it took us 45 minutes to get through around 11:20 am but it might be a bit longer this year. Present your ticket and you will get an wristband which must remain untouched on your wrist for the duration. You will also get the Glastonbury magazine and a lanyard with information about the acts etc.

Now if you are camping, quickly go find a good spot.

5) Pitching your tent

Obviously, you have to select an area to pitch your tent. Ensure to try to get an area which is uphill, so any rain won’t accumulate in your area, also not too near the path, so you don’t get trampled on in high footfall areas. If you have a pole or flag, this can help identify your tent amongst the thousands in the area. If you don’t have one, just identify some other landmarks or flags to help you.

We decided not to pitch a tent but to have one pitched for us – the Pop-Up Hotel is the ideal way to do Glastonbury if you prefer not to go down that route. The facilities include a really comfy pre-erected tent or yurt, security, electricity WiFi, dining options, hot showers, nice toilets, music and a great crew of friendly staff to help you at all times.

6) Arriving on the Glastonbury Site on Day 1

I would recommend on day 1 getting to the Stone Circle as soon as possible. There’s lots of song and laughter in this area, we enjoyed a very “earth-song” like rendition around midday with lots of people holding hands, and a real throwback to the Glastonbury of the 70s.Very enjoyable just to sit and relax … you’re here !

After that, I recommend walking the site as much as possible to understand the areas like the Park, The Glade, Green Futures, the Healing fields and how to navigate between them. If you know where each route leads, should you need to get from the Pyramid Stage to the Park Stage in a hurry, you will know the route without looking it up on the map or reference the Glastonbury App.

7) Understanding the Limits of Glastonbury

There are a few things which you will find about the Glastonbury Festival and some home comforts which you won’t have. These are a few which the first time visitor may encounter.

You probably won’t have a phone signal all the time – you will be off the grid sometimes (or at least I was)
Toilets are a luxury and you can forget any thoughts of having a pine scented bathroom to enjoy (Try the long drop toilets)
Showers are a real luxury (unless you’re lucky enough to be glamping), get your wet wipes for that or queue for a shower in the early morning.
There will be a lot of walking, ensure your footwear is good.
If it rains – it gets muddy very fast. Check the forecast for each day ahead if you can so you are prepared!
There are a lot of people so just remember to be patient and just go with the flow.

8) Grab a spot for a wonderful Sunset

At the end of day 1, climb one of the hills, such as the one with the Glastonbury sign on it – This is a good spot to watch the sunset.
As long as it is not raining! You really could sit here all night.

9) Don’t just limit yourself to one stage

The music at the Glastonbury Festival starts on the Friday and it is worth getting to the first act on the first music day. You will always remember the thrill of saying, it has started – Glastonbury Festival is on!!

You now have 3 packed days of music and around 100 stages or areas to try visit. I would recommend trying to visit all the major stages from Pyramid to West Holts and the Other Stage to the Park. You will enjoy a great variety of genres and even a few bands which you may fall in love with. I recall seeing bands like Haim, First Aid Kit and Rudimental for the first time – all great acts.

10) Expand your tastebuds

There are some spectacular food options at Glastonbury. Yes, you can get burgers, chips and hot dogs but there is a lot more to enjoy. I recommend going to places like Greenfields for a veggie option or over near the Double Decker which serves tea there is a wonderful seafood kitchen where I got the most amazing crab dish. I also remember overdosing on Tom’s Pies somewhere near the Pyramid stage. The final recommendation is Pachamama, go there and try the Tibetan soup and other delicious options.

11) The Circus Fields … not just for children

You really should spend some time in the Circus fields. Many people overlook this area of the Glastonbury Festival. Last year I saw some of the most amazing acrobatics – one of the acts included a drummer playing with a band who was on a bungee cord. You will get exactly what you though, circus acts but you will also see many walk-about acts, comedians and a few musicians just to keep the Glastonbury feeling alive in that area.

12) Push your Limits, Open Your Mind

There are some amazing venues which may (or may not) push your limits. These include areas such as the Unfairground, Block9 and Shangri-La. I really enjoyed areas like the Cave, Glasto Latino, The Common, and Copperdollar (my favourite). These areas at night become like a scene from a post-apocalyptic world like Mad Max. After 11pm these areas are very popular and you probably will see very big queues.

13) Watch the Arcadia Spectacular Spider awaken from its slumber

On Thursday evening at 10pm the Arcadia Spider dress rehearsal takes place. This is your chance to see the whole show before the official start of Arcadia proceedings on the Friday night. If you miss the Thursday rehearsal then just make sure you get there early on Friday to get a good spot. The arcadia spectacular is amazing.

14) Chill Out

If you want to chill out there are a number of areas you can do so. I like visiting the healing fields and the craft fields. Last year in the healing fields I got a gong bath which is 2 gongs being banged for 30 minutes – sounds terrible, but I fell asleep and felt great after it. You can also do yoga, meditation, reflexology and much more in the healing fields area.

The Craft fields are great for trying something new, everything from axe wielding and ring making to wood work and silversmiths. I made a ring for £20 – a very enjoyable 3 hours silversmithing. Try visit the craft fields on the Thursday as the music has not yet started.

The Peace tent near the stone circle is also another amazing spot to visit. The flame in the centre was (apparently) lit from the embers of the flames of the bombed Nagasaki. Very moving area to come and meditate.

15) Find a random piano

There are a few pianos dotted around the site and as a piano player I get to one each day for a few minutes. A good crowd will draw and my favourite moment in 2016 was how 2 or 3 people turned into about 50 or 60 as I played Bohemian Rhapsody (I will edit the post in the at some point to share this)

16) Get a view of the Glastonbury Tor

The Glastonbury Tor can be seen from some locations but the iconic ancient building a few miles away is often captured by the BBC in their coverage. Find it and grab a photo of it for yourself.

17) Climb the Ribbon Tower

There will be a queue for this iconic tower but the views are worth it. You have probably seen this on BBC coverage or Glastonbury images. The ribbon tower gives great panoramic views of the whole Glastonbury Festival site.

18) Board the Double Decker Bus for Tea

Yes, there is a red double decker bus serving tea and crumpets (and a lot more). Located not too far from the pyramid stage this bus is always busy. With comfy seating it’s a great place to go after you have been standing for 4 hours watching your favourite headliner. The simple things in life often bring the greatest joy, and you can relax onboard the double decker and take in some well deserved treats. There are cakes here too and they are great.

19) Listen to the Glastonbury Festival Local Radio Station

Tune into WorthyFM for the very latest news about the festival plus some secret gigs. In 2015 we were listening to WorthyFM and heard that the Dali Lama was going to be at the stone circle. Only for that we would not have been at an audience with this great man. Tune in to Worthy FM at 87.5MHz.

20) End as you started – at the Stone Circle

End your visit to Glastonbury as you started it, at the stone circle. This spot at around 3am early on Monday morning after all the music has ended is a very fitting place to be. Song, laughter and a very relaxed feeling over the site.
It’s over for another year – but you were there.

Enjoy Glastonbury!
Don’t Pee on the Land and Leave no Trace !

My Glastonbury Festival Photo Gallery

Glastonbury Sunset

The Arcadia Spider

View from the Ribbon Tower

View from the Ribbon Tower at Glastonbury Festival

Sunsets at Glastofest

Sunsets at Glastonbury Festival are always best from one of the hills.

Arcadia Spectacular

Watch the Arcadia Spectacular explode into life. Rehearsal is on Thursday evening around 10pm and the opener is Friday around the same time.

The Peace Tent

The Peace Tent is a very solemn and peace place to be.

The Stone Circle after the final act

The Stone Circle after the final act. People stay until the sun rises on Monday morning. No-one wants to leave

Pachamama Cafe – Delicious food within

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Solas Cancer Care Waterford – Film for Life 2019

Shane McDonald — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 10:59:50 +0000

Solas Cancer Care – Film for Life 2019

Solas Film for Life 2019 is the third year of this Movie based fundraiser. Last year I entered the Film for Life fundraiser and over 6 weeks rehearsing and filming we acted out a scene from a famous movie. Last year’s movie was “The Hangover” and I played Phil, the Bradley Cooper character. We eventually won “Best Film” at the Solas Cancer Care Film for Life 2018.

I really enjoyed last year’s Film for Life and the fact that I was able to raise funds for a great cause. Therefore, I am doing Solas Film for Life again this year. The 2019 Film for Life saw me playing Hugh Grant’s role of Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones Diary. I filmed the scenes for this year’s movie on the 18th of May and the screening took place on Saturday 8th June at the Tower Hotel in Waterford.

Support my "Film for Life 2019" Fundraising

If you wish to donate to my “Film for Life 2019” fundraising event please click the button below. Any amount will make a difference and I appreciate all donations to this worthy cause.

Everyone who supports the event will be mentioned here on this page and if you are a business and wish to support I will link to your website as a thank you.

Click Here to Donate Now

All Film for Life donations regardless of size are welcomed and everyone will be credited on this page. I will also include a total of all donations for the Film for Life 2019 event which received online and offline will be displayed below.

Amount (€) Raised to Date

Thank You for your support

I would like to thank the following people for their support

Maria McEvoy

Vera McEvoy

Steph & Greg Porter

Colin Donovan

Elaine & Chris O’Sullivan

Eoghan Murphy

Mary Murphy

Martin Murphy

Maria McDonald

Karen McDonald

Julie Purcell

Pat Grant

Kate, Nick and Molly McCarthy

Richard Hannigan Hair Design, Waterford

Anonymous Donation Online (Thank you)

This page is constantly with all sponsors to my Fundraising for Solas Cancer Care “Film for Life 2019”

About Solas Cancer Care, Waterford

The Solas Cancer Support Centre offers free cancer support to those affected by cancer, their families and carers in the South East. These services are available in their centre at Williamstown in Waterford City and in their West Waterford service based in the Alternative Health Clinic in Dungarvan. Solas Film For Life is one of the many ways this cancer care charity raises funds.

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Cat The Play Returns to Waterford – Book CAT THE PLAY Now…

Shane McDonald — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 11:30:45 +0000

CAT the Play returns to the Theatre Royal, Waterford 11th/12th July 2019

This is a show not to be missed. I saw this show on it’s the last visit to Waterford and it is a hilarious show with a bit of an edge where you least expect it. Cat The Play is actually written by a friend of mine and well known Waterford actor Jamie Beamish along with Richard Hardwick. It strings you along with song and well-written script and then it …. well, I will leave you to find out for yourself!

DAVE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL CAST OF CATS. ON OPENING NIGHT HE WAS SACKED.
HE WAS NOT A HAPPY PUSSY…

A roller coaster, tongue-in-cheek homage to the world of musical theatre, CAT (THE PLAY!) is the fictitious account of how Dave the Cat was sacked from the iconic musical CATS just minutes before ‘curtain up’ on opening night.

As dreams of West End acclaim and adulation turn to tatter, this riotous parody of show business offers audiences a comedic, fictional insight into Dave’s turbulent theatrical career, beginning with his first role as Jesus’ donkey in the original cast of Jesus Christ Superstar and ending with a grand finale of backstage drama, romance and anarchy that led to his hopes of stardom becoming nothing more than a distant ‘Memory’.

After a sold-out run at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this comedy about the greatest musical star that never got to shine. Starring Gerard McCarthy, CAT isn’t so much a love letter to musical theatre more a death threat. It is humorous while still having a darker undertone. There’s a lot to keep you entertained and I feel you will be listening to every word which CAT utters.

Book Online

Reviews of 'Cat the Play'

“A WOW OF A ONE MAN SHOW”, Liam Murphy

“AN AMAZING PIECE OF THEATRE!”, Pat McEvoy

“A quirky, sometimes awkwardly funny and always appealing package of melody and movement, CAT offers something for just about everyone – even a darkly unexpected conclusion (Five Stars)”, Belfast Telegraph

Visit the Official ‘Cat the Play’ Website for details

Map Location – Cat the Play, 11th / 12th July 2019, Theatre Royal, Waterford

Cat the Play at Theatre Royal Waterford

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Loko – Dog Friendly Restaurant, Waterford

Shane McDonald — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:21:34 +0000

Loko Restaurant Review: Dog-Friendly Restaurant, Waterford

Loko is located on the Dunmore Road in Waterford on the same spot as Ardkeen Stores. It is quite a large restaurant which spans over three floors. The decor is very trendy indeed with lots of quirky and interesting items decorating everything from the ceiling to the lampshades. You will also find some great pieces of art hanging on the walls.

I had been to Loko a few times before but I recently heard that they allowed dogs. With the recent change of legislation in Ireland, more and more restaurants are allowing dogs inside. As a dog owner, this is great as there is no more having to leave the dog at home, eat in the freezing cold in the outside area of a restaurant or just having to eat a takeaway in the car (all because a restaurant won’t take a dog … well done to Loko on that stroke of genius).

Booking a Dog-Friendly Table at Loko

So we booked a table for 2 humans and one dog. On arrival, we were greeted and shown to the doggy friendly area downstairs. We were given a water bowl for the dog and menus. You will find lots on the menu for you to enjoy. I do like seafood, and there is normally quite a selection on their menu. On this occasion, we had the monkfish scampi and the roast chicken. The Roast Chicken was superb as it came on a bed of mash, with onion gravy and large dumpling style balls of delicious stuffing. The scampi was light and perfectly cooked with a really crunchy panko style coating.

During the meal, the owner came down to see if our dog would like to try some doggy beer. “Bottom Sniffer” is an alcohol-free, non-carbonated doggy beer. Apparently, the label says that it is the ultimate doggy refreshment which will help make your dog the leader of the pack and will have other dogs sniffing their bottoms with jealousy! (a marketing text which would work for this beer but probably would not work for Budweiser)

Of course, we enjoyed dessert afterwards, Bread and Butter Pudding and a brownie as far as I recall.

Loko is a very trendy and very enjoyable place to eat, with a menu which will suit almost every diner and welcomes everyone, including the canine members of the family. We really enjoyed our meal and we will certainly be back again soon.

