A Taste of Ireland to wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day

For all of you who love our scone’s here is Liz’s Scone recipe so you can have fun making them at home. We are more than happy to help if you need any advice…
1lb plain flour
3oz granulated white sugar
4fl oz sunflower oil
1 level teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (important only a level one!)
1 teaspoon salt
Buttermilk to mix

Pre heat your over to 190 degrees.

Sift all the dry ingredients together, add butter milk, oil and mix lightly to a dough ball consistency.  Knead lightly on a pastry board just to pull the mixture together. Pastry cut and place in oiled muffin tin, bake for 30 minutes.

Serve hot with butter and your favourite yummy jam.

Enjoy! – but do beware Girls they sit well on the hips!

Hot Tip -  If you use coarse stone ground brown whole meal flour and leave out the sugar this recipe can be used to make delicious Irish Brown Bread. Perfect with smoked salmon.

New Email System for our New Website

We are changing the way that we send newsletters to you, with an exciting new system that will let you keep up to date via email, on our website, via Facebook, Twitter or RSS! We regularly update our site with late availability and special offers and our new system will give you the opportunity to stay up to date with these fantastic offers.

We’ll be sending email updates about once per month and in order to carry on receiving email updates with special offers and news updates, you need to indicate your preferences by subscribing here.

Subscribers to the new system will receive a special discount code, so don’t delay – fill in the form now!

If you don’t fill out the form, you will shortly stop receiving updates from us.

Competition Winner

Congratulations to Shane Pollard the lucky Winner of a 3 night stay for two at The Cottages in the  ‘ely Valentine’s Competition’  Shane is thinking of bringing the whole family to Thatcher’s Rest Cottage.  We look forward to meeting them all.

Photo Competition

Talking about Competitions we have had a great response to our Photo Comp with lots of good entries coming in, keep them coming. Watch out on our Facebook page – you’ll be able to upload your photos there shortly.

Lots of interesting things coming up here is a small taster, we will be back with more, or keep an eye on our facebook page…

Drogheda Arts Festival
http://www.droghedaartsfestival.ie

Balloon and Kite Fiesta over Easter
http://www.trimfiesta.com/

Newgrange Farm Easter Egg Hunt
http://www.newgrangefarm.com/

Did you know there are 70 million people in the world who claim Irish descent… It’s going to be a good day. Have a great one!

With warm regards from

Roger and Liz, Mel, Lorraine, Tom and Mary.

New website for The Cottages

www.cottages-ireland.com

Introducing our advanced new website for The Cottages. We hope you like it and find time to explore its many new features we have created it for you so we would love your feedback. We’ve added gallery pages to bring back memories and lots more information for the undiscovered treasures of the Boyne Valley and the surrounding Counties. We would be delighted with your thoughts and suggestions.

Exclusive Discount for You!

To celebrate the launch of our new site, we are offering you 15% discount off our Euro rates.

Excluding July and August
3 night minimum stay
Offer subject to availability

2012 Photo Competition

In 2012 we will be updating our Photo Gallery on a continual basis so we’d love to see some of the great photos you have taken while on holidays at The Cottages. Win 3 free nights for 4 people.

Any photos related to The Cottages or the surrounding areas qualify, do enter by sending us your favourite photos toinfo@cottages-ireland.com. Please keep your photos below 2mb in size.

The closing date for the competition is 30^th September 2012.

We hope to showcase some of the best entries along with the winner in our Autumn Newsletter and on our site.

Link Building

We would be delighted to exchange business links with any of our guests. Please email your website title, address and brief description to info@cottages-ireland.com and add  our link to your site as follows

Luxury Cottages Ireland
Exclusive 300 year old thatched holiday cottages nestle on the beach front, in a gated hamlet-like setting on Ireland’s East Coast, just 25 minutes from Dublin Airport.
www.cottages-ireland.com.

Time to Exhale at The Cottages!

We work continuously to keep the high standard of accommodation at The Cottages to make them your home from home. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Wishing you all the best,

Roger, Liz and the Team

Yes, we have finally succumbed to “Social Networking”

we would love you to join us on Facebook and become a Fan of The Cottages just click “we like” on our Facebook page and help us to spread the word. We’d love you to add your cottage photos too!

