Show Me the Way to Ireland’s Whiskey Trail

Whiskey and Coke. Whiskey Sour. Whiskey Old Fashioned. Though these are all words that go great together, nothing goes as great together as the words, “Whiskey and Ireland.” The Emerald Isle is where whiskey was invented and it still boasts the best whiskey pubs and bars, the finest whiskey shops, the most historic whiskey distilleries and many top class hotels and golf courses, where whiskey is an important component. Ireland’s Whiskey Trail includes dozens of such places. It’s not just for people interested in whiskey – it is also for anyone who wants to enjoy some of the very best traditional Irish pubs in the country, who is looking to buy that special bottle of Irish whiskey or who’s interested in the history and culture of Ireland.

The Temple Bar
47 Temple Bar, Dublin
+353 (0)1 672 5287‎

Ireland’s most famous city is home to Ireland’s most famous Irish pub; the Temple Bar. This is the prototype of every Irish pub on the planet, which explains why people who have never been here feel like they have. The pub was established in 1840, when it distilled its own whiskey, and is still going strong 170 years later. Over 410 different bottles of Irish, Scotch and Bourbons make the Temple Bar home to the country’s largest selection of whiskey. Live traditional Irish music is also on hand, and it’s no surprise that the Temple Bar Pub was voted Irish Music Pub of the Year from 2002 to 2007. And then there’s the food. In addition to the great sandwiches served throughout the day, the Temple Bar is famous for their Dublin Bay Oysters and Guinness. If you want to take a little bit of the place home with you (including a bottle of the brown stuff), there’s a souvenir shop right next door. And if you want to stay in a hotel that’s close to the pub and the rest of the Temple Bar neighborhood, try the three-star Temple Bar Hotel.

Kilbeggan Distillery and Locke’s Museum
Lower Main Street, Kilbeggan,
+353 (0) 57 933 2134

Opened in 1757 by the McManus family and closed in 1954, this historical gem’s fires were rekindled on March 19, 2007, 54 years to the day of its closing. Nowhere else in Ireland can you experience such a link to the world of whiskey in centuries past than at the Kilbeggan Distillery. Located in the wee town of Kilbeggan, 90 kilometres west of Dublin, the distillery is open to visitors all year round and is the oldest continually licensed distillery in the world. Daily guided tours with multi-lingual guides and self-guided tours show you many artifacts, from the 19th century water wheel (which is still in use) to the steam engine. This is the only distillery in Ireland where you can still see coopers at work repairing casks. To celebrate its 250th birthday, an ancient pot still last used in the 19th century was painstakingly refurbished and fired up and is now believed to be the oldest operational pot still in the world. If you’d like to linger in the Irish countryside rather than return to Dublin, a few kilometres to the south is the four-star Tullamore Court Hotel.

Freeney’s Pub, Off-Licence and Tackle Shop
19 High Street, Galway
+353 (0)91 562 609

Located in the pedestrian area of Galway’s High Street, there’s nothing pretentious about Freeney’s Pub, Off-Licence and Tackle Shop. Where else can you get fishing bait at one end of the store and a shot of whiskey at the other? A grocery store for local fisherman until 1976, Freeney’s Pub is famous today for its pub window with its extensive display of different Irish whiskeys as it is for being the best fishing shop in Galway. Here you’ll find 50 different Irish whiskeys, and if you’re lucky enough to stop by when Tony Freeney himself is there, he’ll probably recommend you start with a Greenspot Irish Whiskey, followed by a Powers 12 YO or a peated Connemara Single Malt. The roaring coal fire to the back of the pub is the perfect place to hunker down with a Jameson Irish Coffee, and speaking of hunkering down, there are many great Galway hotels.

The Creamery Bar & Restaurant Bunratty
Bunratty Fair Green, Bunratty,
+353 (0)61 364114

History pours from the Creamery Bar & Restaurant Bunratty, just as heavily as the whiskey and the great food. Just a 15 minute drive from Shannon Airport, this place has been accommodating travelers since it was a stop for the Bianconi coach service in the 1800’s. It became a creamery in 1927, and you can still see the old creamery’s original steam generator and pipes, as well as many old local photographs on the walls. The Creamery Bar is where you’ll find over 25 different whiskeys, as well as an excellent pint of Guinness served in your own commemorative pint glass which can be taken home. History is available in liquid form as well, with whiskey distilled when the place was still a creamery (1976). The owners also have a cask of Bushmills Millennium Malt in 2000 that they reserve for customers they think will truly appreciate this exceptional 25 year old Single Malt. The Creamery is located directly across from Bunratty Castle Folk Park, giving you a great after-meal stroll, and there are also some great Bunratty hotels nearby.

