Welcome to the Island Garden Lodges 1 Welcome!

We are delighted to have you as our guest and we We would very much welcome your feedback in would like to extend to you a very warm welcome to regards to your stay as we are always intent on Castle Resort. improving the guest experience at all times. We do hope you will be pleased with our service and Please make yourself at home and it is our aim to standards of hospitality and we look forward to make you as comfortable as possible. We wish you a serving you again in the future. most pleasant stay with us and thank you for choosing us for your getaway in ’s south east. Your hosts at Waterford Castle Resort

We encourage you to make the most of the island experience with our meandering walks and pathways, an abundance of nature and wildlife, as well as the playground and seasonal kids club for the little ones! Other activities to enjoy include our championship 18-hole golf course and driving range, outdoor tennis and croquet. Additional activities such as clay pigeon shooting are also available on request. We will also be happy to arrange a picnic for you if you just want to have a stroll and relax…our island is all yours!

Waterford enjoys some of the prettiest coastline in the region and we do recommend you take in the atmosphere of Dunmore East village, just 15 minutes from the resort. Waterford city’s 1100-year history awaits you just 5 minutes driving time and we personally recommend a visit to the landmark House of Waterford Crystal and the Medieval Museum, both located on The Mall. A stroll through the city’s Viking Triangle in this same area will give a true sense of Waterford’s great past.

2 Castle

The Island Haven – home to the great Fitzgerald the original tower. Up until the present century, the family for some 800 years… Castle retained its original narrow slit windows which aesthetically gave the Castle its fortress-like exterior The picturesque and enchanting island was created and created a dark, bleak and often unsettling interior. and fashioned by nature. According to tradition, the first monastic settlements on the island date back to During the final stage of development, a stable the 6th – 8th Century. This tradition has two historical yard and farm building were constructed, allowing foundations: a winged angel dating from the 8th the island’s community to become self-sufficient. Century and the crude carving of Another architectural element a Monk’s head dating back to the added to the Castle during 6th Century. the centuries was the roof-top Gargoyles. Brought here from The island later became home Castle Irwell in Manchester by a to a Danish settlement with two female ancestor of the Fitzgerald castles guarding the river at the dynasty, they are a magnificent north and south ends. This is antiquity. why the island is historically referred to as Dane’s Island or Throughout the 15th and 16th Island Vryk. Centuries, the Fitzgeralds were the unofficial Kings of Ireland Maurice Fitzgerald, cousin of and they hosted many lavish Strongbow – the English Earl of feasts and banquets on the Pembroke – landed in Waterford island. During the 18th Century, during the Norman invasion the castle was established as an of Ireland in 1160. Defeated integral social nucleus for the during the battle, Fitzgerald upper classes of society. At this taken prisoner by Ossermen time, the castle was home to the of Waterford was held captive on the island until formidable Mary Francis Fitzgerald, a dominant figure rescued by his son-in-law where he then re-joined the in social circles of the time. She was once engaged to victorious Norman army. Rewarded for his support the Duke of Wellington, the Iron Duke, who defeated during the invasion, Fitzgerald later became ruler over Napolean at Waterloo. Instead she broke off the large tracts of land in Munster and Leinster, including engagement and married her first cousin, John Purcell the island upon which he then decided to make his in 1801. Upholding her extravagant reputation, she home. This sealed the island’s gate for centuries to would return to the family seat by being rowed in come. During these centuries, the island has been state across the river accompanied by twenty-four home to the Earls of Kildare, Earls of Ormonde and musicians serenading her on a barge! Of her children, the Knights of Glin and Kerry in one of the longest Edward Fitzgerald was the most prominent as the unbroken stewardships on record in Ireland. translator of Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat.

