In less than two weeks teams from around the world, including places as far
away as Morocco and Taiwan, will line up for the start of the 2012 An Post Rás.
This is the 60th anniversary of the famous race, and it has four stages passing
through County Donegal including finishes in Bundoran, Buncrana, Killybegs and
Donegal Town. Last year saw huge numbers cheering the riders along the route and
at the stage finishes and this years Rás organiser, Dermot Dignam, is hoping to
see similar crowds.

Leaving from Westport, Co. Mayo at 11am on Wednesday, May 23rd, the riders
will embark on a relatively flat 135 kilometres of road to the stage finish at
Bundoran and Dignam is expecting alot of action towards the end of this
stage.

“This is a real sprinters day. It is 135 kilometres of flat roads through
Charlestown and Sligo, and promises to be a great finish into Bundoran. The
final run-in is straight and fast, with a slight rise to the line coming in the
last four to five hundred metres. The stage ends on the bridge in Bundoran, with
the beautiful backdrop of the Atlantic ocean behind.”

The following day’s fifth stage on Thursday, 24th, begins from Bundoran and
is a complete contrast with seven climbs, one of which is generally regarded as
being the toughest single ascent in Ireland.

The final stage in Donegal on Saturday, 26th is the penultimate day of the
race and also the longest at 161 kilometres. It sets off from Donegal town on a
considerably flat route and finishes at Cootehill,Co. Cavan.

The 8 day International cycling race takes place from May 20th to 27th and
the emphasis will again be placed on national, regional and top level sponsored
amateur cycling teams.

Diarmuid Gavin is coming with RTÉ to film in Bundoran on the weekend of April 14th. They are coming as part of a project to tidy up the town which will be featured on RTE’s popular show “Dirty Old Towns”. The idea came about when Diarmuid, who hosts the show, was looking for a beach cleanup that could be done in the weekend challenge portion of the show. Bundoran, as the premier seaside resort in Ireland, was an obvious choice. The Bundoran Tidy Towns Group Spring Clean in Association with An Taisce was already planned for Saturday April 14th when RTÉ’s Weekend Challenge sought the group out. The projects that are being filmed include two outdoor surf art projects which will be located on the main street, a beach cleanup and litter pick, residential cleanups by people in the area, paintings of the West End playground walls,and the west end boat quay. TV cameras will be rolling in Bundoran on Saturday 14th April and the group is encouraging people to get involved in any way they can. Everyone invited, don’t come empty handed. Bring your paintbrush, paint tray, some gloves and some good spirit. The group want to use the project to show that Bundoran is a great place to live as well as visit and we look forward to seeing you there.

To the joy of surfers an extreme weather system, nicknamed the “Viking storm”, has
generated some of the largest springtime rollers off the northwest coast in
recent years with one surfer catching a 50ft wave off Mullaghmore, just 15
minutes from Bundoran.

Surfers from around the world were attracted by the huge waves with many coming from Europe as well as from regions as far away as Hawaii, Brazil, Australia and South Africa.
The surfers were accompanied by two rescue boats and were watched by hundreds of people on the Mullaghmore headland. It was estimated that these were the best surfing conditions duringthe month of March for 15 years in this area. It has also been said that these are the biggest waves ever to hit Ireland.

The storm originated off Greenland, hence the nickname the “Viking storm”. Bundoran surfer Richie Fitzgerald, said that a particularly low tide on Thursday contributed to
a “huge, unruly and very dangerous” swell. He also described some “incredible
rides, some horrendous wipeouts, broken ribs, some bruised muscles, lost
boards, broken boards, shifting wind, massive boils, cross waves, super shallow
sections”, during an exciting session on the water.

Images from the Mullaghmore session have been quickly entered into the
XXL Biggest Wave competition. The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards event is the
most important and prestigious ceremony that recognizes the most daring and
death defying surfers in the World. It includes awards for everything from best
paddle-in to best wave award. The most coveted award is for the Ride of the Year
for which the recipient will win $50,000 dollars. Andrew Cotton (UK) has
entered into the Ride of the Year category for his wave riding in Mullaghmore.

To view more pictures click on the following link   http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/photo.php?fbid=10150547617342000&set=a.10150547616932000.371182.153153636999&type=1&theater

The 11th Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival 2011 takes place in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal in the North West of Ireland between Thursday 31st May and Sunday 3rd June 2012. Over 12,000 Rock, Blues ‘n Rory fans converged on Ballyshannon for last years 4-day Tribute and its expected that similar numbers will attend the 2012 Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon.  The voluntary organisers of the Festival have announced Preliminary details of the 2012 Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival, with further bands / acts to be announced in Mid February along with the Full Programme of Events.

http://www.goingtomyhometown.com/

http://donegaldirect.com/ws_event_details.aspx?EventID=3437&BusinessID=0&BusinessNm=&Region=Ballyshannon

http://www.facebook.com/seasessions

http://www.bundoransurfco.com/blog/sea-sessions-surf-and-music-festival-2011/

Back by popular demand Donegal Bay Holiday Homes is offering three day and one week Self Catering and Hillwalking programmes for the active tourist who is wishing to explore the Northwest of Ireland on foot.  Suited to groups of 3 +

The 2012 English and Hill Walking Programme will run on the following dates

March 24^th/25^th – April 06th/April 07^th

May 26^th/27^th – June 02^nd/03^rd

June 9th/10th – 23rd/24th

July 29th – August 05th

August 25th/26th - September 01st/02nd

You can join the group for three days or one week of the above dates

Guided Hill Walks                                         

Below are some walks ranging from easy to difficult which give you an insight into the landscape and places of interest you will visit thorugh out counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim.  There are a wide range of walks available within a 30km radius of Donegal Language School

1/ SLIEVE LEAGUE (Mountain of the Flagstones 601 Meters 1972ft)

The sea cliffs of Slieve League brood over the South Donegal Coast and are dramatic sight.

