Lismore to Participate in Ireland's Best Kept Town

Lismore has been chosen by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to participate in the all-island Ireland's Best Kept Town competition. Only eight towns from the Republic are selected to participate.

Congratulations are due once more to Lismore's dedicated Tidy Towns committee as the town was selected on the basis of its performance in the national Tidy Towns Competition.



Judging will take place in May and we are sure Lismore will do its inhabitants proud once more.

Immrama Fundraising Table Quiz

A table quiz will be held this Friday, 29th January 2010 at 8.30pm in Ballyrafter House Hotel.

The table quiz is a fundraising event for Immrama Festival of Travel writing 2010.

Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations to the O'Brien Chop House

Lismore's newest restaurant the O'Brien Chop House has won a place in the prestigious Michelin Guide 2010. The Chop House was awarded the Bib Gourmand: the accolade for "good food at moderate prizes."

Opened by Justin and Jenny Greene of Ballyvolane House in July 2009 the Bib Gourmand recognises the Chop House's stated commitment to serve traditional food at reasonable prices in an atmospheric setting. The Heritage Centre offers the Greenes and their team heartiest congratulations on their wonderful achievement.


Further information on the O'Brien Chop House is available online on www.obrienchophouse.ie or by calling 058-53810.

The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2010 is now available in bookshops.

Waterford Festival of Food 2010 launched at Holiday World

Callers to the Waterford stand at Holiday World last Friday were in for a treat! To celebrate the launch of Waterford Festival of Food 2010 samples from many of Waterford's fine food producers were on offer to the crowds in attendance.

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Barrons' brown bread topped by Knockanore and Kilmeaden cheese was washed down with Crinnaghtaun apple juice while Flahavans' flapjacks and Glanbia's flavoured milk and yogurt drinks revived the grateful attendees. Thanks to Nude Food, Dungarvan we were even able to provide fine examples of our native delicacy, the blaa.

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Waterford Festival of Food will be held 16th-18th April and will include farmers' markets, food trails, talks, walks and demonstrations all featuring these producers and calling on the considerable talents of local chefs.

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Life in Lismore will bring you more details as they become available.

Waterford catches Bertie Ahern's Eye

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern popped in to meet and greet tourism providers from Waterford city and county at Holiday World in the RDS this weekend.

Accepting Excellence Through People Award

Mary Houlihan and Mealla Fahey accept Lismore Heritage Centre's Excellence Through People award.

Excellence Through People is the FAS human resource management programme. The Heritage Centre were delighted to achieve the standard award in their first year participating in the project.

Win A Free School Tour to Lismore Heritage Centre

The Lismore School Tour Experience 2010 brochures are winging their way to schools all over Ireland and we are giving teachers the opportunity to win a free day out for their class worth over €400!

To enter the draw teachers must simply telephone Alice on 058 54975 and enquire about the Lismore School Tour Package.

Lismore is a very popular destination for school groups with over 3500 pupils joining us for action packed days in 2009. Our school tour programme includes glove puppet making, guided tours of the town and St Carthage's Cathedral, The Lismore Experience audio-visual show, a trip to experiment in the Robert Boyle Science Room and the Towers Woodland Nature Trail, a big favourite with the kids.

While visiting classes are welcome to pick and choose activities to suit their needs our winners will be able to sample all the activities on offer. The prize entitles 30 children to a full day tour valued at €13.50 per pupil.

We look forward to receiving your entries!

Wild Waterford on Nationwide

West Waterford is becoming a common sight on our television screens of late. Most recently, on Monday 18th January, it was the turn of Nationwide to shine their spotlight on the region.

The RTE programme met the many businesses in the area that cater for adrenaline junkies of all persuasions who have come together to form Wild Waterford.

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Wild Waterford brings together surf schools, adventure centres and even incorporates Ireland's first official Blokart training school. Their alliance creates a one stop stop for those contemplating getting behind the wheel of a rally car, releasing their inner paintballer or perhaps paddling up the Blackwater to their evening camping spot.

