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Travel Tales with Fergal
Donegal Destination Special Castle Grove Country House
Welcome to my Donegal destination special, in conjunction with Ireland’s Blue Book, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Wild Atlantic Way, which stretches 2,500 kilometres along the west coast of Ireland from Donegal to Cork. The Blue Book is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Today we are focusing on Donegal, which is the start of the Wild Atlantic Way, with an interview with Karoline Sweeney from the Castle Grove Country House. Castle Grove is a family-run Georgian house, built in 1695 and set is its own 250-acre estate.
Castle Grove Country House is one of the few remaining private estates in the northwest of Ireland which overlooks Lough Swilly and is ideally placed between Letterkenny and Rathmullan so it’s the perfect base from which to explore beautiful Donegal and Wild Atlantic Way. For further details go to https://www.castlegrove.com
I love the Blue Book because they are generally family owned and run Irish Country House Hotels, Manor Houses, castles and restaurants. You really get to see Irish hospitality at its best and the properties are generally old country houses, so you get a real sense of the history of the area you are staying in and their website is https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie.
If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.
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2. Skiing in Gstaad, Switzerland
23:50||Season 7, Ep. 2Listen to Rob “Robsski” Rees tell us all about skiing in the wonderful Swiss ski resort of Gstaad. Gstaad is long associated with the glitz, glamour of 5 star hotels like the fairytale Disney like castle Gstaad Palace and celebrities like Hemingway, Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and most famously Julie Andrews.The town has an understated classy charm but the real treasure is its stunning, magical Alpine landscape and nature and some of the best skiing in the Alps.Check out part 2 next week when Irish broadcaster of the year Ed Finn tells us all about the wonderful winter activities in Gstaad and Interlaken.Information on SwitzerlandGstaad Holiday Region For more information on Gstaad, visit gstaad.chInterlaken Holiday RegionFor more information on Interlaken, visit interlaken.chTravel SwitzerlandTravel Switzerland’s Swiss Travel Pass offers international visitors to Switzerland unlimited travel on consecutive days across the rail, bus and boat network, plus scenic routes (seat reservation fees apply) and local trams and buses in around 90 towns and cities. It also includes the Swiss Museum Pass, which grants free entry to 500 museums and exhibitions, visit travelswitzerland.comGoldenPass Belle Epoque from Zweisimmen to SaanenmöserThe GoldenPass MOB Belle Epoque train that runs on the Zweisimmen-Montreux line offers a journey with a romantic, retro-style ambience. Its coaches are inspired by the Golden Mountain Pullman Express from the 1930s, a luxury train in the style of Orient Express. The current train is a reproduction of the Belle Epoque style of its predecessors. mob.ch/en/stories/belle-epoque Golfhotel Les Hauts de Gstaad****,Saanenmösergolfhotel.ch/enLunch at the Lochstafel mountain restaurant lochstafel.chLunch at Miradi in Gstaad's newest hotel, The Mansard miirohotels.com/the-mansardDinner at the Restaurant La Gare Bernerhof in Gstaad bernerhof-gstaad.ch/en/gastronomy/restaurant-la-gareIf you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal1. The Maldives with Conor Power
37:40||Season 7, Ep. 1I’m delighted to say that Irish travel journalist Conor Power returns to tell us all about his recent trip to the Maldives – a place he calls “paradise". Conor paints a magical picture for us on what it is like staying in those over tropical water villas in two hotels – the Kandima Maldives https://kandima.com and Nova Maldives https://nova-maldives.com. You can see pictures of these exquisite resorts on my @traveltaleswithfergal Instagram page.This is the 5th year and 7th season of this podcast and for any new listeners, I would point you to over 80 great episodes of destination specials, adventurer stories and celebrity travel recommendations. I’ve some great trips already planned for 2025 that I’m looking forward to sharing with you over the year.If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal17. Sky Amade Hochkonig and Gastein, Austria with Cian Byrne
38:57||Season 6, Ep. 17As the 2025 Austria Alpine ski season begins, I interview travel ski journalist Cian Byrne about our recent December trip to the towns of Maria Alm in the Hochkonig region and Bad Gastein in the Gastein region, which are both part of the huge 760km ski area of Ski Amade near Salzburg. Visit https://www.skiamade.com/en for tips, trips and deals.If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal#IrelandsBlueBook #Meath16. Meath Special with Tadhg Carolan of Tankardstown House