The early Castle structure was a Norman Keep which The last of the Fitzgerald family to reside over was a tower-like structure with thick walls, narrow slit Waterford Castle was Mary Augusta Fitzgerald who windows and a lead roof. The Keep served as a vital married Prince Caracciolo of Italy and they made defence in battle and the structure would have been their new life in ; thus ending the extraordinary virtually impregnable and therefore secure. By the reign of the Fitzgerald dynasties. 15th Century, once the ruins of the Keep had become uninhabitable, a tower was built on the derelict site In 1958 the Igoe family purchased the property and today that tower forms an integral part of the from the Princess and the family remained here up present Castle’s construct. Throughout the centuries, to the late 1980s until Mr Eddie Kearns and family the once modestly sized tower saw a number of purchased the Castle and transformed it into the expansions. The first of these was conducted by luxury hotel it is today. John Fitzgerald in 1849 and subsequent development occurred in 1875 and 1895 when the east and west Today, Waterford Castle Hotel prides itself on paying wings were added. Built entire of granite stone, the respect to the great Fitzgerald family in retaining all of expanded structures were completed to such a high the beauty and elegance of this stunning Castle. standard; the structures are indistinguishable from

3 Dining at the Castle

We welcome you to enjoy our various dining or homemade pancakes. Guests at the Island Garden experiences at Waterford Castle Hotel. Lodges can enjoy a preferred breakfast rate of €12 per adult and €6 per child. Reservations in advance are Full Irish breakfast at the Castle advisable. Served daily from 7.30am – 10.00am, our full Irish breakfast provides a very fine start to your day! Our Castle Afternoon Tea menu items included the freshest of local ingredients Served daily from 3.00pm – 5.00pm at just €20 per with everything cooked to order to your personal adult, the Castle Afternoon Tea is a throwback to the preferences. We personally recommend Eggs Benedict elegance of days gone by. Relax in the comforts of the Great Hall Reception or elegance of the Fitzgerald Room and enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea Service Sample Fitzgerald Room served with care and attention. Daytime Bar Menu Salade Tiède of Chorizo, Gubeen Cheese, Roasted Tomato & Olives, Classic Dressing Sample Afternoon Tea Menu Oak Smoked Salmon Board, Tom Cleary’s Leaves, Castle Selected Tea Sandwiches Caper Berries, Lemon Dressing & Brown Soda Bread Chicken, Pesto & Garden Leaves Charcuterie Board, Handmade Salamis, Castle Terrine, Free-Range Egg Mayonnaise, Shallot & Watercress Cornichons, Red Onion Marmalade Oak Smoked Irish Salmon on Brown Soda Bread, Lemon Penne Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Parmesan Shavings, Butter & Chive Cream Cheese Basil & Herb Oil (V) Castle Baked Ham, Horseradish Mayonnaise Pan Fried Dunmore East Cod, Sauce Tartare, Organic Leaves, French Fries Afternoon Pastries Crisp Fish Goujons, Lemon Mayonnaise, Salad & Home Cut Chips Plain & Fruit Scones, served with Cream & Raspberry Jam Castle Prime Beef Burger, Waterford , Tomato, Salad, Moist Porter Cake House Relish Cornichons & French Fries Chargrilled 10oz Sirloin of Aged Irish Beef, Home Cut Thin Waterford Castle Homemade Pastries Fries, Watercress & Garlic Butter Assortment of Freshly Made Sweets from our Patisserie Kitchen