To get your adventure taste buds tingling visit http://www.wildwaterford.com/ for contact details of all the holiday providers involved.

If you missed Nationwide on Monday the episode is available on the RTE website:
http://www.rte.ie/news/nationwide/

Right: Heritage Centre staff who were lucky enough to visit Blackwater Boating, Cappoquin a Wild Waterford member. Mostly rowing novices, the guys were quickly trained in the basics before taking to the water for a great evening's activity that they thoroughly recommend!

"No Frontiers" Shows A Different Side to West Waterford

Holidaying in West Waterford means different things to different people. For many it may conjure images of family holidays at the sea-side, summer sojourns in the Gaeltacht or in recent years a chance to revel at festivals celebrating cycling, surfing or even travel writing. No Frontiers' presenter Kathryn Thomas revealed a different side to the sunny south east on her visit to the region, broadcast yesterday Sunday 17th January.

The area's status as an emerging food capital was apparent as Kathryn sampled her endeavours at a 'Food and Wine of Spain' class taught by Paul Flynn at The Tannery Cookery School. At The House of Ardmore Cliff House Hotel the cookery was left in the gifted hands of chef, Martijn Kajuiter. Since the RTE team's visit Martijn has been awarded a Michelin star thereby joining the elite ranks of Irish restaurants. Only six Irish eateries have earned the coveted star, The House is one of only two establishments outside of the capital to have done so and its achievement is unique in the south of the country.

Foody heaven aside West Waterford also affords the opportunity for sheer spa indulgence, white knuckle seafaring experience or a more tranquil afternoon in the beautiful surroundings of Lismore. After all a trip to West Waterford could not be complete without a visit to the Heritage Centre!

If you missed the episode it can be viewed on the RTE website through the following link:
http://www.rte.ie/travel/nofrontiers/20100117_ardmore.html

Lismore to Shine on "No Frontiers" This Sunday

Lismore will feature in this week's episode of the RTE travel show No Frontiers.

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Kathryn Thomas visited the Towers, Lismore Castle gardens, The Tannery restaurant, Dungarvan and Ardmore's Cliff House Hotel on her trip to the area in November.

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Tune into RTE 1 on Sunday 17th January at 7.30pm to see all that West Waterford has to offer!

New Photos on Facebook

To see more frosty images captured in Lismore during "The Big Freeze" view our album Cold Snap Scenes on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=13667&id=100000122755760

Blackwater Lodge Featured in the Sunday Independent

Before the River Blackwater curls its way to Lismore it passes through the village of Ballyduff where the Blackwater Lodge invites anglers from all over the world to test the salmon-rich waters.


Glenda Powell is not only co-proprietor of the Blackwater Lodge but also a world champion fly-fisher and is unique as the sole female casting instructor in Ireland.


Glenda's love of fishing and the huge role it has played in her life are the subject of an in-depth profile by Ciara Dwyer in yesterday's (10th January 2010) Sunday Independent available through the link below.

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/glenda-the-completed-angler-2007166.html

The Ice House and the Cold Spell

There is a story we tell all the children who visit the Heritage Centre on school tour: many years ago, when winters were colder (!) the inches in front of Lismore Castle would flood and freeze creating an ice rink for the delighted local children.

The youngsters' fun was always cut short however. Adults with pick axe and cart would break and remove the ice. No matter how it may have seemed to the children the grown-ups did not do so just to spoil their fun. The ice was taken to the Ice House to refrigerate fish stores.

Though the Ice House remains disused, its place long usurped by refrigerator and freezer, the recent cold spell has seen a return to fun and games in the Castle fields.

Snow Capped Knockmealdowns

As the bad weather continues to cause difficulty around the country it also provides us with some rarely seen landscapes. Smoke curled from the chimneys of Lismore Castle this morning as the snow-capped Knockmealdowns glint in the background.