Saturday, June 27, 2009 from The Irish Times by Jemma Tipton


How to make a splash on horseback

Tourists have been discovering how special horse riding here is for years. Now there’s an easier way for us to find out, too, writes GEMMA TIPTON
THERE HAS BEEN a good deal of talk about getting back to basics in the tourism industry, of valuing what we do best and playing to our strengths. As those strengths include horses famed the world over for their good nature, beauty, intelligence and speed, it’s no surprise that Discover Ireland has launched a website – www.discoverireland.ie/equestrian – dedicated to horsey holidays.
There are 47 equestrian tourism centres around the country on the Discover Ireland registry, offering lazy horse-drawn caravan trails, thrilling gallops and cross-country courses for experienced riders, calm ponies for small children and gentle trekking for enthusiastic novices.
We headed to Co Mayo to see how special a horse holiday can be. With a group that was a mixture of beginners and more experienced riders, none of us was sure quite what to expect from our ride out.
We had met up at Knockranny House Hotel Spa, at the edge of Westport, and gone on for a tasty seafood lunch at Quay Cottage before meeting Michael Lennon from Westport Woods Riding Centre on one of the beaches of Clew Bay.
I had just been rereading The Irish RM, by Somerville and Ross, and when Lennon led his horses down the ramp of a lorry I pictured him as a sort of Flurry Knox character: that quintessentially Irish type who knows horses and has a particular ability to pair the right horse with the right rider.
In the chapter I had just read, Maj Yeates and his wife had mistakenly been given “the best horses in Ireland” to go hunting on, and I felt a strange sensation of life imitating art as Lennon pointed me to an enormous, and enormously beautiful, black horse that was waiting, grazing, at the edge of the bay.
“Is there anything I should know about him?” I asked as I was given a vital leg-up, me being rather short and the horse being very tall. “Best horse in Ireland,” said Lennon, and the impression was complete.
As it turned out he was right. While the part of our group who hadn’t ridden before were getting used to the feel of their horses and gaining in confidence, we made a couple of circles in the sand before giving in to the temptation that had been growing since arrival – and galloping through the sea, between the shore and the rising slopes of Croagh Patrick.
My animal – an Irish Sport Horse, which is a combination of Thoroughbred and Irish Draught – was strong but good natured, powerful but willing to listen to his rider, and when my friend yelled “Next stop Tír na nÓg” as we raced along I knew exactly what she meant.
We rounded off the ride all together, trekking around the bay, the new riders now comfortable and happy on horseback, before heading back to the hotel for a spa treatment to soothe tired muscles, followed by a relaxing drink to toast the pleasures of the day.
I have ridden in the US, England and Hungary, and, while it may be national pride, I feel that there’s something unique about the Irish relationship with horses, and it’s something that’s hard to put into words. It’s remarkably free of the snobbery that can put people off horses in some countries, and international visitors have been discovering how special horse riding here is for years. This website will make it easier for them and us to enjoy what is, for me, an unbeatable thrill.
On the site you’ll find horse-riding centres, some with accommodation, and some where only the horses and ponies stay overnight, all around the country. You can specify if you want to go beach riding, trekking or cross-country, or even if you want to take lessons to learn, or perfect, your technique. Many centres host clinics where famous riders come to pass on their skills, from dressage to natural horsemanship to showjumping.
You can also visit the horse sales, go racing, see stud farms and experience Ireland’s famous horse fairs. You could watch polo in Phoenix Park (www.polo.ie) or try your hand at polocrosse, known as king of the one horse sports (www.polo crosse.ie). You might not make it to Tír na nÓg, but, like me, you might feel as if you’re already halfway there.


