A Visit to the National Leprechaun Museum

Read about our staff member's recent visit to the National Leprechaun Museum below!

Being American, and growing up with the image of a Lucky Charm’s box for a leprechaun, I decided I had to see the National Leprechaun Museum. Upon my just-in-time arrival of two minutes before closing, I was greeted by a man who claimed he was not a leprechaun, but could certainly pass as one. (he told us this himself, many times.)

For the beginning of the tour we learned quite a bit about Irish folklore, how the leprechaun has evolved through the years and what people around the world actually think of this little creature. After this, we were left on our own to first make our way through the long hallway of mirrors, which are there to make you feel just like a little man yourself. Then, after passing through we got to experience Dublin’s very own mini Giant’s Causeway. My personal favorite was the room with the extremely oversized furniture, also there to make you feel quite small. For the last part of our tour we got to sit in the ‘forest’ and were told a lovely fairytale.

All in all, I would say this is a great little museum. Definitely worth the time, and very inexpensive price. As the Irish would say it was “a great bit of craic!”

“May the Road Rise Up to Meet You…”

A big thank you to our intern who finished up with us last week, for all her hard work (an example of which is our great new video shown here) and enthusiasm - read her last blog post below!



“May the Road Rise Up to Meet You…”

These past couple months working at Sandymount Hotel have gone by faster than the Dublin buses if you don’t put your arm out to hail them.

Words can not even begin to describe what this experience has meant to me. Truth be told when I found out back in April that I would be working at a hotel, I had no idea what to expect. Sure I’ve stayed in hotels before and have enjoyed jumping on the beds, but work in one? It had never come across the “this-is-what-I-want-to-do-with-my-life” radar. But oh boy, how glad I am it did! I could have not gotten any luckier with my job placement and the people I was privileged enough to work alongside. I truly have been welcomed into the Sandymount Hotel family since the first day I arrived, and I only hope I have returned some of the compassion and care they have shown me.

Quickly and directly I would like to address my lovely colleagues & bosses that have enriched my time here in Dublin in more ways than they’ll ever realize:
Firstly, thanks for this opportunity. Seriously. Trusting your company’s livelihood with a fourth year college student can be daunting, especially one who does not have much formal internship experience. You have given me the room to spread my wings and grow as a marketer and as a person. You listened to all my crazy ideas and even let me go through with some of them! From somewhat “cheeky” sidewalk ads all over Sandymount, to Grafton Street hand-outs, and from the face-in-the-hole statue that hopefully one day will happen, to my first ever YouTube upload. You have shown me in the most humble way, how to be good at business, all while staying true to yourself, your product, and to each other. I was able to witness such exquisite minds and personalities through you all! Too many times American businesses can concentrate on just making money, and here at Sandymount Hotel I have been able to observe the art of a sincere business.

To you, most highly regarded guest/blog reader - It’s been a pleasure sharing just a few of my experiences with you. I appreciate your patronage and support. If you ever come to the U.S. and need a tour guide, don’t be hesitant to ask! Also, for the guests I have been lucky enough to come in contact with, whether it be calling to remind you of one of our pre-concert BBQs or speaking to you in our lobby, it has been beyond doubt so enjoyable to get to know you, even in the smallest of ways. I wish you all the best of luck and hope you come back to stay at the hotel one day!

To the future guests and Ireland travellers!
When I say that Sandymount Hotel is the best possible place to stay in Dublin, you should trust me…because I’ve been on the inside of this whole operation. Everyone here truly cares about pleasing our guests; even if it can only be for the quick blip in time that we are lucky enough to have you at the hotel.

So I could sit here and give you pages upon pages of recommendations of things to see and tours to go on, but it’s really much more fun to make your trip your own unique creation.

But I will share with you some of my only suggestions:
-Don’t worry about getting lost, sometimes that can be the most fun.
-Take loads of pictures, but also don’t be afraid to enjoy the view without looking through a lens.
-Talk to the locals, trust me, they want you to.
-Try not to compare everything to the place where you are from.
-Just follow your feet because they’ll help you stumble upon things you might have never seen.
-If you’re a female, say yes to any man over the age of 85 that asks you to dance, it will probably be the best one you’ve ever had.
-Take time and stop on Grafton or O’Connell and listen to local artists, you don’t have to pay them if you don’t want to, just enjoy it!
-Always, always carry some sort of rain gear, and don’t worry the sun will come back out.
-See the sights, stay at Sandymount Hotel, and HAVE A BLAST!

John Loughran, the truly wonderful owner, once gave me an Irish blessing and I shall pass it on:

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

All my love, craic, and appreciation!

Yours Truly,
Sylvia
Forever and Always Sandymount Hotel Marketing Intern 2011

The Script at Aviva Stadium

To get the party started before The Script take to the stage at Aviva Stadium this Saturday we'll be having another of our fantastic BBQs! So whether you are staying with us or on your way to the concert, come along and enjoy tasty burgers, delicious salads and a great atmosphere! Keep a look out for the Spinis, who will also be joining us on Saturday!

