Monthly Archives

June 2019

The National Sea Life Centre

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The National SEA LIFE Centre is one of Ireland’s largest Marine and Freshwater Zoos and the only aquarium on the East Coast of Ireland. The aquarium on the Seafront in Bray is a perfect family fun day out!

Sea Life centre is completely indoors making it a perfect all-weather activity. Having responsibility for the welfare and well-being of over 1100 underwater animals.  Are you a Shark lover, a Seahorse fancier or a Clownfish groupie? Perhaps it’s the mysterious Moon Jellyfish or the clever common Octopus that you love the most? Maybe you simply can’t decide! Here at SEA LIFE Bray you can make up your mind and see them all – from the curious and the rescued to the rare and the enigmatic. And you’ll be able to get closer to them than ever before.

The team here at SEA LIFE is passionate about promoting and advancing the cause of the creatures of our oceans and rivers and their habitats.  We engage in advocacy for conservation legislation, campaign for sustainable fishery policies, the breeding of endangered species, and cooperation with other like-minded organisations.  In keeping with our message – BREED, RESCUE, PROTECT – we’ve developed a system of care and best-practice animal husbandry that draws on decades of collective experience from our marine biologists.

With 30 displays, a kids quiz trail, a colouring table, an indoor play area for younger children, and hourly public feeds of our animals, you won’t get bored.

SEA LIFE Bray is open 7 days a week (except Christmas Day & St Stephens Day)

Winter opening times

  • Monday to Friday 11:00 to 17:00  (last admissions 16:00)
  • Saturday/Sunday 10:00 to 18:00 (last admissions 17:00)

Summer opening times (starting 16th March 2019):

  • Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00 (last admissions 17:00)

Please be aware that due to our limited capacity, we strongly advise all guests to book online tickets in advance of their visit, particularly when planning to visit during weekends or school holidays.

Guests with pre-booked tickets are guaranteed entry and will be given priority over guests who arrive with no tickets, who may have to wait to be admitted due to our limited capacity.

The National SEA LIFE Centre, Strand Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Tickets: 01 2866939 or buy online here.

General Office: 01 2866939

School Bookings: 01 286693

Killruddery

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Often described as a wonderful place to escape for a great day out, Killruddery has been home to the Brabazon Family (the Earls of Meath) since 1618. Conveniently located on the outskirts of the capital where Dublin meets Wicklow, here’s your opportunity to discover a hidden gem in our midst. There’s so much to see and explore. Nature has never been more relaxing with leisurely walks in one of Ireland’s most renowned gardens, filled with beautiful planting and wooded areas, water features and distinctive outdoor “rooms”. A delightful Tea Room and guided tours of one of Ireland’s Great Historic Houses are just some of the other treats on offer.

Killruddery Garden is open on weekends in April and October and 7 days a week from May to September, from 9.30 am to 6 pm. Last admission is an hour before closing time.

Opening Times

  • April – Weekends only, 9.30am – 6pm
  • May to September – Daily 9.30am – 6pm
  • October – Weekends only, 9.30am – 6pm
  • Farm Market, every Saturday, 10am – 3pm

Killruddery, Southern Cross, Bray, Co. Wicklow,

Telephone +353 (0)1 2863405

Email info@killruddery.com

Powerscourt Gardens

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Welcome to Powerscourt Gardens in County Wicklow, one of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland! Powerscourt Gardens were recently voted No.3 in the World’s Top Ten Gardens by National Geographic. The Gardens stretch over 47 acres and offer visitors a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statues and ornamental lakes, secret hollows and rambling walks. Managed by Head Gardener, Alex Slazenger and a team of four gardeners, Powerscourt Gardens were designed from 1731 onwards, with the desire to create a garden which was part of the wider surrounding landscape. Powerscourt Gardens include The Walled Gardens, The Italian Garden, The Dolphin Pond, The Japanese Gardens, Pets Cemetery and Pepperpot Tower, among other features and attractions.

Attractions at Powerscourt

  • Powerscourt Gardens – 47 acres of discovery
  • Powerscourt Waterfall – The Highest Waterfall in Ireland
  • Powerscourt Golf Club – 2 Championship Courses
  • Powerscourt House – Venue for Weddings & Corporate Events
  • Powerscourt Hotel – A 5* Luxury Experience
  • Cool Planet Experience – Ireland’s first interactive climate change experience
  • Powerscourt Distillery – A variety of tours, whiskey tastings and events are catered for
  • Dining at Powerscourt – The Terrace Café, Powerscourt Golf Club Restaurant, The Powerscourt Hotel
  • Shopping at Powerscourt – Powerscourt Garden Pavilion, Avoca Stores, Neptune by Global Village, The Design Gallery & Estate souvenirs

Opening Times

  • Daily: 9.30am – 5.30pm (Last entry 5pm)
  • Gardens close at dusk in Winter (Last entry during winter is 30 minutes before dusk)
  • The Gardens are open year-round and only close December 25th & 26th

Phone: + 353 (0) 1 204 6000

Email: info@powerscourt.net

Address: Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow,  A98 WOD0

Mount Usher Gardens

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Mount Usher Gardens: where the planting is enchanting! One of only 3 Irish gardens with a top rating from the UK’s The Good Gardens Guide, Mount Usher is not simply one of Ireland’s greatest gardens, with its relaxed informality and natural layout. Monty Don has described it as one of his favourite gardens anywhere

Delightful in every aspect, Mount Usher is one of the finest examples of an authentic ‘Robinsonian’ style garden combining a distinguished collection of trees and shrubs with informal floral planting schemes in a sheltered valley setting. There is an ever-changing panoply of colours, and textures enhanced by wafting scents as one season changes to another. We provide you with a detailed tree trail guide to help you locate the many ‘show-stoppers’ as you wander around.

Mount Usher Gardens, with its Avoca Garden Café and Courtyard Shops is situated in the village of Ashford, just 35 minutes south of Dublin city, and close to the seaside towns of Bray, Wicklow and Arklow. To get to Ashford by public transport, the 133 bus regularly passes through the village on its way to/from Dublin airport to the north (via the city centre) and Rosslare harbour to the south. There is a wide variety of accommodation in the area where you will be made very welcome and comfortable.   The popularity of the gardens, café and shops during the summer season means that the car park can become very full in the middle of the day: but there is additional parking in the village a short walking distance away.

Mount Usher Gardens, Ashford, Co Wicklow

Phone: +353 404 49672 | Cafe: +353 404 40116 | Foodhall: +353 0404 49678

Email: info@mountushergardens.ie | Cafe Email: mountushercafe@shop.avoca.ie

Greystones 2020 Public Realm Plan for Greystones

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Greystones2020, with funding from LEADER & support from Greystones Municipal District & Greystones Tidy Towns invite tenders from economic operators to develop a plan for the most effective, management and enhancement of the towns public realm;

With reference to the following: approaches and gateways to town; public space network; connectivity and permeability; parking and traffic; legibility and maneuverability; signage and wayfinding; history and heritage; tourist destination; parking, traffic & public transport.

The aim of the project is to deliver a detailed action-based plan for the town’s public realm, which can be used to guide public and private investment in the town to maximise and enhance its existing cultural assets, in tandem with economic and social development. The plan should be visual and identify both short term and longer-term projects.

Greystones 2020 estimates that the expenditure on the Services to be covered by the proposed Services Contract may amount to some €34K exclusive of VAT over the term.

Click here for the tender documents are up on e-tenders

Upon the awarding of the contract to consultants a number of public consultation meetings will be organised.