Westport Woods Riding Centre, 098-25811, http://www.westportwoodshotel.com/


5 unforgettable equestrian experiences
1 Dublin Horse Show RDS, Dublin, August 5th to 9th, 0818-300274, www.dublinhorseshow.com. Some of the world’s most fiercely contested showjumping, showing, side-saddle riding and competitions for magnificent stallions – you’ll find them all at Dublin Horse Show. It’s a highlight of the capital’s social calendar, too, as horse lovers converge from far and wide. Some might seem more intent on the champagne bar, but by the time the Nations Cup is being battled out you won’t find an eye off the main event.
2 Laytown Races Laytown, Co Meath, September 1st, 041-9842111, www.goracing.ie. Every year this beach hosts these famous races. The first recorded meeting here was in 1868. Charles Stewart Parnell was one of the early stewards. Over the years, despite the disapproval of the bishop of Meath at the turn of the century, they became a regular fixture on the racing calendar. There’s little to touch the sight of seeing horses flying along the sand between land and sea.
3 Trekking along the beach in Kerry Dingle Horse Riding, 066-9152199, www.dinglehorseriding.com. The beaches of Co Kerry are magnificent – and they’ve even been known to play polo at low tide on Inch Beach – but the beach at Dingle has an extra attraction. One bright January morning we trotted through the village and on to the deserted strand. As we reached a rocky part of the beach that jutted out to the sea, a fin appeared. The horses stood stock still and sniffed the air as Fungi the dolphin came out to greet us.
4 Attend the thoroughbred sales at Goffs Kill, Co Kildare, 045-886600, www.goffs.com. Could you pick the Yeats, Desert Orchid or Denman of the future simply by looking at a leggy foal? Could you spot what makes a proud and jumpy yearling a potential world-beater? See the drama unfold as some of racing’s most famous names bid against each other, each looking for that horse with the special something that will turn dreams of victory into a turn around the winner’s enclosure.
5 And for the family Mayo Horsedrawn Caravan Holidays (094-9032054, www.horsedrawncaravan.com) or Kilvahan Horse Drawn Caravans (Co Laois, 057-8735178, http://www.horsedrawncaravans.com/ ). See Ireland the timeless way on a horse-drawn caravan holiday. Meander through country lanes, stopping at farmhouses as you go. You don’t have to know anything about driving, or even riding, horses beforehand, as an introductory session before you set off will teach you everything you need to learn. It’s a relaxing holiday for adults that is guaranteed heaven for children.
Hotels with horses
** Castle Leslie. Glaslough, Co Monaghan, 047-88100, www.castleleslie.com. Choosing my favourite place to go riding in Ireland is next to impossible. But if I were to book tomorrow I’d choose Castle Leslie. You can bring your own horse (if you like) to ride through 400 hectares of private land, including woodland gallops, cross-country jumps, bridleways for gentle hacking and, to finish off, a plunge through a lake that had me laughing with the thrill. ** Kilcolman Rectory. Enniskean, Co Cork, 023-8822913, www.kilcolmanrectory.com. Georgian country-house BB where your horse can stay in a beautiful period stable – and possibly come away with delusions of horsey grandeur as a result. ** Mount Juliet Conrad Equestrian Centre. Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, 056-7773000, www.mountjuliet.ie. Ultra luxury at this five-star country-manor hotel, where travelling companions can – should they prefer – waste time on the golf course while you revel in enjoying the countryside on horseback. Trekking, trail riding and grassy gallops, plus masterclasses throughout the year. ** Bel-Air Hotel and Equestrian Centre. Ashford, Co Wicklow, 0404-40109, www.belairhotelequestrian.com. The country-house appeal of the Bel-Air is friendly and relaxed. There’s a slight sense of faded charm, but that’s all part of the fun, and the horse riding is fantastic. Not for beginners, there’s cross-country jumps, and forest rides. ** Westport Woods Hotel. Westport, Co Mayo, 098-25811, www.westport woodshotel.com. The stables are not on site at the hotel, but to be able to ride on the beach at Clew Bay and trek the foothills of Croagh Patrick more than makes up for not being able to see the stables from your bedroom window. ** Some centres also have equestrian accommodation, so if you can’t bear to be parted from your horse, just ask. For more holidays, see www.discoverireland.ie/equestrian
This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times

go!kids! Family Holidays at the Westport Woods Hotel & Spa

Family Holidays at the Westport Woods Hotel & Spa

Holidays should be all about fun for everyone and that’s what we have on offer here at the Westport Woods Hotel. Our free go!kids! club runs mornings and evenings to leave lots of time for parents to enjoy some leisure. Kids especially love the kiddie meals starting with the breakfast train first thing in the morning. go!kids! caters for kids from toddlers of three right up to teens.

Mums and Dads can take time to pamper themselves with a spa treatment in the Cedar Spa - a facial perhaps or a soothing massage. Don’t forget to leave time to enjoy the outdoor hot tub overlooking woodland. There’s nothing more delightful than lying back in steamy luxury, looking at the glories of nature.

When you’re feeling energetic, drop down to The Beech Club Leisure Centre; use is free of charge to all our guests. It has a fully equipped gym and lovely swimming pool as well as sauna and jacuzzi. Someone is always on hand to show you around.

The stylish Bench Café bar serves a bar food menu all day. It also features live entertainment every night so there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

Take the opportunity to explore Westport as well, it’s a thriving cosmopolitan town full to bursting with interesting shops, craft and art exhibitions. It’s the reigning Tidy Towns champion, and it’s easy to see why - it’s just gorgeous. Ask at reception for details on the dozens of attractions in the surrounding area. You’ll find plenty to choose from between beaches, islands, the National Museum, Kylemore Abbey, Leenane and more.

Discover Ireland Volvo Ocean Race Pavilion

Discoverireland pavilion

The Volvo Ocean Race is coming to Galway, from Saturday May 23rd to June 6th 2009inclusive. Failte Ireland will have a large discoverireland.ie pavilion located directly in front of the main entrance of the Volvo Ocean Race Village on Queens St, Galway (next to the docks).

250 000 Irish and international holidaymakers are expected to visit the Race Village over its 15 days of operation. It will operate from 9.30 to 22.30 every day from 23rd May to 6th June.

There will be three areas within the pavilion: West Coast, East Coast and Lakelands, each of about 6m x 3m in size. There will be one Failte Ireland person manning each area at all times with members of the trade from the regions.

The schedule of activities for the 15 days and full information is available on the website of the event organiser, http://www.galwayvolvooceanrace.com/

Also on each stand at all times will be at least one animation (i.e. an interactive experience that will engage visitors, such as a surfer teaching people how to jump up on a surf board/ a bodhran player teaching them how to play the bodhran/ a living history character such as an Early Christian Monk explaining the heritage of a region/ a Good Food Ireland producer offering tastings.

For everyone in the pavilion, the concept is to give the visitor an interactive experience that they will engage with and remember, rather than just a brochure. The props will represent the tourism product available in their region e.g. there are already golf clubs, a mountain bike, a piece of bog oak and a surf board being brought along.

go!trekking! Equestrian Holidays Ireland will bring along a saddle and bridle for display, cleaning,. oiling and of course promotional value. Hopefully some of the sailors and their families will be interested in the Irish Sport Horse and go!trekking! Equestrain holidays in the West of Ireland.

Come and go visit us this week.

To all budding Badminton Breeders

Horse Sport Ireland Courses coming up in May and June that may be of interest to breeders in the Mayo area.


The first one starts next Monday evening May 18th:

Mare & Stallion Selection and Assessment: runs over 3 Monday evenings 7-10pm including light refreshments

This course is a must for any current or potential Sport Horse Breeder! During this course participants will research the pedigree of their own horses, discover the types of stallions to use for different breeding goals and measure a return on the investment. This course will include an assessment of existing and potential broodmares.

West: Drummindoo Stud, Westport, Co. Mayo

May 18th & 25th and June 8th





Care & Handling of Young Stock: 2 day course €80 (Lunch included)

This short course will be held in two regional centres in 2009. Including practical demonstrations by experienced breeders, participants will learn all the skills required to best manage their young stock from birth to three years of age.

West: Drummindoo Stud, Westport, Co. Mayo

June 15th & 22nd


If anyone would like more information or to register for these courses they can contact Lorraine or Nadia Rea on 045 854532/ nrea@horsesportireland.ie.


www.horsesportireland.ie

Green Entertainment and Leisure Award at the Westport Woods Hotel & Spa

Green Entertainment and Leisure Award

The Westport Woods Hotel is implementing an ongoing programme minimising their environmental impact while maintaining a profitable business. This hotel’s green vision leads the Irish hotel industry and has succeeded in reducing CO² emissions by 70% since 2004.

Recycling, waste minimisation and litter control
Huge strides have been made in reducing waste going to landfill - from 240 tonnes to less than 40 tonnes per annum, Guests are invited to join in by using the ‘green bin’ in all bedrooms. All waste is segregated and recycled or composted if possible. An ultra-efficient Big Hanna composter allows composting of cooked waste.

Boidiversity/improving natural habitats
An arboricultural plan is being followed for the extensive woodland and over 2,000 new hardwoods have been planted. A nature trail is being developed.