Front Grounds of Sandymount Hotel
­From 5.00pm
­Enjoy homemade 8oz Irish beef burgers with Swiss cheese & Ballymaloe relish on a flour bap­ and drinks from our fast pour bar in the front grounds of the hotel.

Pre-Concert BBQ Buffet in our Cordyline Restaurant & Private Gardens ­
­4.30pm - 6.30pm
­Homemade 8oz Irish beef burger with Swiss cheese & Ballymaloe relish on a flour bap­
Cajun flamed chicken breasts
­Apple and sage pork sausages
Pork belly ribs marinated in BBQ sauce
­With
­New baby potato salad with chives and spring onion
Tomato and cucumber salad with feta cheese, red onion and a basil pesto dressing
Garden baby leaves with parmesan shavings in a light Caesar dressing
Beetroot salad with crème fraiche and crushed almonds
€15 Per Person
­First Come, First Served - Arrive Early to Avoid Disappointment!

Tritonville Bar & Terrace
­Our usual menu will be served from 6.30pm until 10pm, ­
and for hungry fans we will have post-concert sandwiches available from 10pm onwards.

Kissing the Stone and unCORKing Wine Bottles

More adventures from our intern....!

Kissing the Stone and unCORKing Wine Bottles

Hi again! Glad to see you back on the Sandymount Hotel blog!

Another week of my time here in Ireland has gone by and with each passing day new experiences are to be had.

If I didn’t have the “Gift of Gab” before, I definitely have it now…15 of us from the program took a trip to Cork, Blarney and Kinsale last weekend! (I was surprised that the bus ride was over 4 hours, luckily Aircoach is pretty comfortable, but taking the train probably would have been a better idea.)

First on the agenda once we got there was to cross an item off the good ole “Bucket List” and kiss the world famous Blarney Stone. Talk about a rock that gets a lot of action…



After wandering around the Blarney Castle grounds for a while (fortunately we get the best luck with weather when we’re traveling), we finally made our way up the narrow, somewhat daunting stone spiral staircase to the top of the castle where stone is located. At first glance the gap between the main part of the castle and stone is unnerving, especially for such a wee little lassie of 5 feet 2 inches as myself. The stone itself is over 100 feet up, but a while ago they added black metal bars underneath and on the sides so you can hold on while you’re thrusting your puckered lips backwards across the ravine. There is also the sweetest (possibly tipsy) older Irish gentleman that supports and holds on to you while you do the deed. I’ve included some pictures of this very bonding moment. I told him “That was my first kiss!” after kissing the stone but for some reason I don’t think he believed my blarney.



If you do get a chance to go to Blarney Castle I definitely recommend not only kissing the stone, but go exploring around the grounds for a while. There is a lot to discover on your own. There’s a really cool waterfall and “wishing steps” if you search further. Also, we didn’t know it was possible to bring a lunch or picnic items into the grounds, but definitely do that too!



After our afternoon in Blarney we headed back to Cork for the night. If you like dessert and sangria, there is a restaurant called “La Mexicana” that has THE best desserts I have ever had. The pub and club scene is nice in Cork, but honestly it just felt like a lot like Dublin. I loved the people of Cork though, very genuine and kind. They are also completely serious when they say they believe that Cork is the real capital of Ireland.

The next day (Saturday) started off rainy as we headed to Kinsale (a really awesome boat town about 30 minutes away from Cork). We shopped around and did some sight-seeing before our planned boat tour at 2pm. Kinsale Harbour Cruises had such a nice staff and with a full bar on the boat, wine was the perfect touch as we sailed around. They also provide cozy blankets for those on the top deck. Be careful while sailing and drinking red wine though…one of my friend’s sweaters will never be the same again.



We experienced more of Cork nightlife on Saturday night, and then headed back to prepare for the work week on Sunday! It had been a jam packed weekend trip.

Well as things are starting to pick up at the hotel, it’s time to run! My friends and I leave for London TONIGHT! We are all pretty pumped; I have wanted to go to London since I was a little girl. So after work, gotta run home and pack then we head to the airport!

To all the guests I phoned who are staying here this weekend for the Neil Diamond concert, I know you will have a BLAST! Remember we’re having pig-on-a-spit offered in our front grounds and the special Pre-Concert BBQ in our private gardens starting at 4:30pm on Saturday, so bring your appetite! You’ll need that energy for all that “Sweeeet Caroline Da-da-DAA” you’ll be singing!

Have a lovely weekend everyone and feel free to go “Like” the Sandymount Hotel Facebook page! It will help keep you updated on the festivities going on at the hotel.

The Best “Craic” comes from Ireland - Guest Post from our Summer Intern

Follow our summer intern's adventures as she experiences Ireland for the first time and get some great tips on where to go and what to see!

The Best “Craic” comes from Ireland

Hey y’all!

It was exactly 3 weeks and 3 days ago when I first planted my flip-flop wearing feet upon the green, lush earth of Ireland.

I am an Auburn University college student who for all her life has enjoyed the scorching summers of Texas, Alabama and Georgia (what we Americans like to called the Deep South). These summers were always full of diving boards, popsicles, tank tops, sandy beaches, and sometimes sunburns. Majoring in International Business it was only natural that I find a time to leave that behind and spend a summer abroad.

