NORTHERN Ireland is known for its stunning scenery and historic sites – but one county in particular is a must-visit.
Armagh is known by locals as the food and drink capital of the North and is perfect for a relaxing weekend away.
Emma got to spend an amazing weekend away in Armagh[/caption]
Trying out the cocktails in the hotel bar had to be done[/caption]
A Tayto tour got the taste buds going[/caption]
I had the joy of visiting some of the towns in Armagh and seeing the best it has to offer.
The first day started super early on a Saturday, when my partner and I boarded the train to Dublin at 6.40am, before arriving in the Orchard County at around 1pm.
First, we checked into our hotel, which was absolutely divine. We were staying at the Armagh City Hotel – right in the centre of town.
The room was fabulous. It was very spacious with a comfy bed, and there was even some complimentary locally-made apple juice waiting for us.
We then headed to the Armagh Planetarium and Observatory, where we watched a video about Mars in the dome area.
Not only is it Ireland’s leading centre for astronomical research and education, it’s also one of the top attractions in the city.
We then had a bit of time before our dinner reservation, so we had a look around the town and did some shopping.
Our evening meal that night was in Groucho’s on the Square, and we had a phenomenal time.
The pub has an old feel to it and carries a host of local and imported beers and ciders.
I chose to get a spiced chicken bao bun to start, paired with a local cider.
FAB FOOD
For the main course, I opted for a prawn linguine – and it was one of the nicest meals I have ever had in a pub.
The boozer is roughly 15 minutes away from our hotel by public transport, and we were aware that the last bus was at 9pm, so after we finished dinner, we decided to enjoy a drink in the beer garden.
Groucho’s is also dog-friendly, and even has a ‘doggy box’ outside full of treats, water bowls, food bowls and plastic bags.
About five minutes after we sat down, the owner of the pub, Peter, came over to speak to us. He was so interesting that we both agreed not to get the last bus, and instead stayed chatting to Peter before getting a taxi back into town.
BOOZER BABBLE
Peter explained to us how the current pub is an extension of the original building, which dates back around 400 years. His main intention with the pub is to give customers the best food possible, using only locally sourced ingredients.
The chef even came over to chat to us, and again spoke about the importance of using local ingredients in his cooking.
We were then invited over to join Peter and the staff for a drink, which was definitely the highlight of night one, and one of our favourite experiences of the weekend overall.
HISTORIC LINKS
We popped into one of the local late bars in the town, but after the amazing time we had in Groucho’s we felt it couldn’t be topped and decided to head back to the hotel.
The bed was super comfortable and made for a great first night’s sleep before venturing into the second day of plans.
The next morning we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel, before heading to Navan Centre and Fort for a tour.
This was very insightful, giving us loads of information about the history and spirituality of the area.
SPIRITUAL AREA
It was also cool to hear that it features heavily in Irish myths, including Cu Chulainn, and one of the mounds is even on a ley line – so is used as a site for meditation and spiritual connection by many visitors.
It is definitely a must-visit for any history buffs. It even had a live-action entertainment zone, where actors dressed up and spoke to you as people from that time period, which was very quirky, and is definitely something I believe should be integrated more into museums and tours.
We then had lunch in the cafe onsite, before finding out that our Game of Thrones Studio Tour had to be cancelled – an unfortunate turn, but it did give us more time to just relax in the hotel.
We were then treated to dinner in the hotel restaurant, where I got lamb stifado. We also enjoyed a few cocktails in the bar, before heading back to the room.
FOODIE HOTSPOT
On the final day, we had an early breakfast before heading to something every foodie should visit – the Tayto tour.
Here, we got to see the inner workings behind the Northern Irish rival that shares its name with the Republic’s beloved crisp brand.
And we even tried out some new flavours.
Our tour guide, John, gave us loads of insider information, while we toured the factory floors, located in Tandragee Castle.
We were covered up in scrubs-like clothing and took off any jewellery to avoid contamination.
FILMING BAN
Filming is not allowed inside the factory so your phones must be left at the reception – it’s all very top secret.
I would definitely encourage heading to the tour if you find yourself in Armagh.
Not only will you come out of it with insider knowledge of the amount of work that goes into making the popular snack, but you’ll also come out happy and full after tasting so many flavours of crisps, and with some to take home.
Lunch that day was in Blend X Batch in Banbridge, where I had their ‘halfway to Christmas’ special festive bap.
This was honestly unreal, and had us very full for the final activity of the trip.
The last thing we enjoyed in Armagh was another highlight, as we got to design our own fleeces in ELN.
GO: ARMAGH
STAY THERE – We stayed in the Armagh City Hotel, where rooms start from €145.
The restaurant and bar are definitely a highlight, while the rooms are very comfortable and spacious. The breakfast is delicious and they even hold events!
DO THERE – Head to ELN for the fleece designing workshop – a highlight for sure.
And make sure to get in the Tayto tour, but don’t eat too much before as you’ll have a never-ending amount of crisps!
For history buffs, head to Navan Centre and Fort, before heading to the Armagh Planetarium for some astronomy.
EAT/DRINK THERE – I would wholly recommend a visit to Groucho’s on the Square, both for the local pints and the delicious food. If you’re lucky enough to bump into Peter, lucky you!
For lunch, head to Blend X Batch in Banbridge for some amazing food and a variety of coffee and alcohol options.
Or, enjoy a couple of cocktails in the hotel bar for a more relaxed evening.
Here, owner Ellen spoke to us about how it’s just her who designs and makes these limited releases.
Despite getting a little overwhelmed throughout the process – there were so many different colour and pattern options along with smaller detail decisions you would never even think of – she was extremely understanding and changed a lot of my choices a few times before I was happy with my final piece.
On the completely flip side, he knew what he wanted and had very little changes to make!
AMAZING LOCALS
We then unfortunately had to head home, but this weekend was one to remember.
After the trip, the main thing we both commented on was the people.
The locals here are absolutely amazing, and will go out of their way to help you however they can. Everyone we met was very friendly, and it never felt like anything was too much work for them.
We got to design fleeces at ELN[/caption]