Photo Gallery

Contact Loko
Unit 1
Ardkeen Shopping Centre
Dunmore Road
Waterford
Phone: 051 841 040

Twitter:
@loko_ie

Facebook:
facebook.com/LokoWaterford

Instagram:
@lokowaterford

Loko, Ardkeen, Waterford

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FlightRadar24 Vs Plane Finder, Flight Tracking iPhone Apps

Shane McDonald — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 06:24:08 +0000

A few years ago when I got my first iPhone, I downloaded two Aircraft Tracking iPhone Apps. These flight tracking apps were FlightRadar24 and Plane Finder. The smartphone air traffic apps allow you to track the position, height, speed, Squawk Code, Aircraft type, heading, source, destination and Aircraft Registration, plus much more.

These amazing iPhone apps are brilliant, especially if you are interested in aircraft. You may also just want to know where a plane in the sky is heading. Ever since I was a child, when I got my first pair of binoculars, I have been fascinated with knowing which aircraft or which airline is flying overhead. Aircraft are such amazing feats of engineering, it is amazing to watch them as they fly 10km up.

So, back to the flight tracking apps. Which one is better, FlightRadar24 or PlaneFinder? I am going to look at the 2 apps and do a proper review…in no particular order.

FlightRadar24

The FlightRadar24 system was the first flight tracking app I downloaded. The main features of FlightRadar24 were full flight tracking plus visual tracking where you could hold the iPhone camera up to the sky where there was an aircraft and it would point to it with identification using augmented reality. At the time this was very new to smartphone technology but the Augmented Reality system makes it possible to point the camera to the sky and view aircraft information and all the details regarding air traffic over you.

The accuracy is stunning – I actually grabbed a pair of binoculars when a Lufthansa 747 was reported over Waterford, and it was indeed the aircraft mentioned on the FlightRadar-24 iPhone App. Amazing.
Check out http://www.flightradar24.com/ for more details.

PlaneFinder

I downloaded the Planefinder app just as a comparison as this one showed actual photos of the aircraft in question and also allowed for sharing of the spotted aircraft on Facebook etc.

PlaneFinder does almost everything that FlightRadar24 does, but I find that there are certain functions you can achieve such as advanced filters, e.g. show all aircraft above a certain height, speed or indeed of a certain airline. I also found some aircraft not listed on FlightRadar24 – for example, a Galaxy C5 showed up on Planefinder and at the same time did not display on Flightradar24 for some reason.

More information on PlaneFinder can be found at http://my.pinkfroot.com/

How do these iPhone Aircraft Tracking Apps Work?

These apps only show information regarding aircraft which are equipped with ADS-B transponders. About 60% of the passenger aircraft and some private aircraft have an ADS-B transponder installed.

The Flightradar24 and PlaneTracker apps use a network of ADS-B receivers around the world. These ADS receivers get plane and flight information from the aircraft with ADS-B (Broadcasts) and send this information to the main server. These apps simply collect the ADS data and displays this information on the iPhone Apps map. However the only aircraft within the coverage area of the ADS receivers are visible – so if you are in the USA you may have limited visibility as these apps are mainly covering Europe. Current coverage is approx 90% of Europe. However, there is also limited coverage in the USA, Australia and the Middle East.

App Problems?

Both Apps require WiFi or a 3G connection to work. If you only have a cellular data connection you may get 1 or 2 aircraft showing up but the app won’t work to its full potential – so ensure you have 3G turned on.

The only problems I saw was one aircraft which was a ghost image of itself – i.e., for example, an aircraft D-GBHF was showing up side by side but it was the same aircraft. Could have been a glitch.
However, the most fun glitch I saw was an aircraft which had a recorded cruising speed of zero knots – clever trick!

Flight Tracking Apps – Conclusion

Both apps are excellent in the way the aircraft are displayed plus the refresh rate and the accuracy is very good on both apps.

Both apps have been updated since my original post and I will be updating this post with the changes and new features.

PlaneFinder retails at €3.99 in the App Store

FlightRadar24 retails at €2.39 in the App Store.

FREE Versions of these Flight Radar iPhone Apps are available also and the desktop or web-based version of FlightRadar can be used for a limited session and with limited functionality for free.

If you have any comments regarding these flight tracking/aircraft tracking apps please comment below!

This post is a re-edit of the original post regarding FlightRadar24 and Plane Finder which was written earlier in 2015.

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360 Cookhouse – Pet Friendly Restaurant in Co. Waterford

Shane McDonald — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 13:26:59 +0000

360 Cookhouse: Dog-Friendly Restaurant Dungarvan, Co. Waterford – Restaurant Review

One of the hardest things in Ireland to find is a dog-friendly restaurant. Unlike in the UK, most Irish restaurants will not allow a dog to enter its premises.

We are very lucky and Waterford to have two restaurants who except dogs, namely, Loko and 360 Cookhouse in Dungarvan.

I spotted the sign for the dog-friendly menu at 360 Cookhouse on a recent walk around Dungarvan and I made it my business to try it out.

Our Dog-Friendly Restaurant Booking

On arrival, we had a very friendly welcome into the restaurant and we had a spot for the dog who was very comfortable also.

360 Cookhouse is not just a pet-friendly restaurant but was Awarded Pet–Friendly Destination of the year 2019 from the Georgiana Campbell Ireland Guide! High praise indeed. You can also share your pet photos while you are here with their hashtag #Dogsof360.

The 360 Cookhouse menu is vast and is very varied. I could have tried a number of options from it but in the end, I chose the homemade fish fingers with came with fries and salad.

The fish fingers were chunky and made of the best white flaky fish all perfectly cooked and coated in a buttercream Panko crumb. The salad was perfect and had a pickled edge to it which contrasted the fish very well. The accompanying fries were homemade skin-on fries and doused in a good amount of sea salt. This main was absolutely delicious.

We were tempted to review the dessert menu and were drawn to a Crunchie Chocolate Moose which I had not ever tried before (Perhaps a 360Cookhouse signature recipe?). This was the lightest fluffiest moose topped with crushed pieces of Cadbury Crunchie and raspberries. An astonishing end to a great meal.

I later found out that a tapas menu is also available. I saw a few people enjoying that election and it looked ver tempting indeed. That option will have to be tried on return.

We also had 2 coffees and tea and the whole bill was less than €50 which was excellent value. Plus dog-friendly… did I mention that already ???

I’m delighted to see that dog owners are being considered when it comes to allowing dogs to enter. I can tell you that the restaurants which take dogs will be getting more of my business than the ones who don’t. I saw one sign in a restaurant which said “Dogs and Well Behaved Children are Welcome here” and I agree with that sentiment.

Photo Gallery – 360 CookHouse

If you are in Dungarvan I totally recommend you visit 360 Cookhouse. Great staff, great menu, great food, great desserts, great value and dog-friendly – that’s 6 stars out of 5 ! (Extra Star for the dog-friendly attitude!)

We are already planning our next visit to 360 Cookhouse. Next time with friends and dog also of course!

360 Cookhouse

Location: Castle St, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Website: http://www.360cookhouse.ie/
Social: Instagram / Facebook

360 Cookhouse, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland

The post 360 Cookhouse – Pet Friendly Restaurant in Co. Waterford appeared first on ShaneMcDonald.ie.

Oscars Predictions – Who will win at the 91st Academy Awards

Shane McDonald — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 17:45:12 +0000

My Oscars Predictions for The 91st Academy Awards

I always enjoy Oscar season as there are so many great movies to enjoy, from epic blockbusters to the more casual feel-good movie. This year I have seen a good few of the Oscar-nominated movies and these are my Oscars Predictions for the Academy Awards which take place on Sunday 24th Feb 2019.

I have outlined the categories below and have outlined who I think will win and also who I would like to see win as my Predictions for the Academy Award winners. It’s a bit of a cop-out but if you don’t see an entry for ‘Who I would like to win’ then you can take it that the ‘Who I think will win’ are that and the same.

Update 25/02/2019 – The actual winners are underlined and italicised within each category. I have a count below of how many I actually got right…

So here we go…

The nominees for Best Costume Design

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Mary Zophres)
Black Panther (Ruth Carter)
The Favourite (Sandy Powell)
Mary Poppins Returns (Sandy Powell)
Mary Queen of Scots (Alexandra Byrne)

Winner: The Favourite

The nominees for Best Film Editing

BlackkKlansman (Bary Alexander Brown)
Bohemian Rhapsody (John Ottman)
The Favourite (Yorgos Mavropsaridis)
Green Book (Patrick J. Don Vito)
Vice (Hank Corwin)

Winner: The Favourite

I Hope will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

The nominees for Best Original Score

Black Panther (Ludwig Goransson)
BlackkKlansman (Terence Blanchard)
If Beale Street Could Talk (Nicholas Britell)
Isle of Dogs (Alexandre Desplat)
Mary Poppins Returns (Marc Shaiman)

Winner: If Beale Street Could Talk

The nominees for Best Animated Short Film

Animal Behaviour
Bao
Late Afternoon
One Small Step
Weekends

Winner: Bao

The nominees for Best Live Action Short Film

Detainment
Fauve
Marguerite
Mother
Skin

Winner: Fauve

The nominees for Best Sound Editing

Black Panther (Benjamin A Burtt and Steve Boeddeker)
Bohemian Rhapsody (John Warhurst and Nia Hartstone)
First Man (Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou Morgan)
A Quiet Place (Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahi)
Roma (Sergio Diaz and Skip Lievsay)

Winner: Bohemian Rhapsody

The nominees for Best Sound Mixing

Black Panther (Steve Boeddeker, Brandon Proctor and Peter Devlin)
Bohemian Rhapsody (Paul Massey, Tim Cavagin and John Casali)
First Man (Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montano, Ai-Ling Lee and Mary H. Ellis)
Roma (Skip Lievsay, Craig Henighan and José Antonio Garcia)
A Star Is Born (Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic, Jason Ruder and Steve Morrow)

Winner: Bohemian Rhapsody

The nominees for Best Animated Feature Film

Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse

Winner: Mirai

The nominees for Best Cinematography

Cold War (Lukasz Zal)
The Favourite (Robbie Ryan)
Never Look Away (Caleb Deschanel)
Roma (Alfonso Cuaron)
A Star is Born (Matthew Libatique)

Winner: Roma

The nominees for Best Directing

Spike Lee, BlackkKlansman
Pavel Pawlikowski, Cold War
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Alfonso Cuaron, Roma
Adam McKay, Vice

Winner: Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite

The nominees for Best Documentary Feature

Free Solo
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
RBG

Winner: Free Solo

The nominees for Best Documentary Short Subject

Black Sheep
End Game
Lifeboat
A Night at the Garden
Period. End of Sentence.

Winner: End Game

The nominees for Best Foreign Language Film

Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)

Winner: Roma (Mexico)

The nominees for Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Border (Goran Lundstrom and Pamela Goldammer)
Mary Queen of Scots (Jenny Shircore, Marc Pilcher and Jessica Brooks)
Vice (Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe and Patricia DeHaney)

Winner: Vice (Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe and Patricia DeHaney)

The nominees for Best Visual Effects

Avengers: Infinity War (Dan DeLeeuw, Kelly Port, Russell Earl and Dan Sudick)
Christopher Robin (Christopher Lawrence, Michael Eames, Theo Jones and Chris Corbould)
First Man (Paul Lambert, Ian Hunter, Tristan Myles and J.D. Schwalm)
Ready Player One (Roger Guyett, Grady Cofer, Matthew E. Butler and DAvid Shirk)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (Rob Bredow, Patrick Tubach, Neal Scanlan and Dominic Tuohy)

Winner: Christopher Robin

The nominees for Best Adapted Screenplay

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Joel and Ethan Coen)
BlackkKlansman (Charlie Wachtel, DAvid Rabinowitz, Kevin Wilmott and Spike Lee)
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty)
If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins)
A Star is Born (Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters)

Winner: BlackkKlansman

The nominees for Best Original Screenplay

The Favourite (Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara)
First Reformed (Paul Schrader)
Green Book (Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie and Peter FArrelly)
Roma (Alfonso Cuaron)
Vice (Adam McKay)

Winner: The Favourite (Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara)

The nominees for Best Original Song

All the Stars, Black Panther
I’ll Fight, RBG
The Place Where Lost Things Go, Mary Poppins Returns
Shallow, A Star is Born
When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Winner: Shallow, A Star is Born

The nominees for Best Production Design

Black Panther (Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart)
The Favourite (Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton)
First Man (Nathan Crowly and Kathy Lucas)
Mary Poppins Returns (John Myhre and Gordon Sim)
Roma (Eugenio Caballero and Barbara Enriquez)

Winner: Black Panther (Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart)

The nominees for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams, Vice
Marina De Tavira, Roma
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone, The Favouirte
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Winner: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

The nominees for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Adam Driver, BlackkKlansman
Sam Elliot, A Star is Born
Richard E Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me
Sam Rockwell, Vice

Winner: Mahershala Ali, Green Book

The nominees for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Glenn Close, The Wife
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Lady Gaga, A Star is Born
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Winner: Olivia Colman, The Favourite

The nominees for Best Actor in a Leading Role

Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Winner: Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody

The nominees for Best Picture

Black Panther
BlackkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice

Winner: The Favourite

I Hope will Win: Bohemian Rhapsody

So There you have it, my Oscars predictions for the Academy Awards 2019 … or the 91st Academy Awards if you want to be exact. I have updated this blog post with all the Oscar Winners in underlined and Italicised above. So, how many did I actually get right.

Correct Predictions - I got 15 / 24 Categories Correct...

The Oscars 2019 were shown live on pay-per-view TV and they take place on Sunday 24th February at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, California, United States.

If you have any comments on this years Oscars or the Oscar Winners themselves please leave them in the comments below.

The post Oscars Predictions – Who will win at the 91st Academy Awards appeared first on ShaneMcDonald.ie.

Top 10 Things to Do in Hong Kong

Shane McDonald — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 18:43:58 +0000

Top 10 Things to Do in Hong Kong

Hong Kong City Guide

I love Hong Kong. I have been there 5 times and every time I have learned something new about the city or tried a new experience there. There is a lot to do and there are many city guides out there but this is my guide to the things I like to experience in this amazing city – Hong Kong.

Getting To Hong Kong

Getting from Ireland/UK to Hong Kong is a bit of a trek. You can expect about 11-12 hours of a flight. This flight time maybe a bit more of you get routed more northerly or if your flight gets placed into a holding pattern while waiting to land.

There are many airlines which fly to Hong Kong direct. The ones I have used include Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. Other Airlines include Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Swiss amongst others.

I very much recommend spending a bit more and enjoying Premium Economy if available. You will be on the flight quite a while so being comfortable is important. I never do long-haul now without Premium Economy!

Hotels and Staying in Hong Kong

Hotels in Hong Kong are plentiful. Many are 5* luxury hotels which are expensive and plush. However, in the past, I have stayed in Ibis and Travelodge hotels which are basic but have all you need to rest during your visit to the city.

My default hotel in Hong Kong is the Novotel Century Hotel which is located near Wan Chai. This hotel is within walking distance of the ferry pier, has access to the Tram system (the Ding Ding) where you can travel to Central for all your major transport needs. The key feature of this hotel which I really enjoy is the amazing Asian Buffet Breakfast. There is also an enjoyable roof-top swimming pool which is a real treat as it is outdoor and you can hear the sounds of the city and watch the aircraft fly overhead at night. Rates at the Novotel Century Hotel start at around €110/£100 low season and about €170/£155 in High Season per night. You will sleep very well here and you will be well fed at breakfast!

My Top 10 things to do in Hong Kong are listed below but are not really in any preferred order. Therefore, I have placed a ‘MUST DO‘ beside any ones which you really should do on a visit to Hong Kong.

1) Victoria Peak

This is a Must Do attraction on a visit to Hong Kong.

Victoria Peak is a hill overlooking Hong Kong. It is over 550m high, approx 1,800ft. You may also hear this area referred to as ‘The Peak’. This is one of the major tourist attractions in Hong Kong and you have a number of ways to get up here. You can take the Peak Tram which glides up the steep incline, you can take a taxi or bus, or if you feel very energetic you could walk (not recommended).

The Peak Tram is the best way to get here but be warned, queues could be anything up to 90 minutes in peak season.

It is worth coming here during the day just before sunset to see the view. Then, go get some food in one of the many restaurants. After night falls you have a different nighttime view of Hong Kong. It is a stunning view of an amazing city.

2) Tsim Sha Tsui

Tsim Sha Tsui is mainly known as being a shopping and nightlife district. The reason I include it is because there is so much to see an do along here. Some of the attractions below will require you to come back to this area of Hong Kong. You can get here by ferry if you are on the other side of the bay and it is very cheap, under €1 per trip to do so.

Really this is worthing coming to as an exploration. Visit the Harbour City shopping centre, big enough to suit most shoppers, or take a walk along Nathan Road where you will see major brand names including Canon, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and more. There are also lots of great local eateries in this area, so a good spot for lunch.

3) Symphony of Lights

This is a Must Do attraction on a visit to Hong Kong.

Normally Victoria Harbour looks wonderful at night, with the many skyscrapers lit up. However, the Symphony of Lights is a multimedia show which sets the harbour ablaze every night. This is one of the world’s most spectacular light shows. The Symphony of Lights has become one of the signature icons for Hong Kong as the buildings and skyscrapers on both sides of the harbour create a visual and sensational multimedia extravaganza.

There are searchlights, lasers, LED screens and lighting working in synchronicity in a nightly showcase which makes the Hong Kong skyline into an experience for the senses. Music is played but in certain areas cannot be heard, but you can get an app which you can use when watching the Symphony of Lights so you can enjoy the music during the light show.

4) The Star Ferry & Ding Ding

Transport in Hong Kong is very good. The MTR is the underground and operates an amazing service which is normally to-the-second. Purchase an MTR Octopus card for the easiest way to get around the underground network.

If you want something more traditional, the Star Ferry runs between points of the harbour. The average cost of a return trip on the ferry is about €0.70c which is amazing value. It is a great way to see the city in a relaxed fashion. If you visit Hong Kong you should really do this at least once.

The Ding Ding is the Hong Kong Tram service. It is a tram so you only get it on the streets where you see the tram lines. It’s a very simple service. Get on at the back and disembark at the front where you also pay your fare which is around €0.30c ($2.70HKD). Again, this is a wonderfully traditional way to see the streets of Hong Kong.

5) Ngong Ping – Tian Tan Buddha

This is a Must Do attraction on a visit to Hong Kong.

The Big Buddha is the common name for the Tian Tan Buddha. This large bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni was completed in 1993 and is located at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. You will find many tour operators who do tours to this location however you will find that your day is very much scheduled to their plans and you really don’t get a chance to explore. You can get to the Ngong Ping 360 terminus from the Central station via the MTR.

The Ngong Ping 360 experience starts with a cable car ride to the location. You can also get glass-bottomed cable cars if you are brave enough to look downwards. As you come across the hills you can see the buddha in the distance. It is an amazing sight. The statue itself is 34m/112ft and you have to climb 268 steps to reach the Buddha.

Once at the village you can enjoy tea ceremonies, visit Dim Sum houses, take a guided nature trail and visit the big buddha itself. There is a museum inside or you can explore the surrounding area. You should also visit the Po Lin Monastery while you are here.

The Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha are open to the public between 10 am and 5:30 pm.

6) Kowloon Park

One of the things Hong Kong has a lot of is parks. Kowloon Park has to be my favourite. It was formerly a British Army barracks which was redeveloped in the early 70s. These days the park is about 3 times the size it was back then at about 33 acres. Kowloon Park has everything from duck ponds and aviaries to sports centres and a swimming pool complex.

Why include Kowloon Park in a Top things to do in Hong Kong … It seems strange to include a park as a thing to do in such a huge city.
Well, from time to time in a busy city you might just want to get away from it all and take some (relatively) quiet time. The green areas, birds etc. certainly bring a sense of calm in a very busy city. You will also see in the early morning, people doing Tai Chi, Fan Dancing and even performing Cantonese Opera. I saw some amazing examples of positive ageing when I was there last when I saw 3 gentlemen probably in their late 70s / early 80s doing pull-ups in the park and they then went on to demonstrate to their friends some examples of kung-fu moves – amazing stuff. I thought that I had been lucky to see these men doing Kung-Fu, but many others have reported this on TripAdvisor!

7) Temple Street Night Market

This is a famous market in Hong Kong. Once the evening comes traders lay out their wares and await the thousands who visit this area. The Temple Street Night Market has a wonderful atmosphere with everything from teaware, gadgets, electronics and watches to menswear, antiques and leather goods. The surrounding streets are buzzing with the sound of restaurants serving the very best in street food. Many movies have used this area as a backdrop.

If you want to get to Temple Street Night Market take the MTR to Yau Ma Tei Station, Exit C, turn onto Temple Street at Man Ming Lane or you can take the MTR to MTR Jordan Station using Exit A and turn right onto Jordan Road and then take another right onto Temple Street. (You may need Google Maps as I chose MTR Jordan and ended up traveling the wrong direction from the exit).

8) Chi Lin Nunnery

I visited the Chi Lin Nunnery in 2013 and it is a bit of a hidden gem in Hong Kong. The Chi Lin Nunnery is a large Buddhist temple complex located in Diamond Hill, Kowloon, Hong Kong.Founded in 1934 the Chi Lin Nunnery was a retreat for Buddhist nuns. There are statues of gold and wood all around the area of the main halls and the majority of these temple halls as well as the beautiful Chinese garden in front of the nunnery are open to the public daily, all free of charge.

While you are here you should also visit the Nan Lian Garden which is located opposite the Chi Lin Nunnery.

9) Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple

The Wong Tai Sin Temple is the first Temple I ever visited in Hong Kong back in 2002. It is a Taoist temple dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong, and is a famous shrine for those requesting prayers to be answered.

The temple has it’s roots in the early 1900s and the temple itself was only opened to the public in 1956. At that time there was a 10c admission fee. Today the temple is free to walk around and even in early January the crowds throng this area as from 1 to 15 January, whose who had prayers answers return to thank the immortal.

It is a wonderful way to observe and take in the spirit of Hong Kong as people use incense and ask Wong to answer their prayers.

10) Avenue of the Stars

This area along the waterfront celebrates Hong Kong’s movie industry. The Avenue of Stars pays tribute to the many names and actors who helped to make Hong Kong the ‘Hollywood of the East’.

There are many statues along the route with stars like Bruce Lee being a very popular selfie and photo spot.

This area is very popular during the Symphony of Lights extravaganza.

Hong Kong is an amazing destination and I am going to re-edit this post and make it the Top 15 and maybe the Top 20 things to do in Hong Kong. The more I write about Hong Kong the more great places I recall. So please come back and revisit for future edits. I plan on adding a map of all these Hong Kong locations in a future edit also.

If you like this post don’t forget to share it using the social media share buttons provided or even leave a comment…

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Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route, Ireland’s West Coast

Shane McDonald — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 16:47:05 +0000

Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route

The Wild Atlantic Way is a designated section of the West coast of Ireland. Its tagline is that you can ‘Explore 9 counties along this unforgettable coastal touring route to enjoy breathtaking scenery and exceptional experiences.’ I first travelled this part of Ireland around 1984, when we drove from Waterford, through Cork, Kerry, Clare and into Galway before heading home east via Dublin. I remember areas like Scull, Garnish Island, the Tarbert Ferry and the amazing Cliffs of Moher. This post outlines a decent Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route which takes in some of the key areas and sights in the area. This is also a driving route which I have recently done myself in November 2017.

This Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route will bring you from Kenmare to Doolin (or vice versa). The drive, according to Google Maps would take you around 6h 15 minutes but in reality, with Irish roads, it will be more than that. Don’t forget you will want to stop off and see these places. With this in mind, I suggest stopping overnight somewhere of your choosing along the way. You are quite close to Adare and also Limerick if you feel like venturing off-route momentarily for hotels.

Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route from Doolin – Top 10 places to see

I’m going to presume that you are starting in Doolin, Co. Clare and driving south. If you are starting my Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route in Kerry then just reverse these instructions and start in Kenmare. The Top 10 places to see and do will be outlined below as headings, working from Doolin south.

The Cliffs of Moher

I first saw the cliffs of moher when I was 10 and I can recall a big field where everyone parked and a basic café with a castle nearby. Things have really changed. Now the cliffs of moher has a proper car park and a full experiential interpretive centre. If you have the time you should walk a section of the cliff top route. It is breathtaking. There is a charge for parking here.

Spanish Point

This is a very scenic area, often overlooked. It is on the way between the two endpoints on this journey and great as a stopping off point to stretch the legs and enjoy the view of the wild Atlantic. We stopped at a local hotel, got tea and used that as a base / car park to wander the local routes for an hour or so.

Kilkee

This was a new one on me. I only discovered it in 2017. There are cliffs near the golf course with parking nearby and it is worth parking and taking a walk down to the sea shore. You get a great view of the sea and cliffs from here. Following on from here you can, if you wish, go straight on and visit Loop Head and the Bridges of Ross.

The Tarbert Ferry

This ferry will bring you across the River Shannon at one of the widest points. The Journey takes around 25 minutes and gives you great views of the river and the surrounding countryside. The Tarbert Ferry is a paid for service and costs around €19 per car. There is a 10% discount if you buy the Tarbert Ferry ticket online.

Ballybunion

Ballybunion is a beautiful coastal town and seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland. It’s 15 km off-route from the town of Listowel. If you are a golfer, bring your clubs as there is a very good links course here.

Tralee

I was here many times in the 80s and it is most famous for the Rose of Tralee festival which takes place every August. The town goes into really party mode for this event. Note, if you intend getting a hotel in Tralee during the festival it is best to book ahead as availability can be tight and prices can be out of the ordinary.

Dingle

This town is famous for one very special visitor and that is Fungi and dolphin. If you have the time you might take a boat trip and you could get to see him as he leaps from the water. I was there in 1992 and we went on a wetsuit swum where you could meet the dolphin but it was so cold that we ended up going in as far as our knees. Apparently, he was feet in front of me but I couldn’t see him. Anyway, it’s a lovely town and worth seeing.

Inch

The key feature of Inch is Inch Beach. This is an impressive three mile stretch of sandy beach, ideal for bathing, surfing and many other water sports.

Killarney National Park & the Ring of Kerry

The area around Killarney National Park and the Killarney Lakes is some of Ireland’s most iconic and spectacular scenery. There is also the Ring of Kerry which, if you have time, you could also do as it forms a looped drive. Most hotels in the area have maps of the various areas you can visit on the Ring of Kerry.

Kenmare

This is a lovely little town with many areas around to walk and explore. If you are staying here for any length of time I recommend eating at the restaurant No. 35. This amazing restaurant sources local ingredient and creates dishes which are homely in taste but with an unusual twist. I eat here every time I visit Kenmare. The best food I have tried in that region of Ireland.

Just a note regarding driving these roads, if you go off-road, i.e. down to a remote viewing point etc, you might find that the roads are not the best maintained. Some of the roads have bad potholes and soft margins so make sure you have decent tyres on the car and you know that your vehicle can make it on the terrain required. It’s worth ensuring your insurance covers for emergency callouts and things like windscreen protection. If you are looking for good insurance and a comparison of policies the Chill Insurance website has a good tool which might help you.

I hope you have enjoyed my Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route along Ireland’s West Coast. It is a route I have done many times in different directions. I love stopping at the smaller towns as well as visiting abandoned areas of the coast. Next up, I might try write a post for driving routes on Ireland’s Ancient East.

Map

I hope you enjoy your journey on this Wild Atlantic Way Driving Route.
You can Follow the various accounts Wild Atlantic Way Tweets and Social Media posts
with the hashtag #WILDATLANTICWAY

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Dog Friendly Hotels along Englands South Coast

Shane McDonald — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 09:38:21 +0000

If you own a dog then you will understand that traveling with a dog can have its own challenges. The main one being can I find dog-friendly hotels in that area which is actually a dog friendly hotel and not just dog tolerant hotel (which we had experience of on the Isle of Wight at a hotel in Sandown).