Use of “green” suppliers or materials
The new playground has a Playtop surface comprised of recycled car tyres and incorporating Nike Grind. The adventure area is surfaced with natural treebark from local suppliers. Other green suppliers include Kelly’s Sawmills (sustainable Irish timber), Balcas wood pellets, Ecowood chips and Henkle Ecolab who supply environmentally friendly phosphate free chemicals. Electricity is supplied by Airtricity. All hotel literature is printed on sustainable paper and even the distinct hotel treeline logo complements the green vision in all branding.

Energy and/or water efficiency
Oil has been replaced with Irish supplied sustainable woodchip, woodpellet and solar heating systems. Electricity use has been significantly reduced. All new building incorporates best energy practices in air tightness and insulation, and retrofitting of the 1960s section is ongoing. Lighting uses LED or CFL bulbs. Ice is made at night time to reduce day time peak demand. The ongoing water management programme includes monitoring, controlling and acting. Hippo bags are fitted in all cisterns, sensors in urinals and push taps introduced to cut down on water use.

In the leisure centre a wood pellet boiler heats the swimming pool and a liquid pool blanket retains heat and reduces energy use. The exercise bikes are now dynamo driven and 12 individual TV sets have been replaced with 2 low energy screens. A more efficient control system has been introduced for air handling. Natural light coming through large windows all over the hotel reduces need for artificial light.

Have you had an energy audit and what savings have you achieved to date
Ronan Melia Associates conducted a complete energy audit in 2006/7. The hotel follows self-audit guidelines laid down by the Green Hospitality Awards. The Clean Technology Centre provides an ongoing monitoring system and benchmarks against Irish and international industry standards. The energy consumption has reduced from 2.8 to 2.4 megawatts per annum. In overall terms energy costs have remained static despite a 30-40% rise in costs.

Minimising traffic/use of private vehicles/green transport strategies
Bicycles and bicycle racks are supplied for the use of guests and employees are encouraged to cycle or walk to work. Guests are encouraged to take the train to Westport and a free pick up service is available. Guests are invited to walk or hike locally and horse trekking from the hotel’s own stables provides an alternative to quad bikes, driving or other high-energy use entertainment.

Initiatives that help improve the safety, security or health of workers
The ‘Green Team’ comprised of employees is dedicated to implementing simple new ideas for a better way to do profitable business. Employees are completely involved in the whole greening process and many of the best energy saving ideas have come from them.

Staff undergo regular Environmental and Health & Safety training including Manual Handling and Chemical Training. The hotel follows the Fáilte Ireland Optimus and Best Practice programmes. This is evidenced by a shortlisting for the Small Firms Association HR Awards in 2007. The SEI award for co-ordinated Energy Management and ILAM Quality White Flag Awards help in better management and in continually raising standards.

Employees have free leisure centre membership to encourage activity, and are offered discounted use of the spa.

Initiatives that improve the local economy and/or help the local community
Westport is the current national Tidy Towns winner and the hotel is involved in that effort. The local Tidy Towns organisation have put the hotel forward for a biodiversity award. Michael Lennon General Manager regularly speaks at national conferences on the greening experience and takes the opportunity to promote Westport. The hotel works closely with the Town Council and Town Architect following guidelines such as reinstating the old demesne wall, closing two entrances and introducing beech hedging. The hotel is very involved in the umbrella marketing organisation Destination Westport which actively promotes the town nationally and internationally and part-funds Tidy Towns.

