Home & Away with Robert Walshe
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Weekend Hotspot – Kilashee House Hotel Co Kildare
Killashee House Hotel a majestic Victorian Manor house, dating back to 1861 is located outside Naas in Co Kildare 40 minutes from Dublin. From the introduction of Christianity to Ireland to the present day, Killashee has been home to many interesting events and people. The hotel itself is set on two hundred acres and features several gardens with views of the Wicklow Mountains & Blessington Lakes. There are 141 guestrooms each with an en suite private bathroom and colour televi-
n Kildare Shopping Village.
sion. The larger suites feature king size beds, separate living areas and turn-down service. Guests can also benefit from a babysitter service as well as extensive parking facilities, conference rooms business centre. The Villa Spa with eighteen treatment rooms focuses on international massage techniques and skin therapies. For a more casual dining experience check out Jack’s Bar & Bistro. It is a great alternative to the more formal dining experience of Turners a classically themed restaurant with chandeliers, white table cloths and views of the fountain gardens. The food here
is also delightful and the ambiance elegant without being pretentious. Situated in a rural location, Kilashee is close to Craddockstown & Bodenstown Golf Clubs and Mondello Park. For shoppers nearby Naas Town offers an abundance of chic boutiques while ten minutes’ drive away Kildare Village offers a mecca for shoppers seeking designer labels at discount prices. A second phase expansion completed by late 2015 will add a further 36 shops. When completed there will be 100 boutiques along with two new restaurants, a Visitor’s Centre and an additional 437 new parking spaces. www.kildare village.com From traditional cutlery to modern jewellery “Newbridge” is one of Ireland leading brand names and their visitor centre is a must see when visiting this scenic part of County Kildare. Since the 1930’s, Newbridge Silverware has been designing and producing quality giftware and tableware. An addition to the visitor centre is the Museum of Style Icons dedicated to design and style
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excellence. Expect to find signature pieces from Ireland’s most distinguished designers including exhibits from the legendary stars of the silver screen including Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Barbara Streisand. www.newbridgesilverware.ie n Kilashee Hous e Hotel, Co Ki Kilashee is also an ldare. ideal base for those of you interested in the sales at Goff’s or the National Stud for a leisurely day out or Newlands Cross. enjoying a day’s racing at Take Exit 9 for Naas and Punchestown, Naas or the take the second exit at the Curragh Racecourse. Char- first roundabout. Take the ity “Debra Ireland” recently first exit at the second roundopened a butterfly garden about at Big Ball. Continue in the grounds of Killashee straight and take the second House. This stunning creation exit at the third roundabout. was the brainchild of Emma Continue to Kilcullen Road Fogarty, Patient Ambassador and Killashee House Hotel with DEBRA Ireland. www.de- and Villa Spa will be on the brairelalnd.org From Dublin, left. The Kilashee “Shop & locate the N7. Continue on Stay” offer with Kildare Outthis motorway once you see let Village includes over-
night accommodation with breakfast and an evening meal from only €89 per person sharing including a 10% Kildare Discount Card. www. killasheehouse.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio & Citybeat 96.7 in Northern Ireland and Travel Editor for River Newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe. com