My Experience of Dog Friendly Hotels in the UK

Having recently been together UK with a dog, it seems the UK is far ahead of Ireland in this respect. Bars and Restaurants are very dog friendly, and you can bring your dog inside, unlike Ireland where you have to sit outside in the cold.

Hotels were just as accommodating. Searching on Booking.com allowed you to select a ‘Pets Welcome’ option. This showed all hotels who allowed pets inside. Next, if you read the reviews you can isolate hotels were past reviews mention excellent dog friendly experiences at that hotel.

This blog post outlines some of the best dog friendly hotels along the south coast of the UK.

The Clock House B&B, Marnhull, Dorset

When looking for Dog Friendly Hotels in Dorset via Booking.com I came across a B&B called the Clock House which had one of the highest satisfaction ratings I had seen. Many of which were from dog owners.

Seeing testimonials and reviews like this is very reassuring – so we booked the Clock House B&B by phone and it was amazing. The B&B is located in Marnhull in Dorset located on the River Stour 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the small town of Sturminster Newton. There are Lovely surroundings in Marnhull with lots of walks, ideal if like me you like photography!

More like a Hotel than a B&B

It is the most wonderful B&B I have ever been in. More like a hotel than B&B.

When we arrived we had an Amazing welcome and we were treated to Tea on the terrace. We were then shown to our beautifully appointed room which had doors to the terrace and garden area. This was ideal for the dog friendly nature, as when nature calls you just have to open the doors of your patio for your pooch and you don’t disturb any other guests. The room also had a Fantastic shower and bathroom with great products and fluffy towels. You are guaranteed the best ever sleep here. The beds are so comfortable!

Breakfast at the clock House is an experience, just continental breakfast but it was more than enough for us. Plenty of fresh fruit, muesli, toast and lovely boiled eggs – the perfect setup for a perfect day exploring Dorset. The service is 10/10.

The Clock House is an amazing property with amazing staff. It is a very dog friendly hotel!
Thanks to Chris, Mella and Julie and of course the canine watchdogs Ben and Tizzy for a Wonderful and memorable stay.

Clock House B&B Marnhull – Booking Information

Address: Burton Street, Marnhull, DT10 1PH, United Kingdom

Booking Link- Click Here

Oscars Lodge Hotel, Torquay, Devon

When researching Dog-Friendly Hotels to stay in Torquay in Devon, we came across one particular hotel which seemed to have a wow factor when it came to dog friendliness. Again, great reviews on Booking.com in regards to dog friendliness so Oscars Lodge B&B was the one we booked.

It ticked all the boxes we were looking for: a good value, dog friendly hotel in a good location in Torquay with free parking, what more could you want. The location was only 10 minutes walk from the promenade at Torquay.

On arrival, we were greeted by Amy and Richard, the young couple who run Oscars Lodge. They were so friendly and also so kind to our 15-year-old Springer Frieda. On arrival, there were chocolates on the bed for us and doggie treats for Frieda (which she quickly became accustomed to)…. such a nice touch.

The room was beautifully decorated with a Chanel / Breakfast at Tiffany’s style. The bed was so comfortable and a good nights sleep was guaranteed. The WiFi was perfect and this is something which some major hotels can’t get right. Tea and coffee facilities were available and in plentiful supply.

Amy and Richard could not do enough for us. It was the perfect stay.
This is another dog friendly hotel we really look forward to returning as soon as we can.

Hotel Booking Information

Address: 56 Belgrave Road, Torquay, TQ2 5HY, United Kingdom

Booking Link

The Royal Hotel, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Dog Friendly Hotels are probably best run by owners who have dogs. The Royal Hotel is run by a lovely man called Eddie and a greyhound called Boris is also on reception to welcome guests. The hotel is situated in a quiet area of the town and is on the sea front only minutes from the pier. This location is ideal for walking your dog, however, during the summer, the beach is not dog friendly.

The rooms at the Royal are really well appointed and very comfortable. The bathrooms are clean with excellent showers. Breakfast at the Royal is simple but so good. Eddie has homemade muesli, yogurt and a coffee which will get you started for the day. The only thing to be aware of is that the parking in Eastbourne is ticketed. The Royal Hotel provides you with a ticket for the day / duration of your stay… All you need to do is find a car park space.

It is an extremely dog-friendly hotel. We were told that there are many regulars who always book the same rooms because their dogs really like that hotel room.

If you want to enjoy this area of East Sussex with your dog, then a stay at the Royal is highly recommended!

Note, If you are booking, book on the hotels official website for the best rates. Probably best to give Eddie a call and check the availability.

Hotel Booking Information

Address: The Royal Hotel, 8-9 Marine Parade, Eastbourne BN21 3DX, UK

Booking Link

Locations of these 3 Dog Friendly Hotels along the south coast of the UK

Oscars Lodge Torquay

Clock House B&B Marnhull, UK

The Royal Hotel, Eastbourne, UK

This website is not responsible for 3rd party websites linked from this page. Information was correct at time of publication of this blog post “Dog Friendly Hotels along Englands South Coast”. This Review of Hotels and B&Bs is not sponsored and this is a review based on my opinion of my visit.

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Christopher Robin & Pooh Bear Movie Review

Shane McDonald — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 12:59:46 +0000

I think everyone grew up with the cuddly character of Pooh Bear. This Pudgy looking bear loved honey, hated Heffalumps and had spelling as good as lolcats. Over the past few years, there have been a few movies about Pooh Bear, the most recent being Goodbye Christopher Robin. This new movie is the only one which I have actually gone to see at the cinema. I can tell you that at the 8 pm showing at the Odeon, Christopher Robin had 100% of the audience over the age of 18.

Christopher Robin the Movie

The basic storyline is that Christopher Robin has grown up, been to the war and is now working in a briefcase company. He has forgotten all about his time in the Hundred Acre Wood with Pooh Bear and his friends. The start of the film brings you on a whistle-stop tour of the memories he and Pooh Bear have. This shows everything from his tea parties in the woods to him leaving for school and later the war, finally ending up in a high profile yet soul-crushing job.

He promises his family that he would go to the countryside this weekend but Christopher’s manager insists he works. His family are not pleased and go alone, Christopher Robin is left to contemplate the conflict between family and work. During a moment of stress in the local park, he utters the words ‘what to do, what to do’ and then hears ‘what to do indeed’ from Pooh Bear, voiced by the excellent Jim Cummings. Christopher cannot believe this is real and from here he has to accept that Pooh has come back, ultimately to save him.

Christopher Robin, played by Ewan McGregor and his wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) are not seeing eye to eye over his time spent at work. His daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) is not seeing her father much these days and both of these relationships are in the balance. His wife has said she cannot remember the last time he smiled and his dealings with his daughter are very matter-a-fact.

Pooh Bear causes a bit of havoc in Christopher house as he tries climbing shelves and steps in lots of honey. The comedic values in the film are very well balanced with the sombre and serious discussions of work-life balance, a topic valid in today’s society.

There are some fantastic scenes in this movie, I’m not going to spoil them, but they are very nicely done indeed. It really is a feel-good movie, probably one of the best I have seen. The Movie Reviewer Mark Kermode says, if you laugh 6 times during a movie, it is a comedy. I can tell you I laughed 6 times in the first 15 minutes of this movie and a lot more after that.

If you have not seen Christopher Robin then please do – you will feel great when leaving the cinema. The trailer is below if you have not seen it.

Christopher Robin is Feel Good Movie Excellence at its Best!

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Delicious homemade pizza recipe

Shane McDonald — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 11:25:01 +0000

My delicious Pizza Recipe

If you are looking for a tasty meal or snack to share then you can’t go too far wrong with a homemade pizza. This is my own homemade pizza recipe. It includes a pizza base recipe and a pizza sauce recipe.

I have followed recipes online and from time to time they don’t actually work out. However, with this recipe, I can guarantee the pizza recipe here does work. This is one recipe which I have made a few times now and it just improves each time I make it.

There are 4 stages to this pizza recipe. The pizza dough, the pizza topping and the pizza assembly…. and of course actually baking the pizza.

The Pizza dough

(this pizza recipe makes one 12 inch pizza, thin base. If you want thicker or if you want 2 thin pizzas you need to double the quantities.)

You will need the following to make the pizza dough:

150g flour.
120ml warm water
Teaspoon of oil
Half teaspoon sugar & a bit less same for salt
Just over 1/2 teaspoon dry active yeast
(If you use quick yeast you may need to play around with the quantities)

Pizza Base method

Mix the warm water (1/3 almost boiling mixed with 2/3 cold) and the yeast and the sugar. Give this a good mix around with a fork for 30 seconds. Leave to rest for 5-10 mins until it looks frothy.

In another bowl sieve the flour and salt and then add a drop of oil as per the ingredients.

Once the yeast mix is ready make a well and pour into. Don’t put all the water in as you might have enough in 110 or 115 ml. Mix together with a fork. When it looks like it is coming together, form a ball and place on a surface with some flour. Now you need to knead and stretch it for 10 mins. Once this pizza dough mix has been kneaded put in an oiled bowl for 45 – 60 minutes covered with a damp clean cloth or cling film.

This should double in size during that time.

Pizza recipe – The topping sauce

This pizza topping sauce is my own recipe. It was developed out of necessity as I had none to-hand, but I had tomatoes. If you already have one store bought you can skip this. However, the flavour from a home made sauce is phenomenal.

You need the following ingredients:

15-20 cherry tomatoes or 2-3

Large tomatoes

Pinch of salt

Black Pepper

Half clove of crushed garlic (optional)

1 tsp Spinach pesto (optional)

1 tbsp of Rojo sauce (optional)

Cheese

Mushrooms

(Any other toppings eg spinach, sweet corn etc)

Chop the tomatoes as small as you can without being blended mush. They should still have some consistency. Heat a pan on a medium to high heat with a drop of olive oil. Once hot place the tomatoes on the pan with the pinch of salt and some freshly cracked pepper and fry for a few mins. Reduce the heat and add the pesto and Rojo sauce. After 10 mins you should be able to break up the tomatoes further. Once in a sauce consistency place in a bowl and let cool in the fridge.

Assembling the pizza

Once the pizza base has doubled punch it back and knock out the air. Place on a floured surface and start rolling into a circular shape. Flour a pizza pan and place the dough on it. Leave in a warm place for 10-15 mins.

Heat an oven to 210C (fan) or 230 C (without fan).

Once rested and the tomato sauce is cooled you can progress. Spread the prepared sauce on the base ensuring to cover all the areas. Now add your toppings.

If the oven is at temperature place the pizza into the oven in the middle. Cook for 9-12 minutes (keep an eye). You should now have a delicious homemade pizza. Use a pizza slicer and enjoy.

The Result – The cooked Pizza

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My Top 3 Pub Hotels in England

Shane McDonald — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 18:36:14 +0000

My Top 3 Pub Hotels in England

England is one of my favourite destinations for a relaxing holiday and it’s only a ferry ride from Ireland. The first time I visited the UK for a long road trip style holiday was for Glastonbury 2013. On that occasion visiting southern Wales, Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall. Since 2013 I have been back 3 times; again with music festivals as the main reason Glastonbury 2015, Glastonbury 2016 and Ramblin’ Man Fair 2017. Normally accommodation is in hotels, mainly 4 star or hotels like Premier Inn. From time to time you get a surprise – a small hotel which surpasses all expectations… I speak of the many Pub Hotels in England which many travellers may overlook.

This blog post outlines my Top 3 Pub Hotels in England … (basically, hotels which are situated above pubs)

These are listed my top Pub Hotels in England in no particular order as it depends on your location if you will avail of them. These are my opinions of my stays in these 3 establishments.

The George at Nunney

The George at Nunney is a beautiful 17th century coaching Inn. It is located in the picturesque village of Nunney, near Frome in Somerset. Nunney is a village voted “the prettiest village in England” located near Frome, Somerset. The village has the ruins of Nunney Castle and one of the main establishments in Nunney is The George.

The George was one we found in 2013 and we have been back a few times since. The food is excellent and combined with the cosy rooms and friendly service it is certainly a great place to stay. The lounge, restaurant and 10 bedrooms have all been recently renovated so it has a really contemporary feel. There is also an outdoor area, ideal to enjoy some alfresco eating or drinking should we get a summer. There are plenty of walks around the area so there is always something to do. The breakfasts here are really good and you will leave full, rested and happy.

Website: http://www.thegeorgeatnunney.co.uk

Twitter: @GeorgeNunney

Instagram: @george_nunney

The White Hart, Somerton

The White Hart in Somerton was a real find. Located in a beautiful village called Somerton it seems like going back in time to a simpler age. Somerton is a small town in the English county of Somerset. It has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages, and the main square with its market cross is one of the main attractions in the town. Located near this square is the White Hart Pub and Hotel.

The White Hart has been trading as a pub since the 16th Century. It was recently renovated in 2013 so it has all the features you would need. The meal we got here at the White Hart was amazing and it remains one of my favourite spots in Somerset. We enjoyed a quinoa chicken dish and a very signature style pasta dish.

The White Hart offers a spacious bar, fantastic food, relaxing dining area and of course eight en-suite rooms. The rooms have really well-appointed bathrooms, and you will be guaranteed a great nights sleep. On sunny days there’s also the opportunity to enjoy your food and drink outside in the courtyard and garden.

Another great plus with the White Hart is that it is pet-friendly. Dogs are welcome in all rooms at the White Hart, just at an extra charge of £10 per dog.

Website: http://whitehartsomerton.com

Twitter: @WhiteHartSom

The Dog and Bear, Lenham

The Dog and Bear is located in a small village in Kent called Lenham. It overlooks the picturesque village square and has a wonderful warmth both in the bar and in the staff who work here. We visited here in 2017 and it was a very special spot. We enjoyed the room with the four-poster and it was very comfortable – check out the website for room images. The bathrooms were very big with a very nice bath, ideal for soaking sore bones if you have just walked the nearby Pilgrims Way.

