News

Naas’s landmark Osprey Hotel today revealed plans to completely redesign and refresh its dining space and lobby, which will hold a new 130 seater restaurant called Herald & Devoy. Owners of the four-star Kildare hotel, The PREM Group, have started the redesign which is part of an overall €3m investment into the Osprey. The new eye-catching lobby will include a ‘casual chic’ brasserie, ready to delight all guests with ‘Coffee-To- Go’ and all day dining fayre on offer. The Osprey has enlisted, several well-respected names from the worlds of food and architecture, such as well-known architect and television personality, Hugh Wallace and food writer and food consultant, Hugo Arnold.  The launch of the restaurant is good news for Naas and the surrounding areas, with up to 15 new permanent jobs expected to be created. Herald & Devoy will have a casual chic brasserie feel to it, with a contemporary fit out, designed and created by […]

Irish Injured Jockeys today announced twelve of a possible fourteen riders who will compete in its charity racing series, The Corinthian Challenge. The riders will ride over three top class race courses in a bid to raise funds for the charity. Last year the series raised over €120,000 for Irish Injured Jockeys and the overall series winner was Alice Kavanagh, a student from Kildare who is currently studying equine studies at CAFRE College in Enniskillen.  The first race will take place on the 16th of July at the Curragh over 1.½ miles on the Irish Derby track. The second leg will be held on the 16th of September at Gowran Park over 1.½ miles and the final race will take place on the 22nd of October over 1.¼ miles at Leopardstown on the Irish Champions Stakes track.   So far, the riders confirmed  to ride in the Corinthian Challenge are; Lynne McLoughlin a member of […]

Take the hassle out of travelling this summer by holidaying closer to home with a family get away at the luxurious Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny. This breath-taking destination in the heart of Leinster is the perfect place for a family break, and with summer offers including lots of great family activities this luxurious property has something to entertain everyone. Located just five minutes from the centre of Kilkenny City, the property and its grounds tend to surprise visitors with 170 acres of mature parkland complete with exquisite lakes, rustic walkways and historic gardens on the site. The luxurious Kilkenny estate is running special family summer offers ranging from two, three and five night stays, with breakfast included each morning and one evening’s dinner included on the guest’s chosen night. The two-night package starts from €279 per adult sharing and includes a family pass to Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile Museum, Kilkenny’s newest visitor attraction set in the […]

Press ReleaseJapanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama will make his first appearance at a regular European Tour tournament when the World Number Four tees it up at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation from July 6-9. The 25 year old has become one of the hottest properties in the game thanks to his scintillating form since May of last year which has yielded three victories on the US PGA Tour, including at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, and two runner-up finishes. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the third Rolex Series event of the 2017 Race to Dubai, will feature a record $7 million prize fund when it takes places at Portstewart Golf Club for the first time this year, with golf fans able to purchase their tickets here to witness Matsuyama in action. Matsuyama’s maiden appearance at the island of Ireland’s national championship – alongside a plethora of the game’s biggest names […]

Tucked away in the Irish countryside, in the village of Straffan Co. Kildare, you will encounter a fine example of Ireland’s famous hospitality at the Five Red Star K Club Hotel. If you haven’t yet gotten around to booking your summer break, The K Club offers a luxurious experience and fantastic facilities for all the family to enjoy. The K Club Summer Offer (from €285per night) includes three night’s bed and breakfast in a Superior Room and a four course evening meal on one evening in The Byerley Turk Restaurant. With families in mind, The K Club offers interconnecting rooms and rooms with the option of a sofa bed to keep a close watch on the young ones. Each family has complimentary access to the health club with its swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub. This package also includes tickets to the National Stud and Japanese Gardens, Tayto Park or Dublin […]

The countdown to Father’s Day has begun and what better way to show the number one man in your life how much he means to you than with gift from the Five AA Red Star K Club, County Kildare. This Father’s Day, (Sunday 18th June), The K Club are hosting a special event on the Ryder Cup Course, designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer, which is encouraging any Father and offspring of any age to enter into a grand singles tournament on the day. The special Father’s Golf Day package, priced at €100 per person includes a two-course meal at the course’s Legend Clubhouse restaurant for every entrant and there will be a first and second prize for winners consisting of a day’s golfing on the Ryder Cup Course and the Smurfit Course respectively, as well as a K Club Towel and sleeve of premier Srixon balls. If golf isn’t dad’s thing, gift him a […]

The glitz and the glam will not just be reserved for the Curragh Racecourse this summer as the annual Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball returns to The K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare on Friday, June 30th.  The glamourous, black tie ball in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation is one of the key social events of the summer and will be attended by a mix of racing fans, business people, media personalities and international guests, many of which will fly in from Dubai. Dubai Duty Free will celebrate its 10th year as the title sponsors of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby this year while it is also the 20th anniversary of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, and the fourth year in which they will receive the proceeds from the event. Among the attendees at this year’s ball will be RTÉ racing expert Tracy Piggott, who is MC for the […]

The ‘60s Summer of Love featuring Donovan’ exhibition opened at the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware today (May 22nd).  The stunning fashion and music exhibition helped roll back the years to a time when a rebellious and inspired new generation found its voice. The exhibition was opened by Donovan Leitch, the artist credited by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as the man who ‘singlehandedly initiated the psychedelic revolution with his album Sunshine Superman’, and the Scottish musician performed some of his most famous tracks to the crowd gathered at Newbridge Silverware. The exhibition features several garments and items of musical interest from Donovan’s own private collection.  Among some of the garments in the exhibition are two cloaks worn by Donovan which featured on the covers of his vinyl’s, one being a Moroccan inspired robe and the other, an original Victorian garment. The wedding dress belonging to Donovan’s wife Linda Lawrence created […]

Irish Injured Jockeys today announced that it will once again run its charity racing series, The Corinthian Challenge which will see at least ten amateur riders riding over three top class race courses in a bid to raise funds for the charity and the jockeys it supports. Last year the amateur riders raised over €120,000 for Irish Injured Jockeys. Well-known names to compete last year included Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who is a member of the Royal Family of Qatar, racing journalist Niall Cronin, TV presenters Tracy Piggott and Sally Ann Grassick and Goff’s, Sophie Candy.   The overall series winner was Alice Kavanagh, a student from Kildare who is currently studying equine at CAFRE College in Enniskillen. The first race will take place on the 16th of July at the Curragh over 1.5 miles on the Irish Derby track. The second leg will be held on the 16th of September at Gowran Park over 1.5 […]

  Trainer Gordan Elliott’s Roaring Bull stormed to victory in the Dooley Insurance Flat Race at Punchestown on Tuesday evening, rounding off a brilliant opening day’s action at the Co. Kildare racecourse. Jockey Lisa O Neil guided the 25/1 Gigginstown House Stud horse home to victory giving trainer, Gordan Elliott his first win of the day. Dooley Insurance Group, one of Ireland’s largest independent insurance brokers, were the title sponsors of the race as they also celebrated the recent launch of their new Equine Insurance Division, a sector of their business which will help those involved in the equine industry gain greater access to insurance that is tailored to their needs and not have to put up with a one size fits all kind of cover. It also helps the Naas-based brokers celebrate 60 years in business, and they have picked the ideal way to launch their new division, with the Punchestown Festival providing a […]

Newbridge Silverware, one of Ireland’s leading tourist destinations, has been awarded a ‘Chinese Tourist Welcome’ accreditation which ensures the Kildare-based attraction is a must visit venue for visitors coming from China. The Museum of Style Icons(MOSI) at Newbridge Silverware has been awarded Chinese Welcome Accreditation after implementing specialist training workshops with assistance from the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI), making it a key destination for Chinese tourists. Sue Fong Gan, a fluent Mandarin speaker and Guest Relations Executive at Newbridge Silverware, was joined by 19 other colleagues as they completed four core modules that covered areas such as communication, marketing, Chinese attitudes to foreign travel and information on the background of Chinese tourism in Ireland and the UK. The team were awarded their certificates by a representative of the Chinese Embassy for Ireland Mr Li Shaofu and Tony Lenehan – Chairman, County Kildare Failte. Speaking following the presentation of the certification, Newbridge Silverware CEO William Doyle […]