22:12||Season 6, Ep. 16Welcome to my Co Meath destination special, in conjunction with Ireland’s Blue Book, where we will be celebrating and discovering the historic and magical Boyne Valley with two local hoteliers over two episodes. Today I am chatting to Tadhg Carolan from Tankardstown House, a Meath native and board member of Ireland’s Blue Book collection of family owned and run Irish Country House Hotels, Manor Houses, castles and restaurants. For more details go to https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie/houses.html/station-houseTankardstown Estate comprises an 18th Century Manor House, adjoining Orangery and a central courtyard of Cottage Suites. Tucked behind the Main House is the ‘Garden Village’, where classic evening dining takes place in the 2AA Rosette Restaurant, ‘Brabazon’, as well as serving casual lunch and Afternoon Tea. If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal#IrelandsBlueBook #Meath15. Meath Special with Suzanne Mullen of The Station House Hotel
31:34||Season 6, Ep. 15Welcome to my Co Meath destination special, in conjunction with Ireland’s Blue Book, where we will be celebrating and discovering the historical and magical Boyne Valley with two local hoteliers over two episodes. Today am chatting to Suzanne Mullen from the Station House Hotel, the newest member of Ireland’s Blue Book collection of family owned and run Irish Country House Hotels, Manor Houses, castles and restaurants. For more details go to https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie/houses.html/station-house The Station House Hotel is an award winning boutique hotel located in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East and is set on 12 acres of manicured gardens and woodland and offers an idyllic country escape, approximately 40km from Dublin airport.If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal#IrelandsBlueBook #TheStationHouseHotel #Meath14. Zaragoza, Spain with Ed Finn
33:21||Season 6, Ep. 14I’m delighted to say my guest is the esteemed Irish travel journalist from print, radio and television Ed Finn and we discuss our recent trip to Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon in Spain.Zaragoza is the fifth largest city in Spain. Zaragoza has impressive sites like the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar, the Cathedral of the Saviour, known as the SEO and the Aljafería Palace, the northernmost Spanish-Moorish palace in Europe.Zaragoza is home to Aragon's Mudejar architectural treasures, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, including the SEO and the Aljafería.Zaragoza is also famous for his links when chocolate came to Europe and as the world capital of Garnacha wine.For more information on Zaragoza visit https://www.zaragoza.esIf you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal13. Extremadura, Spain with Conor Power
39:00||Season 6, Ep. 13My guest travel writer Conor Power shares his experiences from our recent trip to the wonderful region of Extremadura in south west Spain on the border of Portugal. We chat about the Ribera del Guadiana Wine and Cava Route, in the region of Extremadura and its wine-growing tradition and exquisite regional gastronomy, historical Roman and Moor heritage, archaeological sites, monasteries and castles.This area is where the Spanish go on holidays for a cultural and food fix. It is in a way an idealised version of Spain with open planes of fields of vines and olive oil as far as the eye can see to the distant horizon. Think spaghetti westerns landscape where farms are often 1,000’s of acres. Where brilliant sunsets blaze the land orange every night. The capital Mérida is a destination you should put at the top of your list when it comes to visiting Extremadura. As the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, Mérida boasts an impressive collection of Roman ruins that have earned it the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Roman Theatre, still used for performances today, is a remarkable testament to the city’s ancient past. If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal12. US Election Special with Daniel Gilmore and Sean O'Neill
38:15||Season 6, Ep. 12In celebration of the 4th anniversary of this podcast, we have a US Election Special with Daniel Gilmore, a Republican and Sean O’Neill, a Democrat who discuss the current state of America in the lead up to one of the most anticipated elections in US history. They give a topical, informative and entertaining insight into the Trump v Harris campaigns, exactly 4 years after their last two episodes before and after the 2020 election.If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal10. Porto and Northern Portugal Destination Special
20:50||Season 6, Ep. 10Porto is gaining a reputation as one of Europe’s coolest cities both as a holiday destination and as a gateway to northern Portugal.I explore this great city and the Minho region above Porto with lush green hills and Vino Vert vineyards and the stunning medieval towns of Braga and Ponte de Lima. I also talk about the areas below Porto including the Douro Valley, the Arouca region and the River Paiva which is great for rafting. Check out my Instagram for more detailed info on the trip.If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal