Bridge on the Wonderful West Coast of Ireland
On this unique holiday we stay at the 4-star Westport Woods Hotel & Spa, situated between the heritage town of Westport and the Quay and nestled in 300-year-old woodland. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool, a spa, and a wellness centre for guests. Our trips include a morning guided tour of Westport House, plus a scenic day out with a local guide visiting Achill Island with an included light lunch. You’ll then enjoy the beauty of Connemara with a visit to the beautiful Kylemore Abbey, followed by a cruise on Killary Fjord, surrounded by the dramatic mountains of Galway and Mayo. **What to expect from this Bridge holiday:** This is a relaxed bridge holiday where you can enjoy excursions plus varied and interesting bridge sessions every evening between 7:45pm and 11:15 pm. There will be bridge sessions on 2 afternoons between 2:30pm and 4:45pm.There will be 1 morning bridge seminar. During your Bridge holiday nothing is obligatory, and you can play in as many, or as few, Bridge sessions as you wish. We don’t forget you are on holiday and our Bridge programmes also allow time to relax and the opportunity for you to explore the surrounding area.
Your Tour Includes
- Return flights from London Gatwick to Knock (flights from Liverpool available at a supplement)
- 5 nights’ half board accommodation
- Varied bridge sessions
- Masterpoints and Prizes awarded
- 1 bridge seminar
- Services of EBU qualified director
- Tours around Westport House and Grounds, Achill Island and Kylemore Abbey
- Return airport transfers
Eddie & Kathy Williams
Eddie & Kathy have been playing Bridge for over 30 years. For the last twenty years they have been lucky enough to have bridge as their occupation, running bridge holidays, teaching bridge, organising county events, directing tournaments locally, county wide and nationally. Both are on the national panel of the EBU tournament Directors. They have five children between them and three grandsons, so lead a very full and hectic life.
Itinerary
To use our NEW itinerary, simply click a day below and a detailed overview will appear.
Overview
Today we fly to Knock in West Ireland. On arrival we transfer by coach to our hotel in Westport, a town on the edge of an Atlantic inlet on Ireland’s rugged west coast. Relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel followed by evening bridge.
Includes Dinner
Overview
This morning we take the short journey by coach to visit Westport House and grounds. This Palladian mansion was built in the 18th century and is often described as one of Ireland’s national treasures. It is housed in a magnificent setting with terraces, gardens, and a lake with splendid views out over Clew Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The house was owned and lived in for over 300 years by the Brown family, direct descendants of the Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley. Your guide will regale you with stories of life upstairs and downstairs as you explore the ‘Big House’, with around 30 rooms and several permanent exhibitions, one of which tells Grace O’Malley’s story. Following our visit to Westport House we are transferred by coach into Westport town with free time to explore and have lunch (at own expense). This afternoon there will be a bridge session available at the hotel, followed by dinner and evening bridge.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
Today we board our coach for a scenic drive to Achill Island. Achill Island is Ireland’s largest island and full of natural beauty. After crossing the Michael Davitt Bridge we will enjoy the views of sandy beaches, rocky headlands, peat bogs and rugged mountain scenery. Our journey will take us by Currane Peninsula, Kildavnet Castle, Atlantic Drive, Keem Bay and Dugort. With beauty all around there are plenty of short stops for photo opportunities along the way. We also include a light lunch today at a local eatery before returning to the hotel for dinner and evening bridge.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
Today we have a morning bridge seminar and afternoon bridge session, or free time to enjoy your surrounding area and the facilities of the hotel. Dinner will be followed by evening bridge.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
Today we head to the heart of Connemara and to Kylemore Abbey. Built by Mitchell Henry in 1867 as an ancestral castle, later becoming home to a Benedictine community of nuns who were fleeing war-torn Belgium, in 1920 the building was transformed into the iconic Kylemore Abbey. You’ll experience the Abbey at its finest, exploring restored period rooms and the fascinating visitor experience which tells of Kylemore’s tragic and romantic history. Discover the 6-acre Victorian walled garden, established in the mid-1800s with formal flower, vegetable, and herb gardens. Follow the woodland and lakeshore walks and find the stunning neo-Gothic Church. There is plenty to see here before we head this afternoon to Killary Fjord. Here we take a return cruise to the mouth of the fjord as we admire the stunning Connemara scenery passing by. With panoramic views all around, you may even spot a dolphin or two! We return by coach back to Westport for dinner and evening bridge.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
We enjoy a final breakfast at hotel before our coach takes us to Knock airport for our flight back to the UK.
Includes Breakfast
Accommodation
You will stay for five nights at the Westport Woods Hotel & Spa.