Rooms are furnished to the highest standards but you do get the feeling that it is a historic building. Apparently, the Dog and Bear was originally built in 1602 and the hotel was visited by Queen Anne in 1704. If you look closely you can see that a coat of arms to Queen Anne is displayed above the door.

The food here was superb. I recall a fish dish with hints of star anise and also a key-lime pie which was amazing. I could have eaten the meal twice it was so good. Afterwards, visit the bar, we enjoyed some pool, darts and meeting the locals including Laura and her lovely dog Rocky.

It is a very special spot at the Dog and Bear and one we hope to visit again.

Website : https://www.dogandbearlenham.co.uk

In all three pub hotels mentioned above the room, the food, the staff, the location and the ambience have all combined really well. This results in a stay which is both enjoyable and indeed memorable. Infact, we are re-visiting the George at Nunney again in the coming weeks and who knows this list might be added to in time.

I hope you have enjoyed this list of my Top 3 Pub Hotels in England. If you have any comments about Pub Hotels in England or the ones I have mentioned, please feel free to leave them below. If you like this post, please share it via social media.

Map of the 3 Pub Hotels mentioned in this post

The George at Nunney

The White Hart, Somerton

The Dog and Bear, Lenham

Disclaimer : This Hotel Review is not sponsored. I have not been compensated in any way for the comments, links or inclusion of any properties mentioned in this post. I visited all 3 hotel pubs in the past 3 years and I felt it was important to share such great hotels with others. The information in this blog post on shanemcdonald.ie is correct at time of publication and I advise researching your stay on other channels such as booking.com and Tripadvisor before making a booking. What suited me, may not suit others. I can guarantee that I was very very happy with all 3 pub hotels mentioned above. If you have any comments regarding Pub Hotels in England please leave them below.

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Support Solas Cancer Care Waterford – Film for Life 2018

Shane McDonald — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 14:00:21 +0000

Film for Life 2018

Film for Life is in it’s second year. This year, I decided to give it a go; not in the area of photography (being the camera) rather as an actor. Over the past 6 weeks rehearsing and filming, I have been involved in acting out a scene from a famous movie.

This years movie is The Hangover and I play Phil, the Bradley Cooper character.

Over a 6-week training programme we were tutored by a professional actor. And at the end of May we shot a few scenes from The Hangover. The Film for Life premiere will take place at a red carpet themed event in the Tower Hotel, Waterford on Saturday 16th June. The inaugural 2017 Film for Life event was great fun and seemed to be enjoyed by all who took part.

Tickets for Film for Life 2018 has now passed and is over – but check out the Solas Cancer Care website for details of the next events This exciting Film for Life event helped to fund the activities and services that will be provided by the Solas Cancer Support Centre in 2018.

I have really enjoyed bring involved and I hope you can support my sponsorship to raise funds for Solas Cancer Care – click here for details.

About Solas Cancer Care, Waterford

Support my "Film for Life" Fundraising event

If you wish to donate to my “Film for Life” fundraising event please click the button below. Any amount will make a difference and I appreciate all donations to this worth cause.

Everyone who supports the event will be mentioned later on shanemcdonald.ie !

DONATE NOW

Total € Donations So Far including Offline Contributions

Thank You …

I would like to thank the following people and businesses who have donated so far.

Maria McEvoy

Vera McEvoy

John & Caroline Duggan / Hawkeye Falconry

Greg Porter

Fergus McDonald

Mary Murphy

Sarah McGrath

Kay Murphy

Maria McDonald

Karen McDonald

Elaine O’Sullivan

Carol McGrath

Brian Kavanagh

Valerie Leahy

I will add the names of individuals and businesses here as donations are received

The post Support Solas Cancer Care Waterford – Film for Life 2018 appeared first on ShaneMcDonald.ie.

Lunch at The Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford – Restaurant Review

Shane McDonald — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 11:00:38 +0000

The Bay Tree Bistro

The Bay Tree Bistro opened in Waterford in 2015. Within a few months I was hearing about this amazing restaurant above a pub in Ballybricken. The restaurant later moved to the quays in Waterford and it has established itself as ‘the’ place in Waterford for fantastic food. In fact the Bay Tree Bistro was voted the Best Restaurant in Waterford 2018 by the Restaurant Association of Ireland.

I have eaten in the main restaurant upstairs and I can guarantee that it is a full-on dining experience. The tastes and combinations of ingredients are sublime. I will review this very soon when I return…

Earlier this year the Bay Tree Bistro started doing a lunch menu. The menu is served downstairs and is very different from the usual lunch menus. I spotted a few dishes I wanted to try and on one particular day I found myself being nearby and I just had to try it.

Lunch – Croque Madame

One of my favourite snacks / comfort foods is the croquet madame. You have bread, cheese, ham and a soft fried egg. What’s not to like? To my surprise and delight the croquet madame at the Bay Tree had 2 fried eggs. I was hoping to have the duck eggs, which are a small bit extra, but there were none on the day. The 2 eggs which were there were indeed delicious and perfectly cooked.

The red cabbage slaw which accompanies the dish is a perfect contrast to the croque – I also found that the raisins in the slaw were an unexpected taste sensation. There was also a delicious fresh side salad. The salad had cucumber, tomato, onion, spring onion, and leaves have a dressing which is fresh and contrasts with the heartiness of the egg, cheese and bread.

The relaxed atmosphere and nice music was a relaxing setting to enjoy a lunch at leisure. There was a lot on the menu which I would like to try on a repeat visit. The specials of the day were very nice also, one was an asian pork noodle dish. I later saw photos on twitter and that might be one for a return lunch.

If you are in Waterford and you don’t want the usual boring ham sandwich for lunch, then try the Bay Tree Bistro.

The Lunch Menu

The Lunch Menu on the day I visited the Bay Tree Bistro was as follows;

SALADS

Warm Thai Chicken

Waldorf Salad

Tuna or Chicken Nicoise

Mediterranean Vegetable and Feta Cheese

Add Homemade Chips

SANDWICHES

Croque Monsieur
Croque Madame

With Hen Egg or Duck Egg
Tuna Melt Ploughman’s Vegetarian Ploughman’s

Chicken, Sundried Tomato and Smoked Cheese

Roasted Vegetable, Tomato and Mozzarella

SAVOURIES

Pork and Caramelized Onion Sausage Roll Quiche of The Day

Soups, chowders and cheese boards were also available and are very reasonably priced.

There are a few options on the menu I would love to try, including the sausage roll, the ploughmans, and the warm thai chicken. There is something for everyone on the menu and you won’t be disappointed – portion size is just right!

Bay Tree Bistro – Contact Details

Website : http://www.thebaytreebistro.com
Twitter : https://twitter.com/baytreebistro
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/thebaytreebistro
Phone : 051 858517

Bay Tree Bistro – Map Location

Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford, Ireland

Bay Tree Bistro

16 Merchants Quay, Waterford, Ireland

Website : http://www.thebaytreebistro.com

Restaurant Detail Update – November 22nd 2018

I have just seen on TripAdvisor that the Bay Tree Bistro is now closed. I passed the establishment a few nights ago and just thought they were closed on that evening. I hope that the Bay Tree Bistro will reopen soon as I truly enjoyed the food at this great restaurant.

The post Lunch at The Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford – Restaurant Review appeared first on ShaneMcDonald.ie.

My Butternut Squash Massaman Curry Recipe

Shane McDonald — Tue, 22 May 2018 09:38:51 +0000

There is nothing more delicious or satisfying then a lovely home made curry. Cooking something from scratch allows you to customise the recipe to your taste. By cooking from scratch you also know what has gone into your food. Using a set of prepped ingredients you can get this delicious Massaman Curry Recipe from chopping board to plate in under 90 minutes. This Massaman Curry Recipe is vegan but you could add chicken or meat if you wished.

Massaman Curry Recipe – Ingredients

SPICES
1 tsp of Garam Masala
1 tsp of Cumin
1 tsp of Tumeric
2 tsp of mild curry powder
1 tsp of smoked paprika
Pinch of salt
Pinch of Black Pepper

OTHER ITEMS
2 tsp of oil (I used rapeseed oil but Olive oil can be used also)
1 Garlic clove minced
1 large onion finely chopped
1 inch of fresh root ginger grated and peeled
Can of chopped tomatoes or 450g of chopped tomatoes
Can of Coconut Milk
1 Butternut Squash (you will only use half of the squash, peeled and chopped into 2cm pieces)
100g of baby spinach leaves
3 large potatoes, cut into eights
1 vegetable or mushroom stock cube
10-15 large button or chestnut mushrooms (optional)
Handful of Cashew Nuts (toasted)

This is my own Massaman Curry Recipe and it is a mixture of a few different recipes which I have cooked. This always works well for me. Apart from the first 25 minutes of cooking the rest of the cooking time requires little work on your part.

Recipe Method

In a pan, heat the oil on medium heat and cook the onion and ginger until it begins to soften. Then add the garlic and stir so the garlic does not burn.
On another pan fry and caramelise the butternut squash on medium heat for about 15 minutes until you start to see colour and the veg begins to soften a little.
Place the chopped potatoes into boiling water and par-boil while the butternut squash is cooking in step 2.
Make a paste with all the spices using a drop of warm water
Once you have been cooking the onion for a few minutes add the spice paste to the onion, garlic and ginger mix.
Cook off the spices for a few minutes and then add the chopped tomato and the caramelised butternut squash. Mix to coat the added ingredients.
After a few minutes add the coconut milk and the par-boiled potatoes
Mix the stock cube with 250ml of boiling water and add to the ingredients.
Simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking to the pan.
Taste the sauce at this point and if you wish to add more elements from the set of spices used then feel free to do so. e.g. if there is not enough of a kick, add a few dashes of chilli powder or even a whole finely chopped chilli with the seeds. This is your opportunity to customise the flavour of the curry.
Meanwhile, toast some cashew nuts lightly under the grill and ensure to toast both sides. You can also add some sesame seeds to the toasting mix also if you wish.
Reduce the heat and on low heat (3/9 on my cooker) leave to cook slowly for another 40 minutes until the sauce has thickened. If it has not thickened to your liking, you can increase the heat for a few minutes and this should do the trick.
Once you are ready to serve, blanche the baby spinach in boiling water dry and place on the plate. Serve the curry on the bed of warmed spinach leaves (they will cook slightly in the heat also), top with the toasted nuts.
Enjoy!

Suggested Accompaniment for this Massaman Curry Recipe

One thing which goes really well with this Massaman Curry Recipe is Chapati. These Chapati, known also as roti, safati, shabaati and roshi, are unleavened flatbread. They come mainly from the Indian Subcontinent but are really similar to other middle-eastern and asian flatbreads.

To make you need around 1 cup of flour, preferably chapati flour. (I don’t have this so I use half bread flour and half plain flour.)
Now add a good pinch of salt and 1/3 cup of warm water (added slowly). You need to get a non-sticky dough. So keep working the dough until you have a wetish dough which is not sticking to your hands.

Flour the surface and roll 2-3 inch pieces into very thin sheets. At this point, you can add some crushed fennel seeds to taste (i like this).

On a medium hot pan, place the rolled dough onto the pan and press down. Once it starts to colour or small humps form, turn over. It might swell with air and puff up, if it does, just press it down with a spatula until it is slightly coloured and warmed on both sides.

You may need to experiment on temperatures but you will soon get the perfect thickness of dough and the perfect temperature for a delicious chapati.

The post My Butternut Squash Massaman Curry Recipe appeared first on ShaneMcDonald.ie.

The most people applying sunscreen World Record Attempt

Shane McDonald — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 08:01:13 +0000

Sunscreen World Record Attempt – Waterford, 4th May 2018

With the weather getting warmer and sunnier we all need to be aware of the risks of UV rays. After a long winter, people will jump at any chance to get a bit of sun. There are a lot more cases of skin cancer these days. You may not know this but, skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland and indeed the most preventable. Every year there are over 10,000 new cases are diagnosed in Ireland. With this in mind, there is a very novel way to get the message of sun-protection out there…. while raising funds for cancer support. There is a very unusual event taking place in Waterford, Ireland on Friday 4th May 2018. The Solas Cancer Support Centre is attempting to break a Guinness World Record. The record is for ‘The most people applying sunscreen’.

This Sunscreen World Record attempt was scheduled for July last year but the weather wen’t against the event. This rescheduled event is taking place in The People’s Park, Waterford on 4th May 2018 and participants will need to arrive at 10.30am.

Now, I was not aware that there was even a category for this. Apparently, there was already a World Record for ‘The most people applying sunscreen’. This was set in the USA in May 2014 by the Ann’s Hope Foundation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In that world record 1,822 participants were involved.

Hopefully there will be a good turnout for this Sunscreen World Record attempt. It would also get the Solas Centre and their great work into the news and on the map.

More Details on the Sunscreen World Record Attempt

For more details or to register to take part in this free event please go online to www.solascentre.ie . Once registered you will receive details about the Sunscreen World Record attempt. You must bring this confirmation email with you on the day.

Only pre-registered participants will be able to take part. Also, the Sunscreen World Record terms asks that participants must apply their own sun screen for 2 minutes. Therefore, any children taking part must be over 5 years of age.

Best of luck to all involved in the world record attempt on May 4th!

Sunscreen World Record Update May 2018

As it turns out the Sunscreen World Record for the most people applying sunscreen was indeed broken by the Solas Centre. All that remains is for the world record to be verified which should take a few weeks.

Well done to all involved !

Solas Centre Film for Life 2018

On another topic Film for Life is in it’s second year. And this year, I decided to give it a go. So I will be involved in acting out a scene from a famous movie.

Over a 6-week training programme we will be tutored by a professional actor. At some point in May we will act-out a scene from a famous film. The Premieres will take place at a red carpet themed event in the Tower Hotel, Waterford on Saturday 16th June. The inaugural 2017 Film for Life event was great fun and seemed to be enjoyed by all who took part.

This exciting Film for All event will help fund the activities and services that will be provided by the Solas Cancer Support Centre in 2018.

I am looking forward to being involved and I will post more about the event in the coming weeks on shanemcdonald.ie!

Support my "Film for Life" Fundraising event

If you wish to donate to my “Film for Life” fundraising event please click the button below. Any amount will make a difference and I appreciate all donations to this worth cause.

DONATE NOW

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The Hampton’s – Review, Luxury B&B accommodation, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Shane McDonald — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 19:59:08 +0000

The Hampton’s Kaikoura – Review

This is a B&B review of the Hampton’s Kaikoura – A luxury B&B in Kaikoura, New Zealand
Kaikoura was the first stop after visiting the very friendly city of Christchurch. We spotted The Hampton’s Kaikoura on the Booking.com app which is one of my first-calls when booking accommodation online. The pictures looked amazing and the reviews were very positive. It’s quite a drive from Christchurch to Kaikoura but it is worth it when you have good accommodation.

On arriving we met Patrick the owner and he showed us to our room. Wow…. When I saw the room and view on checking in I was blown away. Patrick brought us through the features of the room plus advised us on the route for the local peninsula walk (see below).

The Hampton’s Kaikoura overlooks the coastal front of Kaikoura village, and you have amazing sea views.

The room was amazingly comfortable with cable TV, free WiFi, tea and coffee making facilities plus fresh home-made cookies. The view as mentioned was amazing and there was a small terrace/veranda outside if you wanted to enjoy the sun. We were there in New Zealand’s winter, so that was not always an option.

The bathroom included a very nice power shower and was well appointed. There was also underfloor heating in the shower which was a very nice feature.

Kaikoura has so much to offer, and with the Hampton’s Kaikoura being so central, you are spoiled for choice. I recommend doing the Kaikoura peninsula walkway, where you can see a huge seal colony. There is also a very good tourist information centre in the middle of the town which has information on the many whale-watching excursions you can enjoy from Kaikoura.

If you are looking for somewhere to eat in Kaikoura I would certainly recommend The Whaler which is at 49 The West End and only a few minutes walk from the Hamptons. The fish and chips were excellent and we enjoyed watching the live Rugby League.

The breakfast at the Hamilton’s was delicious and more than enough for me. Overall a wonderful place to stay and worthy of such praise. Thank you again to our hosts Patrick and Marie Claire.

Address:
The Hampton’s
138 Esplanade
KAIKOURA
New Zealand

The Hampton’s, Kaikoura – Location Map:

The Hampton’s, 138 Esplanade, KAIKOURA, New Zealand

The Hampton’s Kaikoura, 138 Esplanade, KAIKOURA, New Zealand

The Kaikoura Peninsula Walk

Things to do in Kaikoura

We were only in Kaikoura for one day but there is a lot to enjoy. If you are here during the summer you can enjoy a lot more, including whale watching. In the winter, the nicest thing to do is the Kaikoura Peninsula Walk (see the more southerly marker on the map below).

The walking trail crosses the peninsula south of Kaikoura. You can walk along the clifftop, with excellent views of the Seaward Kaikoura Range. You also get stunning views of the ocean and coastline, towards South Bay. The Peninsula walkway then returns to the township via South Bay and a section called ‘Toms Track’.

Near Point Kean car park, there are signs warning that seals may be in the area. Most of the seals which are in the car park are males. These seals may appear to be harmless but may become aggressive if disturbed. These are wild animals and should be left alone, A male seal, especially an irritated one, can inflict a nasty, infectious bite. Observe from a distance and respect their territory.

Be advised that the Marine Mammals Protection Act states that you MUST NOT disturb the seals. Stay at least 20m away!

There are many more seals on the rocks and these are normally the females and their pups. As you know, female animals will defend their young so again, remain a distance back.

Photography on the Kaikoura Peninsula Walk

As you get further into the talk you will come to a section which gives you a vista of the sea from the cliff top. I recommend that you look down onto the rocks. The major seal colony is here – there are hundreds of seals on those rocks. If you are a photographer, a 300mm lens will get you some great shots of the seal activity.

There are also some great birds in the area. Again, photographers, get the camera ready! You can enjoy a very large shearwater colony which is protected. There are also albatross, shags and gulls.

I got a photo of what I think is a rare ‘Cirl Bunting’. Apparently this is one of the rarest of New Zealand’s introduced species. They can be elusive on the peninsula walk but it might have been a Yellowhammer which I saw!

The Kaikoura peninsula walkways is denoted by distinctive marker posts and interpretation signs. This walk is a decent walk and you should really set aside a few hours, perhaps 3 hours, to fully enjoy the complete walk.

The Hampton’s Kaikoura, Overall Review

Based on the shanemcdonald.ie rating scale which reviews 10 categories and scoring 10 points per category.

Overall Score : 95%

Overall Score for The Hampton's, Kaikoura

Getting to Kaikoura

Kaikoura lies around midway between the towns of Picton (154 km) and Christchurch (183 km). This is off SH1 on the east coast of the South Island. Regular bus and train services pass through Kaikoura.

Kaikoura Tourist Information

For more information on Kaikoura and the activities you can enjoy in the area, please see the tourist information details below.

Kaikoura i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Phone: +64 3 319 5641
Email: info@kaikoura.co.nz
Address: West End, Kaikoura

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La Frontiere, Luxury Accommodation in Gisborne, New Zealand

Shane McDonald — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 20:41:51 +0000

Staying at La Frontiere Gisborne

If you intend visiting Gisborne when in New Zealand then I highly recommend La Frontiere Gisborne, a luxurious modern self-contained studio, set on an avocado orchard and farmland, and is about 5 mins drive to Gisborne city centre. This was one accommodation which we were very lucky to get at the last minute.

The accommodation was booked and secured via the AirBnB mobile app, our last resort as all hotels and motels in the area were booked up on the day of our visit, due to a Maori event. I’m not one for overstating the mark, but La Frontiere was indeed luxury accommodation…. read on!

Jennifer was the most wonderful host. On arrival at La Frontiere, we got a tour of the villa which was decorated superbly and had wonderful colours and quality furnishings make this villa complete with 5-star hotels when it comes to comfort and making you feel at home.

The villa has an excellently fitted and provisioned kitchen which ideal for whipping up some dinner of your own. The bathroom is very nice with a power-shower. The villa also comes with a private spa hot tub and swimming pool. There is fast and free Wifi, radio and a wonderful smart TV also available.

The bed is very comfortable and it’s very easy to oversleep and miss your check-out time. La Frontiere is like a home away from home. I felt it was better than any hotel as you were in a private and relaxed environment.

Features of La Frontiere Gisborne

The Space

“Indulge in a truly relaxing stay at this luxurious sunny self-contained Villa. Set in picturesque gardens on the boundary of the city (4 mins drive to the city centre and beaches).
Enjoy your very own private spa during the cooler months and in the warmer months enjoy the pool next to your Villa.
If you are looking for a restful holiday this is the place to be, set on an Avocado orchard.”

Linen provided
No disabled access
Children not allowed
No smoking / No pets
Air Conditioning
BBQ
Cleaning supplies
Clothes line

Dryer
DVD
Electric blankets
Ensuite Bathroom
Extra Bedding
Food processor
Fridge/Freezer
iPod Docking station

Iron
Microwave
Off Street Parking
Outdoor furniture
Oven
Phone
Shower
Swimming Pool

Tea, coffee, sugar etc
Tennis court
Toaster
TV
Washing Machine
Wifi
Studio Kitchen

Things to do in and around Gisborne

La Frontiere Gisborne is only 5 minutes from the centre of Gisborne. The town of Gisbourne is also known as ‘Gizzy’ to some locals. Gisborne is pronounced Gis-born not Gis-bun. The town itself is a very nice place to visit and lies on the east coast of the north island, north of Napier and 480km south east of Auckland (around a 6 hour drive). Gisbourne claims to be the first city on earth to see the sun each morning. It has a very relaxed vibe and is ideal if you are looking for somewhere to enjoy some beach time.

Gisborne is well known for wineries and amazing beaches such as Makorori. I’m not much of a beach person but museums and historical/cultural attractions would be more my style. The Tairawhiti Museum has exhibits on indigenous and colonial history, with Wyllie Cottage, an early European house, and Maori artefacts.

While we were staying at La Frontiere in Gisborne we had many drives around the area. It is very picturesque and you could easily spend a few hours each day finding nice spots to walk.

Some of the things we did in Gisborne included;

Titirangi Reserve

This is a park in Gisborne and you can find it on your SatNav at “Titirangi Dr”. It is located just off Queens Drive.

It is a high on a hill overlooking Gisborne. It gives fantastic views of the area. Titirangi was once a pā or a Maori fortified village. You can also reach Titirangi Reserve on the track from the Cook Monument. As you approach the lookout at the top, there is yet another Cook edifice, at Cook’s Plaza. Adjacent is a pohutukawa tree, with its crimson flower has become an established part of the New Zealand Christmas tradition – this one was planted by Princess Diana in 1983. The statue at Cooks Plaza apparently bears no resemblance to Captain Cook. But the views here and on Queen’s Drive are spectacular.

Visiting the historic Gisborne Town Centre

Gisborne is a very vibrant town. It has unique buildings and there is a sense in certain areas of stepping back in time a little. I found it was a very authentic taste of the New Zealand lifestyle. The architecture in certain areas is spectacular and one of the highlights is Gisborne Clock Tower. The Art Deco style Gisborne Clock Tower was erected in 1934 and was built after the severe earthquakes that hit the region in the early 1930s. At night, the clock tower is illuminated.

We had a wonderful time in Gisborne and staying at La Frontiere and would certainly return. It was great to also make the acquaintance of the dogs and cats on site – it is such a relaxing place to stay. Thanks again to Jennifer for her wonderful hospitality. We look forward to returning if we are lucky enough to get back to New Zealand again.

Overall Review : 10/10 all round

La Frontiere Gisborne – Location & Information:

La Frontiere Gisborne, 1 Main Road , Makaraka, Gisborne, New Zealand
+64 6 8684931. +64 274412876

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/LaFrontiereBoutiqueAccommodation

Information on Gisborne : http://www.gisbornenz.com/

La Frontiere Gisborne, 1 Main Road , Makaraka, Gisborne, New Zealand

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Hotel Review of The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, London

Shane McDonald — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:27:01 +0000

Hotel Review of The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, London

From time to time when travelling, you will want to splash out and go for a bit of luxury. In 2013 when planning a trip to London I was looking for a nice hotel. I knew of 2 very good hotels, the Blakemore Hotel and the Park Plaza Hotel, however, these were not what I was looking for. I found some excellent TripAdvisor reports for the Grosvenor Hotel Victoria London and noticed it had a Chinese Restaurant, the Grand Imperial, attached which clinched the deal.

The Grosvenor Hotel was booked and prior to arrival, I had a very nice pre-arrival courtesy call which I thought was a nice touch.

The History of the Grosvenor Hotel, London

As with most of the major city railway stations in the UK, back in the day of steam locomotion, hotels were attached to thee stations. The Grosvenor was built by Sir John Kelk’s company. The Grosvenor is very much luxury and lavish and the grandest hotel in London. The Grosvenor opened to the public in 1862 a year after Victoria station opened. The original 1st class railway lounge is now the Reunion cocktail bar. The millionaire and Bellini cocktails here are worth a try.

Grosvenor Hotel Review

On the day of travel, we actually arrived very late thanks to a strategically planned Irish airport strike. However, we arrived at the Grosvenor Hotel just after midnight and had a very pleasant check-in and proceeded to the room. Even with our late arrival, nothing was a problem and the staff was ever courteous. You will be greeted very well and the check-in was very well polished.

Guest rooms are very comfortable and very nicely decorated. The history of the hotel is not very obviously reflected in the rooms. They are more contemporary in nature than the historic facade and foyer. Lush colours such as deep purples and chocolate browns give a real warmth to the guest rooms. There are some reviews which call the entry-level rooms to be small but I feel they are adequate. I have stayed here twice, thus, I have stayed in 2 room types.

In general, the rooms are very well appointed, include a small but nice bathroom and comfortable bed. Many rooms overlook Victoria Station but on our stay, being 5 floors up, there was no noise. You may get an infrequent station announcement or such, which may just catch the wind. Overall, you will be guaranteed a very pleasant sleep.

There are also very high-quality tea and coffee facilities in your beautifully presented room. Once on a return stay, we also got a complimentary upgrade. The touches here at the Grosvenor are high-end. If you are looking for a hotel stay in the heart of London but with a luxury-twist, you will not be disappointed.

The staff at the Grosvenor are excellent. They are all attired in immaculate black suits. The hotel was ideal for me, as a leisure guest, but would be an ideal hotel for corporate guests. You will also find that there is a gym, a 24-hour concierge plus round-the-clock room service should the need or hunger arise.

It is a pleasure to stay in such great accommodation. The hotel is pristine with a very ornate and impressive foyer. You must also go outside and cross to the street to get a vista on this impressive hotel, The architecture outside is amazing. Features with sculpted heads with laurel crowns, many balcony type features and sculpted flowers. It is a sight to behold. Just note that the street outside can be busy and there can often be queues for busses, so you might have to battle through the crowds during rush hour just to get into the hotel.

Dining & Breakfast at the Grosvenor

I already mentioned the Grand Imperial restaurant but the hotel has a second restaurant. This is called The Brasserie – we tried both restaurants and both are well worth experiencing. I had a fantastic croque madame which is always a favourite of mine. It was perfectly cooked and had a really fine quality cheese filling.

The breakfasts are very good and are held in the Brasserie area. Plenty of choices and no rush with great coffee to get you started for the day.

Inside and Outside the Hotel

The entrance of the Grosvenor hotel has a grand foyer, with a stunning chandelier which you can’t miss. You should take to the next level up, so walk around and see the architecture in more details.

The Grosvenor Hotel location is great, only a 60-second walk to Victoria station. There is a private and direct route from the station into the hotel. There are also many bus stops outside the hotel also. If you are flying into Gatwick then the Gatwick Express will get you direct to Victoria Station. As a result, the Grosvenor Hotel would be ideal for you.

This was a wonderful stay at the Grosvenor Hotel and we will certainly be back next time we are in London.

Grosvenor Hotel, London Victoria – Hotel Information

Grosvenor Hotel Website: https://www.guoman.com/en/london/the-grosvenor.html

Hotel Location
Grosvenor Hotel, 101 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0SJ, England

The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, London

Things to do near the Grosvenor Hotel, London

The Grosvenor Hotel is located in the area known as Victoria. This is close to Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Westminster Cathedral and is ideal if you want to visit the Apollo Victoria which at the moment has the show, ‘Wicked’. The fact that Victoria station is on your doorstep, means you have a variety of tube lines at your disposal.

You can also refer to my London Guide: Top things to do in London as a reference.

Photo Gallery – The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, London

This is a Hotel Review from my Travel Blog. Thss Hotel Review of the Grosvenor Hotel, London is not a sponsored post. I was not paid or compensated for this hotel review and it is simply my honest view and review of two separate stays at the Grosvenor Hotel in 2013 and 2015.

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Bishopstrow House – Hotel Review

Shane McDonald — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 12:37:25 +0000

About Bishopstrow House Hotel & Spa

Bishopstrow House Hotel & Spa is a luxury hotel near Warminster in Wiltshire. The hotel is set on 27 acres of beautifully set grounds alongside the River Wyle. Bishopstrow Hotel also boasts a boutique spa with an indoor and an outdoor heated swimming pool. There are 32 rooms available and you can dine at the 2 Rosette restaurant. Bishopstrow House actually dates back to 1736 when George II was the monarch of England.

Apparently, the original house was destroyed by a fire in 1817. It was rebuilt and completed in 1821. In 1950, Bishopstrow house was bought by a firearms collector and in 1976 was then converted into a ten-bedroom hotel. In 2011 it was bought by the well known Longleat Hotel Group. The grounds of Bishopstrow House even contain two ancient burial mounds.

As mentioned, Bishopstrow House Hotel is a part of Longleat Hotels and this is only a short drive from Longleat Safari Park (a great day out). Other areas close by including the historic Stonehenge, Salisbury and Stourhead House and Gardens. You are also within driving distance of the spa town, Bath. The town of Bath is a great destination and I recommend taking to 20-mile trip if you are in this area.

My Stay at Bishopstrow House Hotel

Bishopstrow Hotel and Spa is easy to find with well-marked road signage, as well as being listed on SatNav. You can find the hotel about a mile east of the town of Warminster.

We departed the Glastonbury festival at 9 am we arrived at the hotel well ahead of check-in. Our early arrival was not a problem for the staff. Bishopstrow House has great staff and our check-in was processed quickly. We were advised by the staff that the nearby town of Salisbury was good to visit. With that recommendation, we set off for the afternoon to explore the area.

When we returned to Bishopstrow our bags had been brought to our room… and what a room it was. A beautifully decorated and plushly appointed room. The room had a flat screen TV with multichannel cable and tea/coffee facilities. It also included a lovely and spacious bathroom which has Elmsis products which I really like.

Within this wonderful hotel, there are 32 bedrooms and suites. Bishopstrow boasts a luxury feel with the elegance expected from a country house hotel of this style. The views from the rooms and the guest areas give stunning vistas of the countryside. The rooms are very comfortable rooms and you get a restful night’s sleep.

Dining at Bishopstrow House Hotel

The breakfast is normally included in the rate and is very good with fruit, cereals, juices and a cooked option. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you can get a very hearty breakfast here. The grounds are really nice to walk around and the estate has an old-world feel yet being very much classic contemporary in reality. Free WiFi is included and again this is a real plus. I will rarely stay in a hotel if they have paid Wifi.

We ate at the Bishopstrow House restaurant and on arrival, we were shown to our table. For a change, I tried a beef dish which is something I would rarely try, but it was excellent and very well presented. The dish had a red wine jus which complimented the rest of the dish very well.

Spa & Relaxation

At the hotel, there is also a spa. We did not get the time to enjoy the many relaxing treatments which were on offer but it does look tempting. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance either to enjoy the indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools. You might get a chance to take in the relaxation suite, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, monsoon shower, tennis courts, four therapy rooms plus a Life Fitness exercise suite…. so much I didn’t have time to do!

The Bishopstrow Hotel Suites

While staying our 3 nights at Bishopstrow we also had to opportunity to stay in one of the luxurious private suites. These suites are on two levels with a living & TV area downstairs and bedroom with very extensive bathroom upstairs. These suites are true luxury and if I was coming back I would stay here ahead of the main house. These suites would be ideal for either families looking for more room, or as a romantic break – a home away from home. However, I am very happy to have stayed at both accommodation options.

Bishopstrow House – Suite

If you are looking for a luxurious stay in the heart of Wiltshire then staying at Bishopstrow House Hotel in Warminster is well worth it.
Since we reviewed the hotel I was told that it has been taken over by new management. So it might be time to revisit and see what has changed.

Hotel Address: Bishopstrow House, Boreham Road, Warminster BA12 9HH, England

Hotel Website: www.bishopstrow.co.uk

Hotel Map Location:

Bishopstrow House

Bishopstrow House, Boreham Road, Warminster BA12 9HH, England

Back in 2015, I booked a 3 night stay at Bishopstrow House as a touch of luxury following 4 days at the Pop-Up Hotel at the Glastonbury Festival… This is the resulting review.

This review of Bishopstrow Hotel and spa was originally hosted on my Travel Reviews website but was moved from shanestravelreviews.com to it’s new home here on shanemcdonald.ie.

This is my opinion of my stay at Bishopstrow House and I was not compensated or paid to provide this online hotel review.

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Hotel Review – Hyatt Regency, Birmingham, UK

Shane McDonald — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 13:04:02 +0000

Hyatt Regency Birmingham – Hotel Review

In October 2012 Joe Bonamassa played Birmingham, UK and we travelled from Ireland to the UK to attend the concert. Having booked the tickets I needed to get some quality accommodation near the NIA venue. I did a quick search and the Hyatt Regency Hotel Birmingham came up a few times in the results with good hotel reviews also. I recognized it as I had seen it a few years previous on TV, with some reality TV VIPs exiting limos. Anyway, we were not disappointed … as it turned out we ended up being treated like VIPs. (We actually saw a few Celebs when we were there – one was quite a famous comedian)

We were checked in by Mohamed on reception. We were welcomed and he told us he was giving us a nice room and also assisted me in setting me up to the Hyatt Loyalty scheme. From the start, this was a very good check-in and we were impressed already.

The hotel room was really nice with a great view of the city looking towards the very funky Birmingham City library. Our room was on the 7th floor and within close proximity to the lifts (but there was no sound from them which was great).

The next morning we availed of breakfast, although this was not included in our rate, we added it on when we arrived as there was an incentive to do so. The breakfast service and layout was excellent and there was a wide selection of hot, cold and if you wish you can have some food prepared to order food. There are also a variety of fruits, bread, juices and cereals.

The Hyatt Regency Birmingham is a very central, well run and very comfortable hotel. It was perfect for us as we were visiting the NIA which is about a five-minute walk away.

Many thanks to the Hyatt Regency Hotel team for a great stay – we will be back!!

If you are looking for a Hotel in Birmingham check out the Hyatt Regency Hotel Birmingham.

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Birmingham – Hotel Location

Hotel Review – Hyatt Regency, Birmingham, UK

This post was moved from shanestravelreviews.com and now resides here at shanemcdonald.ie

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PopUp Hotel Glastonbury – Luxury Glamping at Glastonbury Festival

Shane McDonald — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 19:03:44 +0000

Glastonbury Festival Glamping Accommodation

The Pop-Up Hotel, Glastonbury Festival

We went to the Glastonbury Festival 2013 but went with one thing in mind … we were not slumming it, we had luxury glamping in mind.

We found the Pop-up Hotel online and saw that this would be the ideal Glastonbury Glamping Accommodation. Having visited the website, we decided on our accommodation; So on the morning Glastonbury tickets went on sale we were hopeful of getting tickets…. and so we did. Immediately we called the Pop-Up Hotel and secure our glamping accommodation with a deposit. Once booked we waited for June 2013 to come, paying the remaining amount in the previous months.

Even before we arrived we had lots of contact from Jessica and Graham from the Pop-Up hotel. We had been given directions to the designated Pop-up Hotel Car Park near to the Glastonbury festival site. When we arrived we were helped with our bags and driven to the Popup Hotel site by a very plush Land Rover (which I was very well impressed with).

On arrival, our check-in was processed very quickly and we were shown to our pre-erected tent, which would be our home away from home for the next four nights while at the Glastonbury Festival. I had been very impressed by how well our booking had been dealt with, nothing was too much trouble for the staff.

It is a family-friendly hotel ideal for festivals. I have gone past the stage of slumming it and trying to do Glastonbury without this sort of quality accommodation would be tough (I would probably have gone home as it was raining on the evening we arrived and some poor guys, first-timers, were struggling trying to erect a tent …. for me, no thanks).

There is a strict no drug, no noise, no trouble policy at the Popup Hotel and the public area is bright, secure, lively and has free WiFi (always useful and a nice touch).

Top Notch-Glamping at Glastonbury

This glamping is top notch. The deluxe rooms had charging points ideal for me so that I could charge my phone and DSLR camera battery etc. The inside of the tent was very homely with lots of very nice finishing touches such as fairy lights, a bottle of lavender pillow mist, storage box, full-length mirror, deck-chair, mats and complimentary toiletries. The tent is warm and the beds are very comfortable and you are guaranteed a good night’s sleep.
There was even a spa and hairdressers available at extra charge.

The Pop-up Hotel is only 10-15 minutes from Glastonbury entrance and it is an easy walk to and from the hotel.

There were hot power showers in luxury blocks with clean toilets serviced regularly which was a real treat after a long day at the festival.

If you are looking for something to eat before heading to the festival, great hot breakfasts were available from about £9 per person.

The areas are well-lit areas at night with a security presence, therefore, only those staying get into the hotel property. There is also some nice music (normally acoustic sessions) in the evenings if you didn’t have enough music during the day and food is served almost all day.

The staff at the Pop-up hotel are very friendly and we would like to thank especially Nevin, Joe, Graham, and Jennifer who were all very helpful to us during our stay and couldn’t have done enough.

We loved our stay and we will certainly return to the Pop-Up Hotel at Glastonbury. If you are looking for a luxury accommodation option during the Glastonbury Festival then check out the Pop-Up Hotel Glastonbury!

2015 Updated

For Glastonbury 2015 we stayed once again with The Popup Hotel. There were a few new items such as more lounge areas near reception, there was even a swimming pool at one point. Wifi Continued to be a feature which was widely appreciated.
Overall this is a wonderful glamping experience and if you are going to Glastonbury, or indeed any of the other festivals which to Pop-up Hotel are in attendance, then certainly book it.

Contact Details for The Popup Hotel

Website: http://www.thepopuphotel.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepopuphotel
Address: Rubbery Farm | Rubbery Lane, TA11 7HE, England

Pop-up Hotel Glastonbury

This review of Popup hotel glamping is my opinion of the service and I was not paid or in any way compensated for this post. This post is on my site as I feel it is important to spread the awareness of products or services which I myself and tried and which I feel are good quality, good value or worth trying. I have no personal or financial association with the Pop-up Hotel.

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Inside Loftus Hall. The Loftus Hall Tour – Visit Irelands Most Haunted House

Shane McDonald — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 18:20:45 +0000

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe that the devil himself visited Loftus Hall? Did you know the Devil exited through the roof of Loftus hall and that hole in the roof cannot be repaired?

Loftus Hall – Ireland’s Most Haunted House

If not, (or even if you do) then a visit to Loftus Hall in Co. Wexford, Ireland just might change your mind. Ireland’s Most Haunted House, Loftus Hall is open and running very well organised hour-long tours which bring you through the history, and horrors of the haunted house. You may even catch a glimpse of the ghostly Lady Anna or one of the other ghostly demons.

I had known of Loftus hall for many years. As a child living in Waterford, you get told the stories of the devil and how he left the building. Loftus Hall is visible from Dunmore East so it was always in the focus of the young inquiring mind. At one point in the mid-90s it reopened as a bar, and I remember visiting it. The place had an un0ease about it, not just an old abandoned building but a sense that it lacked peace.

Even with my previous visit in mind, older and wiser, I was a small bit sceptical. I wasn’t sure how this old house could be the setting for a tour. However, I was proved very wrong within the first 5 minutes. The tour guides are very well prepared and give you a lot of history and facts to digest. I’m not going to give anything away are there are a few interactive elements to the tour also. For me, the highlight (if you can call it that) was the visit to the tapestry room which is the most haunted room in the house, as I felt a real drop in temperature in this room, apparently associated with spirits. One story of what a child on the tour said to her mum, brought chills to my being.

It was a very well run tour and I might even be tempted to return for the more sinister adult only tour which is a lot darker and guided only by candlelight (which often goes out I was informed). Shortly after writing this post, one person took an unexplained photo with a potential ghost. The news story hit national press and went viral online so if you are interested in the paranormal, Loftus Hall is certainly one for you.

Admission to Loftus Hall

Tickets are €5 for children (who must be accompanied by at least 1 adult) and €9 for adults.

A great tour, my only gripe is that if you do the tour, your parking should be validated as it is €2 to exit the car park otherwise. (at the time of my visit, maybe this has changed now)

Website: http://www.loftushall.com/

Location of Loftus Hall

Loftus Hall, Hook Peninsula, Co. Wexford

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Top 15 most annoying things about some hotels

Shane McDonald — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 14:22:07 +0000

I really enjoy checking into hotels and having a good stay. Finding that everything is as you like it is important. It’s your home away from home for a few days, so you want a relaxing time and some time to enjoy the facilities of your chosen hotel.

However, from time to time hotel stays are not 100% perfect and I have listed some areas where hotels have let me down in the past in my Top 15 most annoying things about some hotels or, to put it another way the “Things which annoy me about some hotels” list …

Noisy or non-functioning air conditioning

Worse than a window not opening, a hotel which advertises air conditioning and it barely manages to keep the room at 20C or rattles like a coffee grinder when you have it on. Some of the best Air Conditioning was in the US, where you could have the room at 10C if you so wanted.

