Free On the Lakes A Voyage of THINGS TO Discovery IRELAND’S HIDDEN HEARTLANDS SEE ONAND IRELAND’S LAKELANDSDO Westmeath LINKING IRELAND’S WEST & EAST Image: wAthlone Castle Go Wild Magazine - On the Lakes, Summer Edition 2019 One Destination A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE Save up to 50% by booking online www.cliffsofmoher.ie at least one day in advance OPEN November, December, January & February 09:00 – 17:00 March, April, September & October: 08.00 – 19.00 May, June, July & August 08:00 – 21:00 Book online in advance to guarantee entry Book online today Experience a unique landscape and culture by staying in County Clare Co. Clare, Ireland. E: [email protected] United Nations Burren and Educational, Scientific and Cliffs of Moher Cultural Organization UNESCO Global Geopark T: +353 65 7086141 www.cliffsofmoher.ie Publisher’s Note Welcome to our new magazine ‘Go Wild On the Lakes and Hidden Heartland’s which, showcases all of the amazing things to do and places to see, in the heart of Ireland. he beautiful Lakelands is one area that is, perhaps, Have a wonderful holiday and a fabulous lakeland’s Tless well-known to visitors- but hopefully this experience magazine will give you a greater insight into the delights that await you- from Fermanagh to Killaloe - on Ireland’s Céad Míle Fáilte, waterways. Combining the Lakelands and Fáilte Ireland’s new tourism Bobby Power initiative, the Hidden Heartlands has provided our team with a beautiful challenge; one each member has enjoyed Publisher fulfilling with exciting editorials and magical discoveries. Go Wild Magazine titles We hope that the information contained within this title Email: [email protected] will enhance your stay in Ireland. Tel: 087 446 7007 To download all of our Go Wild Tourism, Go Wild Dublin , To download all of our Go Wild Tourism, Go Ancient East, Go Wild On The Lakes, and two Go Go Ancient East, Go Wild On The Lakes, and Go Wild Food Wild Food Experience magazines titles directly Experience magazines titles directly to your device, please to your device, please visit http//:www.issuu.com/ visit http//:www. Gowildmagazine.com gowildmagazine Contents 4: Discover Westmeath 38: Taste the Island 6: Hidden Heartlands on TV 40: Things to see and do in Killaloe 8: Discover Lough Derg 41: Ireland’s Robin Hood, Archer Ronan McCormack 12: Things to see and do in Athlone 42: Things to see and do in Cavan 14: The Hidden Heartlands 43: Ireland’s Robin Hood: Archer Rogan Cunningham 16: Legends of Lough Derg 44: Ogham Ireland’s Ancient Alphabet 18: John Driscoll an American Perspective 46: Things to see and do in Fermanagh 20: An Irish Love Story Grace & Joseph 48: Norman Heritage 24: Global Irish Festival Series 50: All that Jazz 26: Things to see and do in Mullingar 52: Things to see and do in Tullamore 28: Who’s who in the Olde Post Inn 56: Things to see and do in Roscommon 30: Things to see and do in Banagher 58: Bugatti on show in Dunlop Castle 34: Things to see and do in Carrick on Shannon 60: The World Pairs Fishing Championship 36: Things to see and do in Portumna For all the latest news, visit www.gowildmagazine.com – your official guide to the Wild Atlantic Way Contacts: Contributors: Graphic Design: For advertising: Bobby Power, Publisher Copy Editor: Dave Curtin, Creative Director [email protected] Keith Nicol Email: [email protected] For accounts: Cleo Power, Account Manager Sales hotline: Tel: 061 748278 [email protected] Bobby - 087 446 7007 Available from all Failte Ireland Ireland tourist information offices Magazine A special thank you to Fáilte Ireland & Ireland.com for their support with content and imagery. The Wild Atlantic Way Magazine ltd, t/a Go Wild Magazine. All rights reserved. The Wild Atlantic Way Magazine ltd t/a GoWild Magazine does not accept any responsibility for any advertising content. All unsubscripted manuscripts will not be accepted or returned. No material may be used in whole or in part without the publisher’s prior consent. While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of all events, information or recommendations in this magazine, no responsibility will be accepted by The Wild Atlantic Way Magazine Ltd, its editorial team, designers, authors or agents acting on their behalf for alterations, errors or omissions which may occur. Magazine BEAUTIFUL WESTMEATH ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Known as the ‘Lake County’, Westmeath’s landscape is truly beautiful, with sparkling waters and lush green pastures linking a rich heritage and vibrant culture. Go Wild - On the Lakes - Summer Edition 2019 - 4 - www.gowildmagazine.com Where the mighty river Shannon flows into Lough Ree, Athlone offers leisurely cruises, watersports, bird watching, angling and the legendary Viking Boat Tour.” Located in the heart of Ireland and just an hour from of Lough Ennell is a must-visit, with Dublin Airport, you’ll find more opportunities to explore its beautifully restored Georgian