In Need Of Some Couples Quality Time? Ireland's Hotels Have The Answer

According to WB Yeats, "romantic Ireland is dead and gone" – but what does he know about the myriad opportunities for loved-up couples around the country today?

Whether it's to take someone for that unforgettable first weekend away together, or to rekindle the spark with your partner of many years, you're spoiled for choice in Ireland.

Go wild – in the truest sense of the word – with a trip to Connemara on Ireland's famed west coast. Enjoy walks on coral beaches as the Atlantic waves crash on the shore, followed by authentic sean nós sessions in old-man pubs with blazing fires and an away-from-it-all atmosphere.

Galway Girl

And if you're feeling adventurous, a mountain quest to walk from one end of the Twelve Bens to the other is a great way to test the staying quality of any prospective partner. The reward at the end – a few days of complete relaxation in Screebe House, located on the edge of the Connemara Gaeltacht – is worth the trek.

An adult-only hotel, it is the ideal locations for loved-up couples with plenty of time to get to know one another.

Rejuvenate in the pool and sauna, dive into the cool atlantic waters from the private pier , replenish in the award winning restaurant, revitalise in the spa lodge or simply relax in the bar - the opportunities for romance and rekindling are plentiful.

It must be songs like Ed Sheeran's Galway Girl which have made the county one of Ireland's most sought-after for romantic get aways.

One of the main reasons for this is the cultural vitality of Galway with its many famous pubs, the world renowned Druid Theatre company, and enough Michelin stars to light up the night sky.

Revolutionary passions

While Leitrim is not famed in song and story as a haven for true lovers, it should be remembered that it's here the dramatic story unfolded of Jimmy Gralton.

He built a dance hall for his community before he was hounded out of the country for his political views – and his love for a former sweetheart who had married while he been in exile during the War of Independence. Now the subject of an award winning Abbey Theatre musical and a Ken Loach movie, Jimmy's Hall, you might like to take a visit to Effrinagh, five miles west of Carrick-On-Shannon, where the drama unfolded back in the early 1930s.

Nothing stirs the blood more than a love story set in the middle of revolutionary turmoil but you can beat a retreat afterwards to the classic Lough Rynn Castle, the ideal setting for your own romantic tale.

Here, you and your beloved can stroll the victorian walled gardens, taking a break in the gardens romantic turret overlooking the lough or cosy up in front of a roaring fire after a delicious meal a deux in the restaurant acclaimed for its top-class dining.

The old-world elegance and sheer opulence of the surroundings will transport you to another era, when all things are possible and when your everyday concerns are far away – in short the ideal setting for a romantic tryst.

Excite the senses

If you want to stay closer to the metropolis, then it must be Wicklow's beaches, mountains and lakes for that special rendezvous location.

The cliff walk from Bray to Greystones with a cup of coffee and a slice of cake in the Happy Pear is one option – but if you really want to go for it, why not take a wander around peaceful Glendalough on a crisp winter's morning to really see the beauty of creation. After the walk adjourn to BrookLodge & Macreddin Village and warm yourselves again with a hot drink beside one of the blazing open fires in its rustic lounges.

Here you will find a food lover's delight with two excellent restaurants, La Tavern Armento and the Strawberry Tree.

In La Tavern Armento, you will be transported via your palate to the eateries of southern Italy, to the casual dining atmosphere of an Italian taverna with delicious pizza straight from the wood burning oven.

In the Strawberry Tree, Ireland's first wild and organic certified restaurant, you will find cuisine that will excite the senses from a menu that changes daily to reflect the seasons by serving up the freshest fare from the garden of Ireland.

The Macreddin Village really is a destination in itself for couples seeking a romantic get away with its amazing spa and numerous trails through the woods next to babbling streams , ideal locations for a stolen kiss and cuddle.

As we said above, romantic Ireland is very much alive – and is an exciting destination for couples at whatever point they may be in their relationship.

About Original Irish Hotels

Original Irish Hotels are a collection of unique, owner-run hotels, located in Ireland’s most outstanding destinations. Open the door to the magic of unmissable moments with Ireland’s leading collection of independent hotels.

Our 60 hotels are dotted around the entire island of Ireland in must-see locations, from the Wild Atlantic Way, to Ireland’s Ancient East, the Causeway Coast, Dublin and the treasured heartland of Ireland’s midlands and lakelands.

Irrespective of where our hotels are, Original Irish Hotels pride themselves in hosting a unique and truly memorable experience for our guests, and soon to be friends. The collection is made up of a range of traditional and boutique hotels, castles, manor and country houses, all run by locals, ensuring a unique experience every time.