TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe THE European Commission has launched an online “one stop shop” for passengers seeking information about their rights when travelling by air or train, or if they have mobility problems. The website tells consumers about their entitlements in the event of flight cancellations and delays, or when they are denied boarding. The rules that apply when baggage is lost or damaged are also covered, as are the issues faced by passengers with disabilities or other mobility problems. At present, the website is available in English only and contains only limited information, but it is expected to be developed further over the two-year cycle of the €1 million campaign. The Commission says it is working on extending passenger rights to other transport modes. In particular, it has launched proposals for passengers travelling by sea or inland waterways and for those travelling by bus or coach. Specific proposals are expected as early as this year. More information on rights for travellers in advance of the holiday season is available from the European Consumer Centre office in Dublin, which has prepared a “summer survival kit” to help consumers avoid unnecessary costs and hassle while on holidays.
Weekend Hotspot
The Slieve Donard Hotel has stood at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, Newcastle, Northern Ireland for more than a century. Standing in six acres of private grounds, leading to a stunning beach and the world famous Royal County Down golf course, the hotel’s redevelopment in recent years has drawn on the elements of the local beauty and Victorian architecture and on my first visit in four years had me wanting more! The hotel was originally built by the Belfast and County Down Railway, as an ‘end of line’ luxury holiday destination. Construction started in 1896 and was completed and officially opened on
24th June 1898 at a cost of £44,000 resulting in much grandeur and luxury. The new wing at Slieve Donard houses 50 new enormous and superbly appointed bedrooms to give a total of 178, as well as a 16 treatment room Espa Spa – which alongside the Ritz Carlton in Powersourt are the largest in Ireland. The hotel Room has also carried out ■ Slieve Donard Resort a radical re-design of the property’s extensive landscaping to Weekly Best Buy showcase the magnifiCrystal Holidays are offering cent Slieve Donard building in its seaside setting. As well as significant reductions on setreatments, designed to bal- lected parks & dates for sumance mind, body and soul, the mer 2010. Book any of the below Al extensive leisure and exercise facilities include a 20 metre Fresco parks to secure your dispool, vitality pool, thermal heat count: * Chateau des Ormes * Le Grand Metarie * Le Conguel experiences and fitness suite. The Oak restaurant uses the * Cisano * Le Vieux Port * Le finest local Irish produce and Club Beach Farret * Les Meditthe grand dining room with eranees * Serignan Plage * Del oak panelling and central fire- Garda * Marina di Venezia. Al place is full of character and Fresco mobile homes* start charm while the more informal from; 2 bedroom Puccini €499 Percy French Inn at the main entrance is ideal for lunch and sleeps 5, 2 bedroom Rossini the seafood chowder is to die €549 - sleeps 6, 3 bedroom for! Stunning photographs can Vivaldi €659 - sleeps 6+infant. be taken in the private gardens, All mobiles include bed linen, on the grand staircase or by the towels, decking. Air con and roaring fire in the lobby making bbqs included where available. it an ideal wedding location. A Al Fresco offers luxury mobile five minute walk from the hotel homes throughout Europe. brings you to the resort town www.crystalholidays.ie Gohop.ie is offering a week of Newcastle and the key local attractions include the Silent package to take in the best of Valley, a magnificent reservoir what Morocco has to offer from €727 per person. The packages in the Mourne Mountains. Tollymore Forest Park is a short includes: return direct flights drive away, while Castlewellan from Dublin to Agadir, 4 nights accommodation in 3* Country Park and Murlough Bay Nature Reserve, with its miles Hotel, in Agadir, 3 nights accomof wooded walks are a must do. modation in 4* hotel in MarraLess than ten miles away lay the kech Private transfers between the delights of Downpatrick, home to St Patrick’s Visitor Centre 2 cities. www.gohop.ie and Grave, a World Christian Robert Walshe is a freelance Heritage Site. Newcastle enjoys a vibrant nightlife in the shadow contributor / broadcaster and of its stately guardian the Slieve is guest travel writer for River Donard Hotel. www.hastingsho- Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland tels.com
Pet’s Corner...
Living
■ Slieve Don
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Home and Away Extra Following the recent Silver Award received by The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt from the Green Hospitality Awards, the hotel has partnered with The Old Milking Parlour at Ballymurrin, a lovingly restored 17th century Quaker meeting house and member of Sustainable Tourism Ireland. The owners restored the outhouses into the Old Milking Parlour and turned it into wonderful self catering accommodation which, bar the cows, has kept its old world feel with a stylish fusion of old and new architecture. Guests are offered preferable rates when booking a holiday which includes a stay in both properties, ensuring guests will see two wonderful sides to The Garden of Ireland or Co. Wicklow. The Milking Parlour, located 30 minutes from the hotel, has white washed stone walls throughout, contains two double bedrooms, a wonderful open plan sitting room with stove and glazed doors from all living areas open onto a lavender edged, private garden with BBQ area. www.ritzcarlton.com/powersourt
with Kathleen Murray
Still too many kittens with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist
THERE are so many kittens for re-homing at the moment that it’s tragic. There are so many of them that charities can’t cope with the numbers. Why is this still happening? It is happening because people get kittens and they don’t neuter them. This is incredibly irresponsible. The way to help cats is to use whatever time, skills or knowledge you have. It doesn’t take a lot of time to mention to your neighbour or family member that there are vouchers available for neutering cats (and dogs). This one act may save the lives of many cats. If you have transport then it would be a great help to offer to
take your neighbour, or family members, cat to the vet for them, if they have no transport or time themselves to do it. This is one of the reasons why many people don’t get their cats neutered, they just can’t seem to find the time or can’t be bothered. This is no good to the cat that is having kittens 4 times a year or it’s ever growing offspring. By taking one cat to the vet for someone you could save the lives of between 16 and 20 kittens in that single act. By neutering 3 cats you will have saved the lives up to 60 cats. That’s a lot of cats but just imagine if those 3 cats were yours, you would need to be earning some
wages, and have neighbours straight from heaven, to be able to tolerate and feed up to 60 cats. Just 3 cats can produce this nightmare. It is also vital that the message gets out about neutering kittens. Once a kitten has reached 5-6 months it should be neutered… it doesn’t matter if it is male or female. Male cats roam over large territories and un-neutered male cats are the cause of thousands of unwanted kittens every year. Please do not pass your responsibilities or cat problems on to someone else. Ask for help. Stop the numbers from rising. So many cats suffer terrible cruelty, are abandoned by their
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owners or die tragic deaths from illness, being shot, or accident related injuries, to name but a few. Please take action and inform people, help people or report them but don’t turn a blind eye to the very serious cat problem that we have in this county and throughout the country. I know that times are tight… but not for everyone. If anyone out there has the capability of making a donation, however small, they could help a lot with this problem. Contact your local charity to see if you can help them to help you to neuter some kittens and cats. Thank you. Numbers available from your local Garda Station.
Northern Ireland’s hottest ice hockey tickets of the decade are now on sale following the news that the world famous Boston Bruins will travel to Belfast in October to play their first ever game outside of North America, against the Belfast Giants at the Odyssey Arena. The announcement was made by Minister Arlene Foster on behalf of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board which has provided support and sponsorship for the much anticipated game. The game, which is also being sponsored by Belfast City Council, will mark the ten year anniversary of the Odyssey since it opened in 2000 and began hosting the Belfast Giants. The Boston Bruins are one of the most famous hockey teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the securing of the game in Belfast is expected to attract over 4,500 out of state visitors and generate over £800,000 into the local economy, as ice hockey fans across the UK and America travel to witness the Bruins’ inaugural European game. www.belfastgiants.com