Villa, the wild and authentic Ireland here than anywhere else. Victorian Walled Garden and woodland walking trails. Lough Derravaragh For walkers and cyclists, Westmeath Banks, in this lively cultural town, is integral to Irish mythology, as the is a haven. Choose from two great you’ll find award-winning restaurants lake where the legendary tale of the greenways, or looped walking and cafes, Athlone Castle with its Children of Lir took place. Close by this trails through ancient lands, native interactive exhibits and panoramic mystical lake, you will find Tullynally woodlands and scenic lakeshores. views and the Luan Gallery, featuring Castle and Gardens, Castlepollard, Or immerse yourself in nature and visual artists from home and abroad. an ornate estate with gardens and tea enjoy our native wildlife from the water Lough Ennell and Lough Owel are rooms that you won’t want to leave. itself. Where the mighty river Shannon also popular spots for watersports and flows into Lough Ree, Athlone offers angling and the Royal Canal Greenway For more, go to leisurely cruises, watersports, bird links these majestic lakes with the www.VisitWestmeath.ie watching, angling and the legendary bustling town of Mullingar. Belvedere or like Visit Westmeath on Viking Boat Tour. On the Shannon House Gardens and Park on the shores Facebook or Instagram Go Wild - On the Lakes - Summer Edition 2019 - 5 - www.gowildmagazine.com IRELAND’S HIDDEN HEARTLANDS IS ‘YOURS TO UNCOVER’ THIS SUMMER Domestic Campaign shines a light on Ireland’s central heartlands Fáilte Ireland’s Summer advertising campaign for Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands highlights the region as the perfect place to take a short break. The multi-media brand awareness campaign, worth €550,000, will run on TV, outdoor, radio and digital channels, showcasing how Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is ‘Yours to Uncover’. Over the coming weeks, audiences across Ireland will see some of the unique experiences, natural beauty and treasures Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands has to offer. The campaign features the Shannon and its Lakes, the Beara Breifne Way, Lough Oughter, Lough Key, “Over the coming weeks, through in April 2018. The brand aim is as well as the many woodlands our domestic brand awareness to bring to life the Midlands rich and bogs throughout the region campaign, we will be reinforcing natural assets including its many Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands as lakes, walkways and blueways. The campaign will run through a key part of a brand in the Irish to 21st July, culminating in a tourism offering that presents Mr. Mathews continued: two-week partnership with RTE Irish consumers with compelling Radio 1’s The Ray D’Arcy Show reasons to consider the region “While this brand will need to evolve which will see Ray broadcast from for their future travel plans.” over time to realise its full potential, Clare, Longford, Leitrim, Cavan the area has some strong assets and and Offaly from 8th – 12th July. The Irish domestic holiday market Fáilte Ireland is working closely is a very important component of with key partners and communities Paddy Mathews, Fáilte the tourism sector providing year across the region to begin developing Ireland’s Head of Ireland’s around activity worth over €1.1bn. the top-class visitor experiences that Hidden Heartlands, said: Fáilte Ireland’s marketing division will be key to unlocking the success “Our Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands invested over €8-million in of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.” brand has been incredibly well developing and delivering creative received by the industry and and effective media content to The two central spines of the resonated strongly during research bolster the home holiday market region are the River Shannon and in our target markets. It is tapping in 2018 delivering 15 bespoke the Beara Breifne Way, and Fáilte into a growing tourism trend for fully integrated campaigns Ireland is focusing on how those soft activities by encouraging promoting the four experience two major assets can be developed visitors to be ‘active in nature’ brands, (Wild Atlantic Way, to bring visitor experiences of and to explore the region by going Ireland’s Ancient East, Dublin scale to the region. This will off the beaten track. The brand’s and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands), involve identifying the range of appeal also very much lies in festivals and activities. products and experiences with its offer for visitors to get away strong potential along the routes from the stresses and pressures Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is as well as areas where there is of modern life and to experience the newest regional experience a lack of product on the ground, the tranquillity of rural Ireland. brand for Ireland and was unveiled and how this can be addressed.