Naas based, Moloney & Co. Solicitors together with the Principal of the firm, Liam Moloney have been nominated for the Irish Law Awards. The nominations are in three separate categories, Leinster Provincial Law Firm of the Year, Sole Practitioner of the Year and Leinster Solicitor of the Year. Now in their 6th year, the Irish Law Awards identify, honour, and publicise outstanding achievements of Law Firms and Solicitors in the legal profession. The glitzy black tie awards will take place on Friday, May 12th, at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin and will be attended by Ireland’s greatest legal minds and firms. Hosted by RTE’s, Miriam O’Callaghan the awards are regarded as the Oscar’s of the Irish legal profession. Liam Moloney said: “We are delighted to have been nominated as the standard is extremely high. Our firm and team work very hard to not just meet our client’s expectations but to exceed them. We believe in best practice […]

  Caragh Nurseries Caragh Nurseries is a 55- acre production nursery, located in Caragh Village, Naas, Co. Kildare. The nursery is owned and run by husband and wife team, Jo and Ian McGarry. The team are specialists in large trees and trees in frames to provide instant privacy in both commercial and residential settings. The nursery has been behind the creation of some of Ireland’s most impressive commercial and private gardens including the spa gardens at Galgorm Spa Resort in Antrim and the entrance avenue at Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge. www.caraghnurseries.ie Curragh Racecourse The Curragh Racecourse in Co. Kildare is the home of the classics and the location for the flagship race, The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. O’Brien PR runs the ladies days (fashion competitions) at The Curragh. Race meetings we will be working on in 2017 include The Darley Irish Oaks, July 16th and Irish Champions weekend 10th September. www.curragh.ie Tickets are available for […]

  For the first time in its history, Naas Racecourse will both open and close the flat season of Irish racing. The first meeting of the Irish flat season will take place at the Kildare track on Sunday, 26th of March with the Group 3 EBF Park Express Stakes and the Tote Irish Lincolnshire Premier Handicap taking centre stage. While the Irish flat season finale meeting will take place on Sunday, 5th of November.   Naas Racecourse will play host to 11 flat racing fixtures this season with a staggering €2.65 million worth of prize money up for grabs. A total of 19 black type races will be run at the track, 10 of which are group races and 9 are listed races.   Naas Racecourse is often referred to as the ‘Nursery of Champions’ due to the long tradition of providing preparation opportunities for big racing festivals, both domestic and international, for both national […]

  Newbridge Silverware, together with Julien’s Auctions is about to exhibit a rare collection of Hollywood jewellery at the Museum of Style Icons (MOSI) this month. The exhibition, ‘Hidden Gems’ will run from Monday, 20th of March – 14th of May 2017. It will feature an incredible range of pieces made by the master jeweller to the stars, Eugene Joseff of Joseff of Hollywood who was synonymous with movie glamour. Joseff made dazzling and unique pieces of jewellery worn by the world’s most famous movie stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood and his pieces were regularly seen on the red carpet, in the movies and at special events. The collection offers rare and significant Hollywood provenance and includes pieces worn by famous movie greats including: Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Maureen O’Hara, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Tony Curtis, Rita Hayworth, Katherine Hepburn and Vivien Leigh. Many of the pieces […]

2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana and to mark this special year two particularly important exhibitions are currently running in the UK. ‘Diana: Her Fashion Story’ opened to the public on Friday, (24th of February) at Kensington Palace and will run throughout the year. Garments that are now owned by museums and private collectors all over the world are included in this exhibition including the famous pale pink Emanuel blouse which is owned by Newbridge Silverware and which has been lent to the exhibition. Diana famously wore this blouse in her engagement portrait by Lord Snowdon in 1981 and the piece is regarded by the curators of the exhibition as one of the most important garments within the collection. The photograph of a young, Diana wearing the blouse was originally commissioned as part of a Vogue feature on ‘upcoming beauty’. It is reported that Diana walked into the shoot and […]