4 Light Fare at The Fitzgerald Room Bar Served daily from 12.30pm – 6.30pm, the intimate Fitzgerald Room Bar offers a varied light menu for guests looking for more informal dining during the day. Choose from seasonal salads, sumptuous steaks Room is a must during your stay. Our Early Evening and homemade burgers, or a classic sandwich with menu served from 7.00pm is at €32 per person while drinks. our more extensive main dinner menus is at €48 per person. Children’s menu options are also available. Dinner at The Munster Room Our varied and interesting wine cellar provides Dinner is served at the multi-award winning Munster the perfect accompaniment to your fine dining Room daily from 6.00pm – 9.00pm. The ornate oak experience. Reservations are advisable for all dinner panelled dining room currently holds 2 AA Rosettes bookings. for fine dining and holds the current tile of Best Hotel Restaurant Munster awarded by the Restaurant Sunday Lunch at The Munster Room Association of Ireland. The striking setting of the Served each Sunday from 1.00pm – 3.00pm, our Munster Room is matched by the imaginative and Sunday Lunch is a real favourite with our hotel excellent cuisine. Using only the finest of Irish residents and local visitors alike. Make more of produce created with passion, dinner at The Munster Sunday with our wonderful fine dining lunch in relaxed yet elegant surroundings at just €32 per person. Reservations are advisable. Sample Seasonal Dinner menu Pan-Fried Dunmore East Cod with Globe Artichoke Barigoule & Cauliflower Char-grilled Fillet of Molloys’ Beef, Bone Marrow & Herb Crust, Horseradish, Glazed Brisket, Shallot Jus (Supplement) Sample Seasonal Tasting of Suckling Pig; Rack, Belly, Shoulder, Parsnip & Black Sunday Lunch menu Pudding Fondant, Summer Cabbage, Jus Roast Leg of Lamb, Parsnip, Buttered Spinach, Lamb Jus Roast Rump of Lamb, Garden Peas & Bacon, Parmesan Crisps, Chanterelle Jus & Lamb Sweetbreads Pan-Fried Turbot, Savoy Cabbage, Pea, Crab & Saffron Cream Pan-Fried Monkfish, with Carrot, Confit Chicken Wing, Braised Short Rib of Beef, Celeriac Purée, Baby Carrot & Red Buttered Baby Gem, Pickled Orange, Light Chicken Jus Wine Reduction Smoked Gubeen Tortellini, Curry, Wild Mushrooms, Toasted Wild Mushroom Risotto, Aged Parmesan Cheese, Fresh Pine Nuts & Cumin Oil Garden Herbs

5 Dining at The Clubhouse

Guests at our Island Garden Lodges can enjoy the Family-friendly dining at The Clubhouse relaxed and informal surroundings of The Clubhouse, Both family-friendly and relaxing in atmosphere, The which is open from early morning ‘til late. Clubhouse offers the perfect wind down to a busy morning or afternoon of activities on the island. Our Breakfast Club… All Day Menu is served daily from 12.00pm midday The Clubhouse offers guests weekend breakfast with a wide variety of value-for-money options specials from 8.30am – midday on Saturday and available. Children’s menus are available throughout Sunday. The menu offering includes a traditional full the resort also. Enjoy live sports on the big screens Irish breakfast to homemade pancakes and lighter and during summer months a barbecue takes place on options. selected days.

Sample Daytime menu

Main Course Selections Roast Beef, horseradish cream, vegetables and potato Roast Stuffed Chicken and Ham Oven Baked Herb Crusted Salmon Mushroom Risotto (V) Beer Braised Pork Belly with Apple Sauce

Desserts Selections Castle Golf Club Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice-cream Apple Pie with Crème Anglaise Pavlova & Fresh Fruit Baileys Cheesecake Banoffi Pie Summer Berry Crumble

