Bram Stoker – Dracula Halloween Horror Festival!

October 27th 2010 will mark the start of the Bram Stoker Dracula Halloween Horror Festival at the incredible Clontarf Castle Hotel in Dublin.

What an appropriate setting for this classic gothic tale!

Dracula author Abraham “Bram” Stoker was born close by in Marino Crescent in 1847 and the book Dracula was published some 50 years later.

There is now a school of thought that the name Dracula comes from the joining of the 2 Irish words Droch – meaning  Bad  and Fola -  meaning Blood.

Chance Your Arm in Dublin!

Now if you decided to chance your arm and stay at the lovely Radisson BLU Royal Hotel in Dublin, you would have indeed made a good decision. Take it from me… So no gamble here then!

Within a 5 minute walk of this fabulous hotel is the incredible St Patrick’s Cathedral…. There has been a church on the site since 1191!! The present building dates from 1220.

It is thought that the expression to “Chance One’s Arm” has it’s origins in a story surrounding the cathedral. In 1492 a feud between two prominent Irish families, the Ormonds and the Kildares, had escalated seriously. With Sir James Butler, Earl of Ormond, having to take refuge in the chapter house of St Patrick’s with his entourage. His rival in the feud Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, upon realising that the feud was futile, decided to make peace. In order to show his intentions were honourable and that he did indeed intend to bury the hatchet (… a story for another day!!), he cut a hole in the door with his sword and put his arm throught the hole. Obviously Sir James could easily have severed Gerald’s arm had he wished. Instead however he grasped his hand and peace was made…… And so was born the expression….

50% OFF AT THE BURLINGTON!!!!!

Yes you read that correctly…… But HURRY HURRY!!!!! This EXCLUSIVE offer is only available until 8am tomorrow morning (28th July)……

So just to clarify…. that is 50% OFF any stay from now until 31st August in any room type!!!!!!! BUT THIS IS FOR 24 hours only………….. SOOOOOO…….

GET YOUR SKATES ON!

Are you reading this Thierry Henry?

In 1728, wealthy landlord Garret Colley, of Carbery in County Kildare decided to change his surname to Wesley.

Garret’s grandson Arthur was born on 1^st May 1769 at 24 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin (now a part of the stunning 5 star Merrion Hotel), and would grow up to be very famous indeed.

As you might imagine young Arthur’s family were not short of a few bob, as his father, one Garret Colley Wesley, a Professor of Music at Dublin’s Trinity College, was also for good measure titled the 1^st Earl of Mornington.

Arthur was schooled in Trim in County Meath and at Mr. Whyte’s Academy in Dublin whilst still living in Ireland. Then after a stint at Eton, Arthur was enrolled at the French Royal Academy of Equitation in Angers where he became an accomplished horseman and also learned fluent French….

Some 30 years later in 1815 his command of the French language was to come in very handy when Arthur, now known as the Duke of Wellington, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo…

So what do you think of that Thierry Henry?

I feel much better now….

Today the Merrion Hotel is perhaps Dublin’s finest luxury 5 star property and is situated opposite Dáil Éireann (The Irish Parliament).

In 2009 it was voted one of the “Top 500 Hotels in the World” by Travel + Leisure Magazine in the USA. A well deserved award for a truly exceptional hotel.