  Irish cosmetic brand, Pestle & Mortar Cosmetic has its sights set firmly on expansion in the USA. The company, which was established in December 2014 by husband and wife team Sonia and Padraic Deasy has experienced rapid growth and has developed and launched six skincare products in just over two years.   Pestle & Mortar’s turnover reached over €2 million in 2016 with products sold through key retailers and specialist skin care providers in Ireland, the UK and America.   Retailers at home include Arnott’s and Avoca while Liberty in London and ABC Home in New York are stockists abroad. The company also sells direct to the consumer through its online platform and to high end day spas. Such has been the success of the business that QVC in America has asked to stock and sell all of the products starting with the Pestle & Mortar Superstar Retinol Night Oil. QVC is the largest home […]

If you really want to spoil the love of your life then you need to have the Five AA Red Star, K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare on your radar. This gorgeous country house hotel has a large variety of opulent suites and rooms with spectacular views across the manicured gardens and terraces and the River Liffey which flows through the 550 acre estate. The food, service and warmth of the staff leaves you under no illusion – this is truly five star. Facilities include a luxurious spa, swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, two golf courses and there are lots of restaurants to choose from. If you and your beloved want to try your hand at some fun outdoor pursuits you will be spoilt for choice as falconry, archery, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding and fishing are all available. If that sounds too much like hard work, perhaps a leisurely romantic walk around the estate […]

Nostra, an independent, Irish owned and managed ICT company based in Lucan, Co. Dublin has today announced 50 new jobs. The company was established by Kevin O’Loughlin along with Gary Byrne, Senan Finucane and Barry O’Loughlin in 2006 and has grown rapidly in the last number of years. The business has grown from just four staff in 2006 to 75 people in 2016 with 50 new positions to be filled over the next three years.   Recruitment for the new positions, with the support of Enterprise Ireland will begin immediately and includes roles for computer engineers and sales personnel who will be required to service recent client wins and support the growth of new international business. The company supports well-known brands including BoyleSports, Dawn Farm Foods and aerospace giant Avolon which now has a requirement for international ICT supported and managed by Nostra.   In 2016 the company turned over €7 million and it is […]

  There was a huge crowd at Naas Racecourse today for The Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle. The 5,732 strong crowd descended on the Kildare track to watch the Gordon Elliott trained, Death Duty storm to victory in the capable hands of jockey, Jack Kennedy. The premier Grade 1 race has featured top-class performers such as two Grand National winners, Pineau De Re and Rule The World and was the first fixture of the National Hunt Season in Kildare. A large contingent of ladies were in attendance dressed to impress and keen to catch the eye of the fashion judges – model and broadcaster, Glenda Gilson, Bairbre Power of the Irish Independent, Jennifer Stevens of Irish Country Magazine and Anna Fortune of The Kildare Post. Hannah Crosse from Kilfeacle in Co. Tipperary was declared the best dressed lady on the day. She wore black trousers from Ted Baker which she paired with a white top from Gallery 9 in Naas. […]

The four-star Osprey Hotel in Naas will reveal its new look health club, ‘Fitness & Leisure @ The Osprey Hotel at 1.00pm this Saturday, 7th of January. The Osprey was recently bought over by The PREM Group who carried out a substantial refurbishment at the gym in order to meet the demands of its discerning health club members and guests. The additional floor space now accommodates 14 new pieces of state of the art strength and conditioning equipment. The new equipment reflects all types of training programs and objectives, and will provide members and guests with the motivational resources they require to achieve their personal fitness goals. These machines include fitness favorites such as the HD Elite Power Rack, The Olympic Flat Bench, The SYNRGY360 and Jordan Rubber Solid End Dumbbells with various weight variations for all levels of fitness. The Aerobic Studio has been upgraded a new Members Lounge has been created and a […]