So this summer I decided to take part in my university’s Study Abroad program to Dublin! The program includes some course work, but mainly gaining internship experience in each student’s chosen fields. Luckily, I have found myself placed as the marketing intern at the best possible hotel in all of Dublin, Sandymount Hotel (previously named Mount Herbert Hotel).

Some fellow students and myself chose to arrive a week before our program started, so I have been able to experience so many wonderful things already.

One of my first new experiences was staying in a hostel! We stayed in 2 different hostels for the week prior to moving into our student housing in Santry. I can undeniably that staying a week in bunk beds and small spaces with smelly boys was about as long as the 8 of us could manage; life at the Sandymount is definitely more luxurious!

All in all the first week flew by with a blur of getting lost, staying up until the sunrise, lots of laughs, attending my first European soccer game at the remarkable and massive Aviva Stadium (which is located right beside the Sandymount Hotel), exploring around the city, checking out the pubs, eating lots of garlic cheese fries, spending way too many Euros and getting acquainted with the Irish accent (don’t let them fool you, sometimes it can seem like a whole ‘nother language).

Here are some pictures from the first week!

Since that week we have moved into our apartments along with the other 10 students from Auburn and all the other students from various universities.

The day before the holiday weekend our group went to the Guinness Factory! Which is a MUST do when you come to Dublin! After the self-guided tour, we had an INCREDIBLE dinner and desserts in the Gravity bar, where the views of the entire city were even better than the desserts.

During the holiday weekend the 18 of us took a trip out west to Galway, took an all-day bus tour and saw the Cliffs of Moher! Simply breathtaking (aka I bought at least a dozen postcards), and Galway is such a fabulous city! There was a Havana Festival going on that weekend, so there were lots to see, do and shop.

After such a wonderful trip, our first week of internships started and I have been getting acquainted to the hotel! My favorite new phrases to say are “that’s grand” and “thanks a million!”

We rode the DART, which is the super convenient rail system in Dublin (the Lansdowne Rd Station is only a few minutes’ walk from the Sandymount and just 2 stops away from city centre) and took a day trip during our second weekend to Bray. Another one of my new favorite places! We climbed the mountain there that has a beautiful cross at the top. It was grand to see the beaches of Ireland on a sunny (relatively warm) day! Also, if you ever go to Bray you MUST try the fish and chips and onion rings from this small take-away shop on the beach (especially if you like vinegar and salt!) Ever since I have eaten them, it’s all I can think about when I’m hungry.





There are lots of exciting things going on at the hotel so, I better get back to work :o) but can’t wait to share some more experiences with you about my time in Ireland!

Neil Diamond at Aviva Stadium

If you're going to see Neil Diamond next door to us at Aviva Stadium this month (along with special guest X Factor star Mary Byrne!) then take a look at our cracklin' pre concert line-up below. As always on event days, the atmosphere at Sandymount Hotel should be fantastic, so there's no better place to get your night off to a great start!

Front Grounds of Sandymount Hotel from 4.30pm­
Delicious suckling pig on a spit served in a flour bap with sautéed onions and an assortment of sauces. ­­We will also be serving drinks here from our quick pour bar.

Pre-Concert 2 Course BBQ in our Private Gardens & Cordyline Restaurant ­
­4.30pm - 8.30pm­
­Homemade 8oz Irish beef burger with Swiss cheese & Ballymaloe relish on a flour bap­
Cajun flamed chicken breasts
­Apple and sage pork sausages
Asian spiced marinated rib eye steak kebabs with peppers, mushrooms and onions
Pork belly ribs marinated in BBQ sauce
­With
­New baby potato salad with chives and spring onion
Tomato and cucumber salad with feta cheese, red onion and a basil pesto dressing
Garden baby leaves with parmesan shavings in a light Caesar dressing
Beetroot salad with crème fraiche and crushed almonds
***
Selection of Desserts­
€19.95 Per Person

Tritonville Bar & Terrace
­Our usual menu will be served from 8pm until 10pm, ­and for hungry fans we will have post-concert sandwiches available from 10pm onwards.

No booking is necessary but if you would like to reserve a table for the BBQ, ­
­please call us on +353 1 6142000 or email us on info@sandymounthotel.ie.­

Temple Bar

Image Copyright Michael John's Images

This lovely picture of bustling and lively Temple Bar was selected from our Flickr Group of Dublin images. If you are visiting Dublin you won't want to miss this popular spot, with its great pubs, restaurants, shops, buskers, and markets. To get to Temple Bar from Sandymount Hotel just hop on the DART at Lansdowne Rd, get off at either Pearse Street or Tara Street Station, and it's just a short stroll away.

The photographer gives us some background to this image and his photography below.

"I took this picture when I was shopping with my wife one Sunday afternoon in Feb 2011. I always have my camera with me and the street was bright and buzzing so I wanted to caputre the atmosphere. I also like the architecture of Dublin city and try to photograph it from unusual angles. I also photograph landscape and nature subjects and hope my images tell a story."

To see more of this photographer's images go to www.flickr.com/photos/michaeljohnsimages