Getting a smelly room

Sometimes you can be very unlucky and end up going into a hotel room and getting an unwanted smell. This could be a cleaning problem or it could be something like the previous occupant being a smoker or taking food back to the room the night before.

No provision of parking or local car park which is then validated

This is a real problem for me. If I’m staying at a hotel and there is no hotel parking the least I expect is that the hotel has a deal running with the local NCP or city car park and therefore validate the car parking for you.

Some of the best examples of this recently were at Future Hotel Bristol and The Bristol Hotel, both of which validated our car parking. I would return to these 2 hotels as a result!

Badly maintained bathrooms

Please enjoy our bathroom but ignore the rusty tap, the missing shower head and the mould around the tiling… also if the toilet takes 30 mins to refill that’s normal …. NO it’s not ! Having a well maintained bathroom is vital to an enjoyable stay.

No free WiFi in rooms / Crappy WiFi

There is nothing worse than checking in and then accessing your smartphone or tablet only to find out that there is a charge for WiFi. You may have paid a lot for your room, yet you are not given free Wireless Internet.

Even worse is when you have chosen the hotel based on the Free Wifi promise, you check in and the WiFi times out or fails to load even the most basic web pages. If I’m paying for an expensive hotel room I don’t want to have to pay $20 or €10 for WiFi.
Free WiFi is something I now look for in a hotel, if it’s not free I won’t stay.

Tea and Coffee Facilities

You come back after a day out and fell like a cup of tea for 2 only to find that you have to call reception to get more tiny UHT milk packets delivered to your room. Even worse is when no tea/coffee facilities are provided.

Finding things left from the last visitor

There is nothing worse than seeing evidence of the last visitor in your room, like a sweet wrapper under a chair etc. Once in Australia, there was visible evidence in my hotel that the pillows had not been changed. In that room, the evidence pointed to the previous visitor having a bad cold … at least I hope that’s what it was! (we swiftly left that hotel)

Housekeeping ignoring ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs

If you are in need of some rest and just don’t want to be disturbed, you hang the little do not disturb sign outside the door… some time later you get a knock or a “Hello, House Keeping” – Why? It’s on the door …. Do Not Disturb!

In one hotel we were disturbed exactly 1 hour after check-in … asking “Do you need more towels?” — what could I have done in 1 hour which would result in requiring more towels?

No electrical plug sockets near the bed

This is very annoying for iPhone charging especially if you use your smartphone as an alarm clock or radio… or indeed if you log onto Facebook at 2 am which some people do. Having a plug near the bed or bedside locker should be standard.

Uncomfortable beds or pillows

One of the things I really hate is a hotel which markets the room as having a double bed which is actually 2 twin beds stuck together and you end up falling down the gap. That bed split drives me mad.

Windows that will not open at all

I understand for health and safety you have to prevent people from opening the windows too much but when they don’t open at all it really feels claustrophobic – it’s nice to let some fresh air into your room!

A TV… with 4 channels

So we have a TV, let’s have a look BBC1, BBC2, UTV and a Local Channel … that’s all?
You may as not have it at all! I’ll read a book!

In the age of amazing technology, you should have more than 4 channels.

Keycards not working

There is nothing worse than returning to your room on the 23rd floor to find that your keycard no longer works. You get the red light and you end up having to return to reception. They usually ask “was this near your phone or other bank cards?” … that shouldn’t be the point. In the age of AI and advanced technology, a key card shouldn’t just de-programme!

Complicated light switches

There have been some hotels which have had the most unusual lighting systems. There were so many light switches in one hotel, I had to click each one to find out what each one did. If you click the wrong one you end up waking any guest in the room up with every light in the room suddenly turning on.

Do you have anything to add to this list?

What was the worst thing you ever saw in a hotel? (Please don’t mention names)

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The Blakemore Hotel, Hyde Park, London – Hotel Review

Shane McDonald — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:22:56 +0000

Blakemore Hotel Hyde Park London, Hotel Review

One of the hardest things to do it get a decent hotel when you don’t know the area. I was searching for a good hotel in London. After looking at the usual hotel chains I found and booked the Blakemore Hotel Hyde Park London. This hotel booking was done purely on the basis of the Booking.com ratings. At the time of going to post with this review, it was 8.1/10 which is very good.

We arrived in London in really bad traffic and ended up getting a tube to Lancaster Gate, and walking the 7 or 8 minutes to the Blakemore. The Blakemore hotel is really nice in a great location on a quiet street.

Having arrived tired at the hotel, we found the check-in to be very efficient and handled well by a very friendly receptionist.

The Blakemore Hotel Rooms

We got rooms 311 and 312 as we were there as a group of 4. The rooms are very nice, bright, airy, clean (I personally preferred 311, street view) and had excellent air conditioning. The rooms are serviced daily and are done so to a great standard. One point to note – one of the main things we noticed was that the beds are so comfortable you will want to stay there.

The rooms have TV, internet points, a room safe, ironing facilities as well as tea and coffee making facilities.

The Bathrooms in the club rooms are very nice with great products in bathrooms.

Another great point about the Blakemore Hotel is the Free WiFi which is accessible in the rooms also – many hotels have Free WiFi but only in the public areas and not in the rooms. The free WiFi allowed us to plan our day without incurring hefty 3G roaming charges.

The Blakemore Hotel Food

We tried the food in the restaurant and it proved to be very good, from curries to burgers and Caesar salads. The service was excellent and done so with a smile. We then enjoyed the Euro 2012 playoffs in the lounge which is very nice and relaxing.

The Blakemore Hotel, Hyde Park, London: Review Conclusion

I was very impressed by the Blakemore Hotel, the rooms are a perfect size for those looking for a great city break

The location is very good, just opposite Hyde Park and within a 10-minute walk of Bayswater, Queensway and Lancaster Gate tube stations.

I will certainly consider it on my next trip to London and it will be a hotel I will revisit again in the future.

Blakemore Hyde Park Hotel Location

Address: 30 Leinster Gardens, London W2 3AN, UK

Blakemore Hotel Hyde Park, London Hotel, UK

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The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel and Spa – Hotel Review

Shane McDonald — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:02:49 +0000

A while back I went to the UK and stayed at the The Oxfordshire Hotel and Spa, which as you guessed is situated in the heart of Oxfordshire (so it’s not just a clever name)

The Oxfordshire Hotel, Golf Hotel and Spa

The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel and Spa is situated in the heart of the Chilterns. It is located about a 1 hour drive from Luton airport. This vast Estate / Resort Hotel is a luxury 50 bedroom Hotel and Spa. It also boasts a Championship Golf Course if you are so inclined. This course has hosted some high profile golf tournaments; including the Benson & Hedges International, Andersen Consulting World Championship and Ladies English Open.

The Oxfordshire Hotel : Review

Approaching the Oxfordshire Hotel you drive along a well maintained entrance with the golf course on either side. There is plenty of free car parking and a handy drop off area which should suit everyone. Checking in at the hotel is very quick and done with a smile. We were offered spa and pool times as well as an option to book a time at the restaurant.

The food in the restaurant is superb, very well cooked and plenty to choose from. Whether you are a steak lover or a lover of fruits-de-mer the menu will suit your needs. The restaurant offers fantastic views over the golf course and is lovely at sunset. Service was friendly and efficient. I was very impressed with the depth of flavours in the food.

The rooms were comfortable, spacious and had very good air conditioning. The rooms also had a nice terrace / veranda which was accessed via sliding doors. In room hair dryer and safe for your valuables was good to have also.

Room photo at The Oxfordshire Hotel

The Breakfast next morning was varied, hot food was tasty and was actually hot (which some hotels can learn from). I also availed of the delicious fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals and muesli which were also on offer.

The hotel is an ideal base for visiting places like the university town of Oxford and the Oxfordshire countryside. You could also enjoy punting on the Thames in Oxford or a visit to the Harry Potter Studios in Watford. If you are interested the village where the Vicar of Dibley was filmed (a small town called Turville) is located near by. There are many other great places, gardens and country houses to visit nearby also.

The Oxfordshire Hotel : Accolades

The Oxfordshire has had some recent accolades including the top 50 places to Stay & Play voted by Golf Monthly magazine, Top Golf Course in the county voted by the Top 100 Golf Courses in England and awarded 4 Bubbles by The Good Spa Guide.

The Oxfordshire Hotel : Conclusion

I did not know what to expect on booking (via booking.com) but was more than happy in the first minute inside the doors. The Oxfordshire is a well serviced, clean and friendly hotel which I have bookmarked and will certainly return to in the future. I had a very enjoyable stay and look forward to returning to the The Oxfordshire Hotel and Spa at some point in the future.

The Oxfordshire Hotel : Contact Details & Map

The Oxfordshire Hotel, Rycote Lane Milton Common, Oxfordshire OX9 2PU, United Kingdom

The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel and Spa

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Travel Packing Checklist | What To Pack for Holiday & Vacation – Pack like a Pro

Shane McDonald — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 12:38:20 +0000

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Hotel Review of Elysees Mermoz Hotel, 30 Rue Jean Mermoz, Paris

Shane McDonald — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 20:22:23 +0000

There seems to be a Joe Bonamassa theme about some of our hotel visits and this one is another. This time we were going to the Paris concert in April 2012 and booked the Hôtel Élysées-Mermoz or Elysees Mermoz Hotel based on good Booking.com scores and hotel reviews. It was also just 15-20 minutes to the music venue, The Rex.

The Elysees Mermoz Hotel is about a 5-minute walk from the Champs Elysee and nearest Metro stop. There are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby so you are really at the heart of Paris here. The Elysees Mermoz is a very nice, bright and modern hotel with very friendly staff who speak good English, even though I did my very best in French but to a point. (It always takes me a few days to get my French into gear, but the effort is worth it)

The rooms at the Elysees Mermoz Hotel are spacious for Paris (as I have stayed in some Paris hotels which were tiny) and with a very nice compact bathroom. The bathroom featured excellent products and a great power shower. One of the nice touches was Free WiFi – I feel that in this day and age any hotel these days not offering Free WiFi normally won’t get my business!!

The beds are very comfortable and you will get excellent sleep here, which is important if you are out all day walking the streets of Paris. We chose not to avail of breakfast on this occasion as we prefer to find local restaurants for a more authentic Parisienne morning experience.

As it happened I actually left something at the hotel and they managed to get it back to me in Ireland. I thank the staff and management of the hotel for that kind act.

The Hôtel Élysées-Mermoz is certainly a hotel which I will come back to for my next stay in Paris, not only for its great central location and friendly staff but also for the comfort and luxury of the accommodation in the heart of Paris.

Elysees Mermoz Hotel – Hotel Information

www.hotel-elyseesmermoz.com/en/
Elysees Mermoz Hotel, 30, rue Jean Mermoz | 75008 Paris | +33 (0)1 42 25 75 30

Elysees Mermoz Hotel

This Hotel Review of the Hôtel Élysées-Mermoz / Elysees Mermoz Hotel Paris is not a sponsored Hotel Review. I have not received any payment or gratuity for this review.
This Hotel Review is based solely on my experience during my stay at the Hôtel Élysées-Mermoz Paris.

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Top 20 Glastonbury Festival Tips – Get the Most out of your Glastonbury Festival Experience

1) Bring the Right Stuff

2) Download the Glastonbury Festival Smartphone App to schedule your week in advance

3) Expect Delays

4) What to expect when you arrive at the Glastonbury Festival

5) Pitching your tent

6) Arriving on the Glastonbury Site on Day 1

7) Understanding the Limits of Glastonbury

8) Grab a spot for a wonderful Sunset

9) Don’t just limit yourself to one stage

10) Expand your tastebuds

11) The Circus Fields … not just for children

12) Push your Limits, Open Your Mind

13) Watch the Arcadia Spectacular Spider awaken from its slumber

14) Chill Out

15) Find a random piano

16) Get a view of the Glastonbury Tor

17) Climb the Ribbon Tower

18) Board the Double Decker Bus for Tea

19) Listen to the Glastonbury Festival Local Radio Station

20) End as you started – at the Stone Circle

Enjoy Glastonbury! Don’t Pee on the Land and Leave no Trace !

My Glastonbury Festival Photo Gallery

Glastonbury Sunset

The Arcadia Spider

View from the Ribbon Tower

Sunsets at Glastofest

Arcadia Spectacular

The Peace Tent

The Stone Circle after the final act

Pachamama Cafe – Delicious food within

Solas Cancer Care Waterford – Film for Life 2019

Solas Cancer Care – Film for Life 2019

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Cat The Play Returns to Waterford – Book CAT THE PLAY Now…

DAVE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL CAST OF CATS. ON OPENING NIGHT HE WAS SACKED. HE WAS NOT A HAPPY PUSSY…

Reviews of 'Cat the Play'

Visit the Official ‘Cat the Play’ Website for details

Map Location – Cat the Play, 11th / 12th July 2019, Theatre Royal, Waterford

Cat the Play at Theatre Royal Waterford

Loko – Dog Friendly​ Restaurant, Waterford

Loko Restaurant Review: Dog-Friendly Restaurant, Waterford

Booking a Dog-Friendly Table at Loko

Photo Gallery

Loko, Ardkeen, Waterford

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FlightRadar24

PlaneFinder

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360 Cookhouse – Pet Friendly​ Restaurant in Co. Waterford

360 Cookhouse: Dog-Friendly Restaurant Dungarvan, Co. Waterford – Restaurant Review

Our Dog-Friendly Restaurant Booking

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360 Cookhouse, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland

Oscars Predictions – Who will win at the 91st Academy Awards

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The nominees for Best Costume Design

The nominees for Best Film Editing

The nominees for Best Original Score

The nominees for Best Animated Short Film

The nominees for Best Live Action Short Film

The nominees for Best Sound Editing

The nominees for Best Sound Mixing

Enjoy Glastonbury!
Don’t Pee on the Land and Leave no Trace !

DAVE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL CAST OF CATS. ON OPENING NIGHT HE WAS SACKED.
HE WAS NOT A HAPPY PUSSY…

Loko – Dog Friendly Restaurant, Waterford

360 Cookhouse – Pet Friendly Restaurant in Co. Waterford

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