Naas Racecourse launched the Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle this evening at Lawlor’s Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare. The launch, which was hosted by Naas Racecourse Manager, Tom Ryan was attended by a mixture of racing fans, members of the press, fashionistas, and local traders. The fixture will take place on Sunday, 8th of January and is the Kildare track’s premier fixture. A Grade 1 contest, it boasts an impressive roll call of past champions including Carvills Hill and Ventana Canyon. Recent renewals of the Novice Hurdle have featured top-class performers such as Champagne Fever, Mikael D’Haguenet, as well as two Grand National winners Pineau De Re and Rule the World. The 2016 winner Bellshill, subsequently scored again at Grade 1 level during the Punchestown Festival and looks to be a high-class recruit to chasing this winter.   Lawlor’s Hotel have a longstanding connection to Naas Racecourse as its previous owner, Mrs. Brigid Lawlor who established the iconic Naas hotel in 1913 […]

Beat those January blues and treat yourself to a mini break away in Ireland!  If your pocket is a bit worse for wear after Christmas but you just wish you could get away then Flynn Hotels can help you put a spring back in your step with its fantastic January Room Sale (6th Jan – 13th of Jan 2017).   If you are looking for a gourmet break away, a spa weekend with the girls, a romantic break, a shopping retreat or a family get away – Flynn Hotels has the answer. The sale will commence at midnight on the 8th of January 2017 and run for seven days only, giving you the opportunity to book a fantastic break away for simply unbelievable value in any of the four, family owned and run, Flynn hotels. With nightly rates starting from just €69 per room, including full Irish breakfast, free Wifi, early check in or late checkout […]

It’s been reported recently that as many as three out of four people with health insurance are on the wrong scheme for what they need and are paying too much.  The cost of health cover is still rising and will probably continue to do so but savings can be made even from your existing supplier if you know what to look for. Aisling O’Connor heads up the Health Insurance Department at the Dooley Insurance Group in Naas and said, “one of the main reasons people don’t shop around or review their policy is that they are afraid of change. The fear factor is something that can’t be underestimated. The policy documents and the differences between plans can be very difficult to follow so quite often people find it easier just to renew their existing plan without even reviewing what they are paying for.” There are currently over 300 plans on the market all offering various […]

  Co. Kildare based, Caragh Nurseries is working closely with farmers and the Department of Agriculture to achieve the national objectives of ‘GLAS’, the new agri-environment scheme which is part of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The scheme, which stands for Green, Low-Carbon and Agri-Environment ties in with the green vision for Irish agriculture as contained in Food Harvest 2020 and as promoted by Bord Bia.  Essentially, the scheme gives farmers grants in order to assist them to preserve our traditional hay meadows and low-input pastures, reduce our carbon footprint and preserve natural wildlife habitats.  The scheme also aims to continue to apply agricultural production methods compatible with the protection of the environment, improve water quality, plant trees and orchards and protect the landscape its features and endangered species of flora and fauna. GLAS is structured as a ‘package’ and offers a maximum payment of €5,000 per applicant per full calendar year for farmers who […]

Even though the winter is biting hard, did you know that right now is the time to plant bare root trees and shrubs?  November to March is generally known as ‘bare root season’ and gardeners in the know will be aware that this is the time to plant trees and shrubs without risking the plant dying. The reason for this is because the specimens are currently dormant, they are not growing and don’t mind being disturbed. Caragh Nurseries, just outside Naas in Co. Kildare has over 55 acres of land mainly covered in trees, shrubs and hedgerows and are specialists in large trees, hedging and shrubs. The nursery is owned and run by Ian and Jo McGarry who are fast gaining a cult following of dedicated gardeners from all around the country due to their extensive knowledge, massive range of trees, hedging and ‘framed tree’s which provide instant privacy in a garden. “Many trees, shrubs […]