go!kids! Everyone Can Play

Building A New Brand Is Child's Play In every job that must be done, there is an element of funIn Every Job That Must Be DoneIt's summertime and the children are enjoying another day's play in the sun. But on the horizon, storm clouds are gathering. For the Westport Woods and Yeats' Country, two hotels in the west of Ireland who have offered family holidays for as long as they remember, the playground is growing a little too crowded for comfort.The new affluence, the lure of the overseas holiday and the addition of a whole new range of players to the market in Ireland have made this a fiercely competitive market. On top of that, the rules of the game are changing as health and safety regulations and insurance demands begin to bite.Clearly, something must be done, but what? At the Westport Woods, Michael Lennon had some ideas. He knew that you needed to be different in order to stand out from the crowd. He had recently taken a call from Gerard Tannam at Creative Inputs who had talked about branding and he determined to explore this a little further.There Is An Element Of FunPeople are often a little reluctant to talk about brand. When Gerard met with Michael and his colleagues at the two hotels and began to ask about the family holiday programme, he was surprised at how easily the talk turned to story. Invited to describe what was best about their family holidays, the staff became engaged and animated as they talked about this picnic on the beach, that fancy dress party or the first successful length of the swimming pool. They spoke fondly of the families who came back year after year, and the children who returned as eighteen year olds to work as KO's (Kiddie Organisers). As Gerard listened, he was struck by how warmly they spoke of their guests and the real interest they had in the children and their holidays. This was borne out in the other stories he heard: those told in the comment cards, the news articles and the letters from the children themselves.You Find The FunHe was also struck by something else. What he heard described above all else was the transformational role that a holiday plays in the life of the family. This is a golden time of year, when the days seem endless, when Mum and Dad are more relaxed and ready to play, and the child makes new friends, tries out new activities and grows taller and more confident.It is a time of delight, of magic and romance when the unexpected happens and the child catches glimpses of other worlds, hears new expressions and strange accents from other places, has that first crush and sees things a little differently.He was struck too by the part that the KO's play in all of this. For one or two weeks of the year, they are welcomed into the family circle where they transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, coax and cajole parents and children to play together again and generally turn things upside down.And Snap! In the telling of these family holiday stories in hotels in Mayo and Sligo, Gerard heard another story, one that describes how a family where the parents are too caugh up in their grown up world of business and politics to play with their two children, and where those children have grown wild and unruly as a result, have their lives turned upside down and transformed by the arrival of an extraordinary figure.There is an even older story, of course, but Gerard heard the story of Mary Poppins, the nanny who arrives magically into the household of the Banks family in London, and takes children first, and then parents, on a series of magical adventures which changes the way they see their world and their family life. At the end, the family has learned to play together again and whilst they head off to the park to fly a kite, Mary quietly takes her leave, her job complete.Michael and the team agreed that the Mary Poppins story would be a powerful one to use to inspire their own story and set about developing a framework for their new brand.The Job's A Game!First stop was Monika Crowley at Creative Inputs, who was invited to develop an identity that would reflect the values of this personality: family, connection, participation, self-worth and play; and infuse them with her uniquely brisk, challenging and magical way of doing things. The result was go!kids! with its lively tagline 'Everyone Can Play'.Next up, the team turned to Denis Goodbody at ADept Advertising, who developed a tone of voice for the new brand with lines such as: 'Give them a bit of space - they'll be over the moon'.They then turned to theatre company Barabbas to work with the teams at the two hotels to animate the brand and develop programmes of play that would reflect its values and priorities and to Douglas Thornton to deliver the training.Meanwhile, website development company Adnet tackled the online presence of the brand and created www.gokids.ie where the brand found even further expression.At the same time, the team considered all aspects of their traditional family holiday offer, including management, catering, facilities and recruitment, and determined how they might better deliver it in the spirit of the new brand.And Every Task You UndertakeThe choice of the new brand had an immediate effect on the business. The two hotels began to recognise their leadership position in the market and to tap into the transformational role of go!kids! in the life of the family. They saw themselves less as being in the business of beds and sleep (which is how many hotels see things) and more in the business of families and play.They adopted a confident, commanding tone in their communications and gained a new confidence in their own offer. They adapted the format, extended it to other parts of the year and identified new routes to market.Becomes A Piece Of Cake.Just as in the original story, the outcome was fairly dramatic. Michael and his team reported:An increase of 12% on summer business in the first year (on a design and production budget of €45,000). An immediate return on investment of 5:1 within four months of launch. A reduction in advertising spend of €6,000. An increase of 10% on year-round family holiday business (on a design and production budget of €12,000) in the second year.The team also described how the brand helped to hold room yields (whilst others in the market dropped theirs), retain key staff, encourage greater participation by parents and improve satisfaction levels."The go!kids! brand has rejuvenated our family holiday business, changed the way we see our offering and given us something fresh and distinctive to say to our market." Michael Lennon, The Westport Woods HotelCredits:Narrator: Michael Lennon of Westport Woods Hotel Direction: Gerard Tannam of Islandbridge Design: Monika Crowley of Creative Inputs Language: Denis Goodbody of ADept Advertising Training: Douglas Thornton of DTA Marketing Veronica Coburn and Raymond Keane of Barabbas - The Company Website: Alan Bell of Adnet