My honey bunny and I are planning a wedding late spring or early summer. We want to honeymoon in Ireland. We want to stay in a cool castle and ride horses. Any suggestions? Thanks.

OK first some questions which may help me help you - exactly when are you deciding to go to Ireland (May, June, July) and in what part of the country do you want to stay, and what do you want to do, apart from horse riding. There are quite alot of guest houses, B&Bs, farm houses and castle theat offer horse riding hoildays in Ireland. I mentioned other forms of accommodation other than castles as castles are expensive. But if you want castle check out - Adare Manor (near Shannon airport), Ashford Castle (Galway)(where various presidents of the USA stayed during visits as did Hollywood stars), Dromland is also a good bet. These are at the expensive end of the market but there are some beautiful farmhouses that offer horse riding as well. Post if you have more questions and congratulation on your fort coming wedding

Thank you so much for your response. We don't mind spending money to stay somewhere special. As for the date, probably June. Any further guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Just one last thought - contact the Irish Tourist Board and tell them that it is your honeymoon and they will come up with some extra material. They can help you plan a trip linking with the castles instead of staying in the one castle all the time, otherwise plan your own trip. <BR> <BR>All of the castles I mentioned are excellent - real romantic and ideal for honeymooning couples. However there is a publication called the Blue Book listing exclusive (and expensive guest houses with excellent restaurants) that are worth checking out. Some places in the Book that I have stayed and enjoyed are Tinkakilly House (Wicklow - with easy access to Glendalough and the mountains and excellent food), Crookerwood House (excellent food and quaint village nearby - horse riding too I think and fishing also) and one not mentioned int he book - Mitchelles of Laragh (also in the Wicklow Mts and has a restaurant). Hotels wise - in Galway it has to be the Greath Souther on Eyre Square - city centre (but Galway is over populated with tourists in the summer months), in Killarney any of the Great Southerns - Parkensilla especially. Lots of hotels ion Dublin but if you want an old world feeling and don't mind paying then there is really only one hotel and that is the Shelbourne on Stephen's Green (and you can take a horse and coach tour of the city centre) There is an excellent farmhouse in Westmeath (midlands) called Reynella House - close to Crokerwood House too and they organise hors riding treks through the Mullingar Eqs School, aslo Lough Crew House and Garden take guests and provide meals and horses - it is near the ancient [passage graves which are similar to Newgrange but less visited). <BR> <BR>Get onto Bord Failte (Tourist Board) and they will help you plan such a honeymoon, ask for the a copy of the Blue Book as well. Aslo check out flight deal with Air Lingus and Delta - depending on where you are flying from. Hope this helps - post if you need more.

Have a look at this website for some good tips on horseback riding holidays in Ireland. <BR> <BR>http://www.ehi.ie/