Aileen O’Brien, owner of O’Brien PR has scooped the title of Entrepreneur of The Year at the North Kildare Chamber Awards at The K Club on Friday 18th November.  The glitzy black tie awards ceremony was attended by over 300 people from the worlds of business, politics and the arts. The awards are designed to recognise excellence in business and to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and innovation made by various companies and individuals.  The Entrepreneur of The Year award was sponsored by Education and Training Boards Ireland and recognises the achievement of an individual who has been instrumental to the success of a business and who has exploited an opportunity to develop a successful business from scratch or radically improved the performance of an existing business. The judging criteria also said that the individual must able to demonstrate the realisation of their entrepreneurial vision and have a clear plan in place to achieve sustained growth […]

U2’s THE EDGE AMONG STARS AT THE DUBLIN ARABIC FILM FESTIVAL, PRESENTED BY DUBAI DUTY FREE   The opening night of the Dublin Arabic Film Festival (DAFF) presented by Dubai Duty Free and in collaboration with the Irish Film Institute (IFI) took place on Friday 11th of November at the Irish Film Institute, in Temple Bar, Dublin.   Six-time Academy Award nominee Jim Sheridan serves as president of DAFF for the third time along with Festival Director, Zhara Moufid at the helm. The festival commenced with a red carpet drinks reception at the IFI which was followed by a special screening of a short film that Jim Sheridan made especially for the festival called, 11th Hour. The film stars Salma Hayek and tells the story of a bar in New York when the twin towers were attacked and is based on the real-life experience of Irish journalist, Lise Hand.  This was then followed by Clash, […]

If you have ever dreamt of spending Christmas with your family and friends in an elegant Irish country house then, perhaps The K Club might just be the perfect destination for you. Just 30 minutes from Dublin city centre, this magnificent country house hotel enjoys a rural location but is within easy access of the capital. Every Christmas this magnificent country house is magically transformed into a winter wonderland.  Open log fires crackle and warm the elegant drawing rooms while a 20ft Christmas tree takes pride of place in the lobby.  It’s a real family affair, with a range of suites and interconnecting family rooms available, each with its own Christmas tree, while traditional decorations and lights create a wonderful festive atmosphere in the library, bars and many drawing rooms.  Designed in the exact same style as the original house, the new Liffey Wing has been sympathetically created and blends seamlessly with the old. The […]

The last and final stage of The Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series takes place at Leopardstown Racecourse on Sunday 23rd October – Killuvullan Stakes Day, over the Irish Champion Stakes course, a distance of 10 furlongs.

The national Rotary Ireland Conference took place from 29th Sept-2nd Oct at the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

If you are looking for a great value, family get away this Halloween then check out The Park Hotel in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

The entrance to the beautiful four-star Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, Co. Kildare has just been awoken by a transformation of its avenue and main road frontage by Caragh Nurseries.

2016 marks the 25th anniversary of The K Club.  To celebrate this momentous occasion, the guests and staff of the Kildare resort joined together on the lawns and formed the number ‘25’. 

Following an exhilarating race by twelve amateur riders at the Curragh Racecourse on Sunday 17th July, Alice Kavanagh emerged victorious on board Vivat Rex, trained by John Feane, in the second leg of The Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series

Featuring the Boodles Ladies Day in association with Sunway Holidays, Irish Country Magazine and Evoke.ie and The Boodles Ladies Derby

The ninth Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby which was staged at The Curragh Racecourse, Co. Kildare, Ireland was a triumphant success.

The four-star, Flynn family owned, Imperial Hotel in Cork city celebrated it’s 200 year anniversary in style on Thursday 9th June 2016, with a glamourous gala dinner for over 70 guests from the worlds of business, the media and entertainment.

Rory McIlroy delighted the fans at The K Club as the home favourite overcame a stern challenge from Russell Knox to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation, sealing victory with an eagle after a sensational five-wood to three feet on the 72nd hole. McIlroy had spoken coming into the week of what a first professional win on Irish soil would mean to him, saying it would give him “goosebumps”, and the Northern Irishman was clearly emotional after firing a closing round of 69 to seal his 13th European Tour title in County Kildare. The result is all the more impressive given that McIlroy, who becomes the first home winner of the Irish Open since Shane Lowry in 2009, had missed the cut in this event in the last three seasons. The four-time Major Championship winner came into the final round with a three-shot lead, but was overtaken by Knox […]