Dates for your diary

- 17th – 20th March, St Patricks Festival www.stpatricksfestival.ie
- 24th – 26th April, Easter Egg Hunt Newgrange Farm
- 29th April – 1st May. Drogheda Arts Festival
- 4th – 6th June, Art in Action
- 26th June, National Sand Castle & Sculpture  Competition on the beach right outside The Cottages
- 8th September, Laytown Strand Races evening meeting
- 19th – 25th September, Solheim Cup
- 29th September – 16th October, Dublin Theatre Festival
- Halloween “Spirits of Meath”, Spooks last week October & Round it off with Christmas and New Year at The Cottages

Autumn Press Coverage

We continue to get great Press coverage.
Sunday Times Travel Magazine September
Kandoo World Traveller November
The Sunday Times Malta December
Food and Wine Magazine December
Sunday Times Travel January 2011

Travel Specials

Aer Lingus are celebrating their 75th Birthday and are offering very good Low Fares – check them out on www.aerlingus.com

Music and Pub’s

We are becoming a Mecca for really good musicians with excellent impromptu sessions in our local pubs, but keep that one to yourselves! There isn’t room for everyone.

Golfer’s

2011 is here and Co Meath hosts the Solheim Cup…how exciting is that!! It’s the Ryder Cup of Women’s golf and will be played at Killeen Castle. It highlights the world calibre of our Golf Courses. www.solheimcup.com

Foodie’s

Our local restaurants redouble their efforts to produce good food at realistic prices. Yet another cafe opens shortly… “The Red Rose Cafe” but “Relish” continues to be the Favourite!

Long Range Weather Forecast

The forecast is for a really good early Spring and Summer, so get those diaries out and start planning. Spring tides, long walks and easy living, and yes! You know you’re welcome to pick the daffodils!

Delighted to have made the cover of the 2011 Premier Cottages brochure – Good choice Premier! Copies available on request. http://www.premiercottages.co.uk/brochure.asp

Spring Special

Another exclusive Spring Offer for our repeat guests! Introduce your friends to The Cottages for free. Enjoy the spring garden, long beach walks, and scrummy brunch in “Relish” or just chill in comfort. 4 people for 3 nights at the rate for 2, €390 all inclusive. Offer open until mid March (ex peak Valentine’s & St Patrick’s). Check our Late Availability for Specials. http://www.cottages-ireland.com/availability.html

Happy New Year, May it be a Healthy, Happy and Smooth running Year for us all! All the Best Roger and Liz and the Team.

Download the PDF version of the Spring 2011 Newsletter

The Irish Times
Front page Press Coverage Irish Times 20th Feb 2010
HIDEAWAY Cottages in Spectacular Settings
“Cutting Edge Cottages” by Sandra O’Connell
To quote “If you want luxury in spectacular, secluded settings, then look no further…for seaside luxury you will be hard pressed to beat The Cottages, super plush thatched cottages at Bettystown”… with great pics, we were so delighted with such wonderful coverage!

4 4 2 Spring Special

Another exclusive Spring Offer for our repeat guests! Introduce your friends to The Cottages for free. Come stay in Rose Cottage, The
Apple Loft or Garden Cottage, de-stress in total comfort, enjoy the spring garden, long beach walks, and scrummy brunch in Relish or just chill in comfort. Accommodation for 4 people for 3 nights at the rate for 2, 390/ £330 (indicator) all inclusive (ex Easter).

Top Award for Ely Cook Book

(copy in your cottage) Well done to nephew Erik and Michelle what an amazing achievement!

Out of 6,000 entries from 136 entries we are delighted to announce ‘the wine and food of ely through the seasons’ has won 3 awards at the 2010 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris. 2nd in the World for ‘Best Book for matching Food & Wine’. Winner ’Best Book for matching Food & Wine’ for Ireland. Winner ‘Best Wine Book’ for Ireland.

Thatching… Cottage re-ridging…

Peter Childs and his team are doing a great job of re-ridging the cottages, a job that needs doing every 10 years or so, great to see this wonderful craft in action, have you seen Monty Don’s “Mastercrafts” BBC programme on Thatching you can catch it on IPlayer or for real at The Cottages in March, April.

The Village

Continues to grow, new additions are “Bistro BT” a new ‘Relish’ style Cafe on the beach front, and we now have a large Tesco in the New Village Centre great for the big holiday shop.