6 Thingsto See and Do – On and Off the Island

Adventure Centre 12km from Waterford Castle. There is plenty to do in Located just 20 minutes from the resort, Dunmore Dunmore from golfing, to angling, deep sea charters East Adventure Centre is a must for those seeking and for the adventurous and families alike there is a thrills by the water! range of activities at the Dunmore East Adventure T. 051 383783. www.dunmoreadventure.com Centre. Dunmore is also home to a number of annual festivals. Please visit www.discoverireland.ie for more Beaches With 147km of coastline and situated in the Sunny Tramore South East of Ireland any visit to Waterford would Situated just 10km south of Waterford City, Tramore not be complete without a visit to at least one of the is considered the premier resort of the South East of 49 beaches scattered along the beautiful coastline. Ireland. The sandy beach in Tramore stretches for The South East Coastal Drive is one way to explore almost 5km and has some of the highest sand dunes as many of these locations as possible. This stunning in Ireland. Tramore is the best served beach in terms route starts in Town finishing in Ardmore, of amenities. Amenities around Tramore include surf but you can join it anywhere clubs offering both lessons and board hire. There’s along the route. For the adventurous there are plenty even the opportunity to learn Irish while surfing of water activities along the coast including diving, with Freedom Surf School See the coast line from a kayaking, surfing, sailing and kite surfing. For the different perspective with Sea Paddling.com who offer less adventurous, there are still opportunities to get sea kayak tours. out on the water and enjoy a spot of angling or whale watching. Clay Pigeon Shooting Clay shooting can be arranged on request on the Dunmore East island and please contact Reception at the Castle Dunmore East is a charming fishing village and to avail of this great activity. 24hrs notice is seaside resort with beautifully thatched houses, recommended for arranging this activity, which is striking red sand stone cliffs which host a huge payable directly at the Castle and takes place on the colony of kittiwakes and some superb restaurants just lower lawn area.

7 Croquet Croquet is available at the lawn at The Castle with croquet set available on request from Reception at the Castle. Ardmore Diving. Cycling and Bicycle Hire T: +353 58 46577 www.ardmorediving.com Enjoy a meandering tour around the Island avenues Ballyyshunnock (Mixed) Reservoir and take some of the best fresh air in the region! www.srfb.ie Bicycle hire is available from Altitude Cycle and Clonlav Angling. Outdoor Store a Tel. 051 870 356. www.altitude.ie T: +353 52 36141. www.flyfishingireland.com Deep Sea Charter. Diving T: +353 87 636 9164. www.deepseacharterdunmore.com Located 45 minutes drive from Waterford at Ardmore Charter Boats. Bay we recommend Ardmore Diving. T: +353 58 41327. www.dungarvancharterboats.com T. 058 46577. www.ardmorediving.com Dunmore East Angling Charters. T: +353 51 383397 Driving Range & Golf Knockaderry Reservoir. www.srfb.ie Designed by legendary Irish golfer Des Smyth, and open since 1992, golf at Waterford Castle offers a Horse-riding & Trekking good test to even the most seasoned golfer. Take in a We recommend the services of Stonehaven Equestrian round across the 205 acres and enjoy the island golf which is located 20 minutes driving time from the hotel. experience. Driving range tokens are available from T. 051 873 816. www.stonehavenec.com the Pro Shop. Preferential green fee rates are available to resort residents and club and buggy hire are also & available. Golf reservations: Hurling and Gaelic Football are the traditional sports in T. 051 871 633. E. [email protected] Ireland and (Pairc Breathnach) is the home of Waterford City hurling and Gaelic football hurling Fishing teams. If you are interested in seeing a live match in With four of Ireland’s principal rivers and the Atlantic Walsh Park, visit the www.gaa.ie for the latest fixtures. Ocean surrounding its rugged coastline, Waterford is an attractive location for fishing enthusiasts of all Paint Balling levels. A useful resource if you are considering fishing Elite Paint Balling. in Ireland is the Southern Regional Fisheries Board. T: +353 58 43129. www.elitepaintball.ie