The walk starts at Bunglass proceeds over “Eagles Nest” and on over “One Man’s Pass”(so named because of the narrow path to the summit).We return via the remains of St Hugh MacBricks Church along the pilgrims path pass the holy well and back to base. Distance 10Km time 4 – 6hours.

 2/BENBULBEN PLATEAU (counties Sligo)

Ben Bulben, the fearsome and famous landmark of Sligo immortalised by Ireland’s foremost poet William Butler Yates, with the lines “Under bare Ben Bulben’s  head”.

The mountain presents a formidable prospect from the nearby lowlands with its stern vertically furrowed cliffs above steeply sloping grass. Surprisingly it is quite a moderate walk once the crest is reached and it offers fantastic views of the coastline and Innis Murray Island. 

Length of Walk 6/km. Time 3- 4 hours. Degree of difficulty moderate.

3/ THE SUMMIT OF TRUSKMORE AND TIEVEBAUN (Counties Sligo and Leitrim             

These 2 peaks are the highest points in Counties Sligo and Leitrim and are quite close to each other.

The summit of Truskmore (647meters) is reached by a road that services a radio mast, the mast was erected by a Norwegian company in 1962 and is over 100 meters high. Tievebaun is reached by following the boundary wall that divides Sligo and Leitrim. A slight diversion to the west reveals the wreck of a B17 World War 2 Bomber that crashed here in December 1943. Descent from the summit of Tievebaun is by way of an old mule track that was once used for bringing turf from the mountains to the valley below.

Length of walk 9Km, Time 4 – 5 hours, Degree of difficulty moderate.

4/ The Breesy Mountain Circuit (County Donegal)

A fairly easy walk encompassing lakes, woodlands, and hills, also visiting a Megolithic Tomb and a Mass Rock.

The walk begins at the Traveler’s Friend a well known Public House.  About 2 Kms on we pass a megalithic tomb dating back to over 4000 years. Several lakes are passed until Bressy Mountain is reached, though only 258 Meters in height some fantastic views are offered from the summit. The Blue Stack mountains in the North, cliffs of Magho and Lough Erne in the east, Ben Bulben and Knocknarea in the south and the vast expanse of Donegal Bay in West. Further on there is a Mass Rock where the locals said Mass in Penal Times, the walk then meanders through the Knader woodlands pass the Hydro Electric dam at Cloghore to terminate at the historical town of Ballyshannon.

Length of walk 10 Km, Time 4 – 5 hours Degree of difficulty Easy

QUEEN MEABHS GRAVE(220 Metres)

Famous for its massive passage grave, the largest in Europe and reputed to be the grave of Queen Meabh (Meave) of Connaught.   This climb is steeped in history and Irish folklore.

Distance 5km. time 2hours.

Three Day Package

Included in the Hill walking and accommodation package is three nights accommodation in our three and four bedroom houses, 1 half day and 1 full day  guided walk through counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim and transfers to all walks.

One Week Package

Included in the Hill walking and accommodation package is one weeks accommodation in our three and four bedroom houses, 5  guided walks through counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim and transfers to all walks.

We can also offer hillwalking only to clients please contact usfor direct for further details

Meals can be included please contact usfor further details.

Fees are

March 24^th/25^th – March 31^st/April 01^st     

  2 Guided Walks – €55per person.  This includes half and full day guided walks and local transfers

 3 nights Accommodation – €300 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception

 1 Weeks Guided Walks – €100 per person.  This includes 5 guided walks and local transfers

1 Weeks Accommodation – €400 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception.  

 March 31^st – April 07th

2 Guided Walks – €55per person.  This includes half and full day guided walks and local transfers

 3 nights Accommodation – €450 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception

Accommodation - €600 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception. 

 Guided Walks – €125 per person.  This includes 5 guided walks and local transfers

 May 26^th/27^th – June 02^nd/03^rd

2 Guided Walks – €55per person.  This includes half and full day guided walks and local transfers

 3 nights Accommodation – €300 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception

Accommodation – €400 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception. 

 Guided Walks – €100 per person.  This includes 5 guided walks and local transfers

 June 9th/10th – 23rd/24^th

2 Guided Walks – €55per person.  This includes half and full day guided walks and local transfers

 3 nights Accommodation – €450 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception

Accommodation - €600 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception. 

 Guided Walks – €125 per person.  This includes 5 guided walks and local transfers

July 29th – August 05^th

Accommodation - €750 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception. 

 Guided Walks – €125 per person.  This includes 5 guided walks and local transfers

August 25th/26th -  September 01st/02nd

 Accommodation - €700 per house -This includes a 4 bedroom house, heating and electricity and some homemade bread on reception. 

 Guided Walks – €125 per person.  This includes 5 guided walks and local transfers

 For more information please email us or phone 0861739445