The City Grand Canal Theatre

Opens 18th March, Swan Lake O2 Dublin Shows and Concerts Direct Coach service to Dublin going strong 12 return. The Early Bird at ‘Ely’ and a Show is a great Combo. Art, Culture, Music, Guinness, Shopping, and of course as we say in Ireland The Craic!!!

Dates for your Diary

St. Patrick’s Festival of Events  http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/
Meath Tourism Festivals and Events  http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/EventsFestivalsandNews/
Easter Egg hunt, Newgrange Farm 4th and 5th April http://www.newgrangefarm.com/
Trim Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2nd – 5th April http://www.trimballoonfiesta.com/
National Sand Castle Competition 27th June – Open Entry
Art in Action 5th – 7th June Bank Holiday weekend http://www.artinaction.ie/
Laytown Strand Horse Races 7th September.
**Solheim Cup 23rd Sept 2011 at Killeen Castle (photo) http://www.solheimcup.com

Happy St Patrick’s Day! All the best, Roger, Liz and the Team. Looking after your dream holiday cottage by the sea for 102 years.

Download the PDF version of the Spring 2010 Newsletter

Hope you are all keeping well and appreciating the arrival of Spring after a good old fashioned Winter. We have been busy over the past few months implementing improvements that will enhance your holiday experience at The Cottages….

Free Secure Wireless Internet Broadband
We are really happy to let you know that we have installed Secure Wireless Internet Broadband at The Cottages. You now have no less than 3 signals to choose from. A strong signal in every cottage, which ever one you choose. The really good news is that we are providing this service FREE to all our guests.

Satellite TV
Yes! we have Satellite TV in every cottage now, so if you don’t want to miss your favourites, if your little ones are missing their CBeebies’s, it’s all here for you now. We know this is not one of the priorities on your holiday list, but nice to know it’s available and again at no extra cost.

British pound
We have revised our rates, reverting to our 2006/7 rates to reflect the current economic climate. Check out our website where our Special Sterling rates are posted on our ‘Rates’ page along with our euro rates. These ‘Premier Cottage Rates’ give a very significant reduction to our UK guests, so be sure and take a look. We are just an email away so let us know if we can help with holiday dates, remember we are totally flexible!

Introduce your friends to The Cottages for FREE. Especially for you “Spring Special 4 for 2″

Our Winter Special has been such a success we have extended it to 30th April 2009 (ex Easter). Come stay in Rose Cottage, The Apple Loft or Garden Cottage, de-stress in total comfort, enjoy head clearing beach walks and good food, re-discover the simple life. Accommodation for 4 people for 3 nights, at the 2008 2 person rate 420/ £335 all inclusive. This offer is for those of you on our email mail list only!

Golfers

No shortage of excitement on the golf course!! The European Tour has announced that the Irish Open is to return to Baltray on the 14th / 17th May 2009. See www.countylouthgolfclub.com

Laytown Bettystown Golf Club are celebrating their 100th Anniversary this year so lots of special events. details www.landb.ie/Home.html

Gourmets

No recipe this edition, no room….but every cottage now has their very own copy of  ’ELY through the seasons’, Erik and Michelle’s new recipe book. Lots of mouth watering recipes, like their famous Ely fishcakes or our favourite, their treacle brown bread! Ely the perfect venue for that special trip to Dublin for lunch or dinner. www.elywinebar.com

Laytown Strand Races as seen on BBC’s “Coast”

Race day is the 1st September, nice and early this year which will make it extra special. Local folklore has it that it was the parish priest who, in 1876, organised the first race meeting on Laytown’s six miles of golden strand. Held intermittently since then, it was not until 1901 that local landowner, Paddy Delaney, established the meeting as we know it today. Nothing, not even two World Wars, has stopped it taking place since then. What better place to experience this special day than at The Cottages right there on the 3 furlong marker.

The Best Job in the World

Very proud to tell you that my nephew George Karellas has been shortlisted out of 35,000 applicants for this amazing job check him out and be sure and vote for George. www.islandfreejob.com/George

Happy St Patrick’s Day! With best wishes from Roger, Liz and the Team, Cathy, Lorraine, Tom and Maoliosa.
Looking after your dream holiday cottage by the sea for 101 years

Download the PDF version of the Spring 2009 Newsletter

We got such a good response to Lizzie’s scone recipe in our last Newsletter (thanks for all your emails) here’s another one! Very easy, very delicious, very moreish!

Janie’s Prawn Bites

• Half cup Hellman’s (REAL) Mayonnaise
• Half cup of grated dried Parmesan
• 2 cloves crushed garlic. Mix all together
• 24’ ish prawns frozen or fresh.

4 slices of crispy toast, remove crusts and cut into 6 squares, spoon a small amount of mix on each square and pop a prawn on top, place under hot grill for 3/4 mins till light golden brown. Tip: extra mix keeps really well in fridge for quickies. Great with nice cold glass of Sauvignon. Enjoy!

Especially for you Autumn Winter Special 4 for 2

We have a very Special Autumn/Winter offer for those of you on our email mail list only! Introduce your friends to The Cottages for free. Come stay in Rose Cottage, The Apple Loft or Garden Cottage, de-stress in total comfort, enjoy head clearing beach walks and good food, sample the simple life. Accommodation for 4 people for 3 nights, Euro 420/Sterling 335 all inclusive. (ex Xmas)

Talking about booking, we would like to introduce Lorraine Cooney to you. Lorraine our long standing friend and neighbour has been with us since January and is doing a great job of looking after reservations, any queries Lorraine is happy to help, she is here every morning from 10 to 1 Monday to Friday or email any time.

Gourmet take outs

New from Coast Restaurant a special gourmet take away service for our cottage guests only. Simon and Katisha will have scrummy meals ready for you. Enjoy gourmet dinner by the fire in your own seaside cottage. Congratulations to Katisha and Simon on the birth of their son Dante James. Happy Days! Spire’s Bella Italia, Duleek. Yes, another new restaurant for you to sample. All your old favourites Coast, Relish, Chan’s and The Cottage Bistro all still going strong, and as you will remember all are within walking distance.

Golfers

Well done Padraig Harrington can you believe now No. 3 in the world. We are all looking forward to another really special Ryder Cup. Remember there is great autumn golf here on the East Coast, with concession green fees at Laytown/Bettystown, Bellewstown and Seapoint, with lots of choice besides.

Holistic Massage

Holistic massage is a combination of different massage techniques to effectively bring your whole system into a balanced and stress-free state. Try out some really special de-stressing therapies with Patricia in her ‘Sanctuary rooms’ just 5 minutes walk down the beach from The Cottages. www.patriciawatson.info

Laytown Strand Races

We still have some availability Thursday 11th September, evening meeting 1st race 3pm.

Travel

Great Autumn deals from the airlines check them out on www.aerlingus.com, www.bmi.com, www.ryanair.com, remember if you don’t feel like hiring a car Mullen’s taxi cabs are happy to do the driving email robert@mullencabs.ie Direct non-stop luxury coach service to Dublin city centre Euro 12 return 6 am to 12 midnight from just outside cottage gates.

Have a great Autumn wherever you are. All the Best Roger and Liz and the Team x x x

Download the PDF of the Autumn 2008 Newsletter

As another season rolls by we start to think about NEWS for you and you know there is always lots!

FOODIES exciting times….

We are delighted to announce the re-opening of Bacchus Restaurant by Simon Allott and his partner Katisha. Now called COAST the restaurant has been completely refurbished and is looking great with a really good ambience. Simon is a genius with food and having worked in France for the past 4 years he brings that extra special flavour to his dishes. Yummy! You can once again stroll down the beach for that extra special romantic evening out. Need to book on 00353(0)41 981 3222 Next door to Coast is café Relish run by Denise Walsh. Exceptional homemade food, mouth-watering breakfasts and brunches, home made goodies with great coffee and early evening dinners. Relish was a great hit with our summer guests. Well Done Denise!

Open 9.30 am – 9.30 pm Thurs to Sunday, just 10 minutes walk.

Clay Shooting and Archery with that extra special touch!

Experience the thrill of Clay Shooting and Archery at Courtlough, Balbriggan and then relax afterward with a drink by their big log fire in the fully licenced Courtlough Club House. Great shop too with all the top sporting brands.

Check out their website www.courtlough.ie

Autumn/Winter Special €350 all inclusive for 2.