8 Playground Our children’s playground is available in the Island Garden Lodge grounds and includes a variety of fun things to do for our younger guests. The island is a playground in itself with woodland walks taking in Tennis trails where our deer and hare may pop out to see you The tennis courts at Waterford Castle are located at any time! adjacent to the Golf Clubhouse. Tennis rackets and balls are available from Reception at the Castle. Sea Kayaking Seapaddling.com. Walking T: +353 51 393314. www.seapaddling.com For guests seeking more extensive walks in the region, there are a number of walks in the Comeragh Surfing Mountains of varying degrees of difficulties. If you Many of the surf clubs offer lessons as well as equipment would like to take the difficulty out of planning a hire. Most of the clubs offer other activities as well such walk, there are a number of different companies that as Nordic and eco walks and land yachting. offer guided mountain walks. Muddy Boots offers guided walks tailored to individual needs and requests. Freedom Surf School & Adventure. Mountain Zone provides family friendly camping and T: +353 51 386773. www.freedomsurfschool.com mountain adventure. Prices include transport from Oceanic Manoeuvres Surf School. Waterford City, equipment and meals. T: +353 51 390944. www.oceanics.ie T-Bay Surf & Eco Centre. For those with a real interest in walking, the annual T: +353 51 391297. www.surftbay.com Nire Valley Walking Festival may be of interest. This Tramore Surf School. annual walking festival in the scenic Nire Valley offers T: +353 51 391011. www.tramoresurfschool.com a weekend of spectacular walking, great talking and a Bunmahon Surf School. feast of traditional music, singing and dancing in the T: +353 87 6398210. www.bunmahonsurfschool.com Nire Valley.

Swimming Pools For more information on walking in Ireland, visit Kingfisher Leisure Centre. Discover Ireland website or Coillte Outdoors T: +353 51 850 30.0 www.kingfisherclub.com/waterford Splashworld. Download the Discover Ireland App to your T: +353 51 390176. www.splashworld.ie smartphone to explore all that Waterford and the wider south east region has to offer.

9 Waterford - Our Viking City

Waterford City is steeped in history, heritage and Reginald’s Tower culture. Founded by the Vikings in 914, and later T. 051 304 220 www.waterfordtreasures.com extended by the Anglo Normans, it is set in a Mediaeval Museum commanding site on the River Suir’s estuary and T. 051 849 501 www.waterfordtreasures.com became the southeast’s main seaport. Edmund Rice International Heritage Centre T. 051 874 390 www.edmundrice.ie From the 18th century onwards, the industry of the Christchurch Cathedral city prospered, most famously its glass industry. The T. 051 874 757 www.waterford-cathedral.com strong commercialism still exists today, and the port is still one of Ireland’s busiest. The Arts & Entertainment Theatre Royal for national and international Waterford not only boasts some of the most beautiful performances and companies countryside in Ireland, particularly the splendid T. 051 874 402. www.theatreroyal.ie scenery of West Waterford’s mountain passes, but you will also find a spectacular coastline nearby with miles Garter Lane Arts Centre of safe sandy beaches. T. 051 855 038. www.garterlane.ie

Waterford Castle Resort is pleased to recommend the The Central Library - Exhibitions and events following points of interest in the city. More detailed T. 051 849 975. www.waterfordcity.ie/library information on everything the city has to offer can be found online at www.discoverwaterfordcity.ie Odeon Cinema T. 1520 880 000

History & Culture Kilcohan Park Greyhoung Racing – a great night out! House of Waterford Crystal T. 1890 269 969 www.igb.ie/waterford T. 051 317000 www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com The Waterford Museum of Treasures Download the Discover Ireland App to your T. 051 304 500 www.waterfordtreasures.com smartphone to explore all that Waterford and the wider south east region has to offer.

10 Useful Numbers

Travel Waterford Train Station - 051 876 243 Waterford Bus Station - 051 879000 Rapid Express - 051 872149 Waterford Airport - 051 846600 Cork Airport - 021 4313131 Shannon Airport - 061 712000 Dublin Airport - 01 862222 Irish Ferries - 053 9133158 Stena Line - 053 9161560

Emergency Phone Numbers Caredoc - 1850 334999 Waterford Regional Hospital - 051 848000 Waterford Medical Centre Dr Keogh - 051 85 54 11 Waterford Garda Station - 051 874888

11 T: 051 878 203 [email protected] www.waterfordcastleresort.com