BRIDGE OF HIGHS

RENOVATIONS The Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore, also below

- Orlaith Clinton

HAVING just bought my first house, the idea of a holiday seems pretty unrealistic this summer as we continue to make a house a home ~ so the opportunity to discover counties of Ireland I'd never seen before, is one I'll snap up.

One of those is Co Offaly, where I stayed last month, at the Bridge House Hotel. Nestled in the beautiful town of Tullamore, the hotel dates back to the 1720s, and that rich history made our visit even more enjoyable.

Thinking of a hotel from the 1700s, one may expect something extremely outdated, and perhaps a bit boring, but our impression of the Bridge House Hotel was much more than that.

The drive from Belfast took less than three hours, and we were lucky that our stay coincided with glorious weather, making a sunny drive, windows down and music on, less uncomfortable.

On arrival, we parked a very short walk away from the hotel's main doors, in the hotel's free car park.

The hotel lobby was breathtaking and grand. There were families and friends enjoying the lobby area when we arrived for check-in, something that always makes me feel relaxed and at home when away.