Don’t forget we have Rose Cottage, Garden Cottage and The Apple Loft Cottage as well as Honeymoon Cottage available for 2 people sharing (ex Halloween, Christmas and New Year).

Golf

Well done to our golfing group from the Presidio Golf Club, San Francisco who visited last month & played Royal Tara, Portmarnock, Baltray, Royal County Down (Walker Cup), Carton House and even Bettystown Laytown… Phew! 6 courses in 7 days that is some going! Great to meet you all.

Airport Collection

You can now book your taxi direct on line with Mullen Cabs. If you feel like a short break without the hassle of car hire the Mullen family are happy to do the driving  robert@mullencabs.ie or call Robert on 00353 86 8198213. Direct non stop Luxury Coach Service to Dublin @ €10 return continues to be a great success running from 6.15 am to 12 midnight from just outside The Cottages. Full train service too.

Don’t forget to check out our late availability pages!

All the best,

Roger, Liz and the Team

Can you believe it’s May already where did the last six months go?

What a Spring we have had, a wonderful display of daffodils here at The Cottages and the Bluebells are now taking their place.

Lots of News… but where to start?

The remodelling of Garden Cottage and The Apple Loft has been a great success, you will all be as delighted as we are with the end result, they are even better than before! Garden Cottage now accommodates 2 or 4 people, with a super king size bedroom upstairs and a double downstairs, both en suite. The Apple Loft has been extended but retains all its character with two new bedrooms upstairs, a king size double and a twin room, both en suite.

Couples

Garden Cottage, The Apple Loft and Rose Cottage are now available for 2 people sharing @ €130 per night, lots of room, great value. (3 day minimum stay).

Stop Press

New luxury non-stop coach service direct to Dublin City Centre leaves every hour from 6am to 12 midnight, virtually from the Cottage gate. €10 return. It is so easy, so fast we are using it ourselves, it only takes 35 minutes!

Swim & Gym – Pay and Play

Excellent new starte of the art 25m pool and full gym has opened in Drogheda, 10 minutes drive. €6 per visit.

Farm Shop

Lis-Maura Farm Shop has yet again extended their range to include a butcher’s counter with a great range of organic meat and game.

Faster Route

The Dublin Port Tunnel has opened cutting a good 20 minutes off the drive time for our guests coming in by ferry into Dublin Port. Toll is €6 off peak. Don’t forget to have your euro ready!

Laytown Races scheduled for 6th September 2007

The forecast is for a hot, hot Summer. Have a great one wherever you are!

All the best

Roger, Liz and the Team.

Download the PDF version of the Spring 2007 newsletter.

Hope you have had a great summer. The weather here was fantastic with sunshine all the way hope it was the same with you.

Golfer’s

The Ryder Cup is here already can you believe it we hope the weather holds up but even if it doesn’t it will be a great success. Apologies to our American golfing guests but we have all our finger’s and toe’s crossed for Padraigh Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley how great to have 3 Irish player’s in the line up.

Workaholic’s

We would like to let you into the secret of The Sanctuary run by Patricia Watson just 5 minutes walk by beach from The Cottages. Patricia specialises in de-stressing with Reflexology, Acupuncture, Massage and Aromatherapy make your choice and relax and recharge those batteries.

Sand yachting and Kiting continue to grow in popularity.

Gourmet’s and Shopper’s

Drogheda continues to expand becoming a mecca for Shopper’s and more new restaurants, which we have not tried yet but the reports are good. Marks and Spencer have opened a new
Food Hall for those of you who would just like to have a lazy time.

Painter’s

Don Stone the celebrated American Artist hosted an international group of 25 plein air painters here at The Cottages in May a wonderfully talented group from all the USA, from Maine to California, from Indiana to Florida not to mention Norway and the UK we send you all our best wishes and hope you continued the good work with a successful summer’s painting.

Remodelling – Closing Dates

We will be closed from Mid January to end of February to remodel The Apple Loft and Garden cottages. We plan to put an upstairs in Garden Cottage, which will make it superb accommodation for 4. The Apple Loft will remain a 2 bed roomed cottage with 2 ensuite.

All our best wishes,

Roger, Liz and the Team.

Download the PDF of the Autumn 2006 newsletter.