Castlemartyr Hotel & Golf Resort
Co. Cork,  Castlemartyr

If you’d prefer to enjoy your whiskey surrounded by unspoiled rolling countryside of Castlemartyr in East Cork and the luxury of a five-star hotel, then welcome to the Castlemartyr Hotel & Golf Resort. This 18th century classic Manor House lies adjacent to the ruins of a castle dating from 1210 and once owned by Maurice Fitzgerald, who landed in Ireland with Henry II and was one of the founders of the Knights’ Templar. Sir Walter Raleigh was another owner of the estate. Of course, if history isn’t your thing, you can just sit back and enjoy the tranquility of the 220 acre estate. The Knights’ Bar, in the heart of the Manor was originally an 18th century ballroom. Beneath its magnificent rococo ceiling is one of Ireland’s very best whiskey collections, with a full range of whiskeys produced in Midleton and rarities like the Willie Nappier, a 44 year old whiskey from the old Tullamore Distillery and Ireland’s oldest bottled whiskey. In addition to golf, the estate grounds offer clay pigeon shooting, archery, croquet, hiking and boating on the tranquil swan-filled lake. All this just 25 kilometres from Cork Airport.

Top 5 Tourist Attractions in Galway

The site of many festivals and home to countless attractions, Galway is an exciting and interesting holiday destination. It is also the fastest-growing city in Ireland. So consider that a warning: Once you visit, you may just wish to stay! Depending upon the time of year, Galway has a number of fun events and activities going on. Here are the top five landmarks that are open all year-round:

1. Lynch’s Castle

Once the formal residence of one of Galway’s fourteen tribes, Lynch’s Castle now contains something quite mundane: the headquarters of Allied Irish Bank. Despite its current occupation, however, the building remains impressive—and one of the city’s most visited-attractions. The façade features the castle’s original coats of arms, and authentic stone fireplaces may be found inside. A special exhibition room filled with artifacts from the Lynch family’s reign is open from Monday to Wednesday and on Fridays. Take the informative tour to learn how the family’s legacy influenced Galway’s history—and even how unfortunate events led to the coining of the term “Lynch Law.”

2. Galway Cathedral

Among the largest and most beautiful buildings in the city, Galway Cathedral is nearly impossible to miss. The imposing structure stands on Nun’s Island, on the west bank of the River Corrib near Salmon Weir Bridge. It was built from 1958 to 1965, on the site of the former city jail. Its signature octagonal dome, an integral and iconic component of the urban skyline, reaches a soaring height of 145 feet. Beneath it, you will find a stunning interior complete with rose windows and colorful wall paintings. As the last large church in Ireland to be made of stone, Galway Cathedral is of great importance to its patrons.

3. St. Nicholas’ Church

Another place of worship in the heart of Galway, St. Nicholas’ Church is important for another reason. It is the largest medieval parish church in continuous use in all of Ireland. Its oldest sections date back to 1320, but the building has been renovated and expanded since then. Today, the architecture reflects a long legacy—and legend has it that the church was built upon the ruins of an older structure, whose remains were incorporated into the church’s construction. Another story says that Christopher Columbus prayed here in 1477 before sailing off to discover the New World.

4. The Spanish Arch and the Galway City Museum

Undoubtedly one of the most famous landmarks in Galway, the Spanish Arch welcomes visitors to the left bank of the Corrib. It is located where the river meets the sea, and it has stood on the same spot since the 16^th century. Once a bastion to protect merchant ships from looting, the arch was originally called the “Ceann an Bhalla” (Head of the Wall.) The name was eventually changed in honor of the Spanish merchant galleons that docked near it. Today, the Spanish Arch acts as the gateway to the Galway City Museum. The museum’s galleries focus on the medieval town, the Claddagh village and Galway from 1800 to 1950. There are also temporary exhibitions and special events. Spectacular views of the Claddagh, the River Corrib, Galway Bay and (of course) the Spanish Arch act as additional displays.

5. Salmon Weir Bridge

Crossing the Corrib from the Cathedral to the city’s courthouse, Salmon Weir Bridge beautifully showcases the historical city. People flock here to admire panoramic views that extend as far down as Wolfe Tone Bridge. Salmon Weir was originally granted by Henry III to the Earl of Ulster, and the historical site changed hands several times before it eventually became the property of the state. During the summertime, locals gather to see the shoals of salmon make their way up the Corrib to spawn, and also to watch anglers fish in the waters below. Throughout the year, however, Salmon Weir Bridge remains one of Galway’s most popular and beloved pieces of architecture.

Recommended Hotels in Galway: Flannery’s Hotel Galway, the Glenlo Abbey Hotel

Open Up at the Galway Oyster Festival in Ireland

How long does it take you to shuck, or open, an oyster? 20 seconds? 45 seconds? A few minutes?

What about opening 30 oysters in 2 minutes, 39 seconds?

Michael Moran, the overall winner of the Galway International Oyster Festival Committee, holds the 2009 fastest time at the annual Guinness World Oyster Opening Championships in Galway, Ireland.

Sounds impossible, I know… especially after reading the rules to the competition.

This is just one of the many events at the Galway Oyster Festival. Since 1954, this festival has attracted thousands of vistors young and old from all over the world.

Don’t be misled, though, this festival is jam packed with many events other than just seeing how many oysters can be opened and/or consumed. Events include a Magnificant “Mardi Gras” Party, Oyster Tasting, Oyster Pearl pageant, Oyster Festival Gala Ball and Farewell Party. Plus, the Galway Music & Oyster Trail has many restaurants, pubs and hotels along the way to help absorb the culture of Galway.

Don’t be upset if you can’t open up oysters as fast as Michael. Keep working on your technique and remember, practice makes perfect! You could be a winner at the Festival some day!