Easter Fun at Druids Glen Resort

Eggsperience lots of family fun this Easter !

Your children will barely be able to control their eggcitement with all that is going on at Druids Glen Resort in Wicklow this Easter Sunday! They can have choc-tastic fun egg decorating with the resort’s talented chefs, race around the acres of space in a fun-filled Easter egg hunt and even a visit from the Easter Bunny. As well as keeping the kids wholly entertained for the duration of your stay, parents will also be delighted to discover that kids under 12 will eat absolutely free, so you can be sure to counteract all the sweet stuff with something nice and nutritious for no extra cost.

The Druids Glen Easter Family Package is available from €200 for a family room or €299 for an interconnecting room to give you that little bit more space and includes overnight accommodation, dinner and full Irish breakfast. Offer is subject to availability.

To book call 01 2870847 or visit www.druidsglenresort.com

Payot Spa Comes To Druids Glen Resort

PRESS RELEASE - The Spa at Druids Glen is delighted to announce a new partnership with thel French skincare brand Payot

The Spa at Druids Glen is continuing its emphasis on excellence and distinction with the introduction of products and treatments from luxurious, directional French skincare brand Payot, who have been creating cult beauty products since 1927.

Founded by Dr. Nadia Payot, née Grégoria, who was one of the first female doctors to graduate from the Lausanne School of Medicine, this exclusive, cutting-edge beauty company combines a beauty philosophy based on movement, facial ‘physical culture’ (exercise), and essential skin care products.

Dr Nadia Payot’s pioneering concept of keeping your face ‘fit’, just as you do your body, to maintain its youthful look and firmness, is an idea and practice specific to the Payot brand. Dr Payot’s own experience as a practitioner laid the groundwork for her core concept of a sculpting massage using a 42-movement facial protocol. Devoting just 10 minutes a day to these exercises strengthens facial tissues and ensures a youthful-looking face for years to come.

Today, this highly specialised technique forms the core of the treatments offered by Payot beauty therapists. All Payot face and body care treatments are based on the famous 42-movement facial modellage, developed by Dr Payot.

Payot has a full range of sophisticated skincare products and therapies integrating leading-edge technologies, including Rides Relax to diminish laugh lines, Design Lift for firmness, and comprehensive antioxidant treatments to reduce the effects of ageing and restore radiance to the complexion. Payot

Laboratories also keep Dr Payot’s legacy alive by continuing to offer a trio of iconic products which have been beauty secrets passed from mother to daughter for generations of French women: Pâte Grise, Spéciale 5 and Crème N° 2.

As a special introduction to this gorgeous new brand at the Spa at Druids Glen, a 50 minute Clear Skin Facial is available midweek for just €39, normally €65. Suitable for all skin types, this is a deep cleansing and brightening facial, starting with a pineapple enzyme based exfoliation, followed by a gentle brightening mask and products for your skin personally prescribed by the therapist, and incorporating the famous Payot modellage to leave your skin rehydrated, relaxed and glowing with health. Contact The Spa on 01 2870834 for further details.

, “Nollaig na mBan” (Little Women’s Christmas)

Celebrate Ireland’s traditional girls night out, “Nollaig na mBan” (Little Women’s Christmas) at Druids Glen Resort, Co Wicklow

Leave the men at home to polish off the Christmas leftovers this January 6^th and escape with the girls for a night of pampering that is all in the name of tradition.

For the Irish celebration of “Nollaig na mBan” (Little Women’s Christmas), the five star Druid’s Glen Resort in County Wicklow is offering the perfect package to treat yourself to after the hectic festive period.

The Nollaig na mBan Package includes overnight accommodation in a stylish room with full Irish Breakfast, Elemis Facial, Dinner, a Bottle of Prosecco and special Nollaig na mBan turndown gift.

Nestled between the Irish Sea and Wicklow mountains, with a popular Elemis spa and health club, two championship golf courses, a selection of dining options and a variety of places to visit right on the doorstep, Druids Glen Resort is the ultimate getaway destination.

Contact 01 2870847 for details

Magical Arthurs Christmas Grotto

Magical Arthur Christmas Grotto at Druids Glen

 ‘Twas the weekend before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…. they’re all waiting for Arthur!

Arthur Christmas is, of course, Santa’s son, whose urgent Christmas mission has made him an unlikely hero and whose adventures have just been released as a highly entertaining and imaginative animated family movie, perfect for the Christmas holidays.

This December, over the weekend before Christmas, on the 17th and 18th, Druids Glen host a magical Arthur Christmas package, with Santa himself visiting in Arthur’s Grotto from 3-5pm on Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th December,special presents of cool Arthur Christmas watches, and tickets for the whole family to go and see the movie in 3D in Dundrum!

Parents will enjoy the wry and droll delivery of well-known actors James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent and Bill Nighy, and kids will be fascinated to find out just how Santa Claus makes Christmas magic happen every year, as for the first time, unlimited access has been granted to the never-before-seen logistics operation that takes place deep under the North Pole.

Druids Glen Resort caters perfectly for the whole family, from the lovely restaurant and cosy bar to charming spa and wonderful outdoors. With welcome activity packs & a selection of kids’ games, dvds and books always available, and a games room at weekends, children can enjoy all kinds of activities from face-painting, kids’ swim time, Wii tournaments and resort bikes, and parents can enjoy the fact that baby-sitting can be arranged too!

There are changing facilities & supplies, highchairs & cots, flexible accommodation options for families with interconnecting or spacious family rooms, complimentary dvd players for rooms on request, and, with special kid-focused buffets during seasonal holidays and 24 hour family room service, children under 12 eat free!

The special Arthur Christmas package at Druids Glen on December 17th and 18th costs €210 per family per night based on two adults and two children sharing in interconnecting rooms or two adults and two children sharing in a family room from €160 per night.

 Druids Glen Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
T: +353 (01) 2870800, www.druidsglenresort.com

Nessa Robins Review

Click here to read a review from well known chef and food blogger, Nessa Robins, who visited Druids Glen Resort recently...

Exciting new “Italian Style” Weddings at Druids Glen Resort

                                                            Italian Weddings by Catherine Fulvio at Druids Glen

- that’s amore!

There are few more romantic countries than Italy, home of Romeo and Juliet, two of literature’s most famous lovers, and a country associated with romance, passion, amore and… good food!

Druids Glen is a luxurious and picturesque wedding venue, as there is nothing to compare to its naturally gorgeous backdrop, with lush gardens, dramatic scenery, 5 star service and a particularly elegant ballroom.

Now bringing the best of both together in a magical way, with a new Italian wedding package at Druids Glen in association with Catherine Fulvio, Irish brides and grooms can enjoy the warm flavours, flair and distinctive style of Italy in the stunning surroundings of this Wicklow gem!

Druids Glen Resort is delighted to announce a new phase in their successful working relationship with local Wicklow woman Catherine Fulvio, with the launch of stylish and delicious Italian wedding menus designed in partnership with chef Catherine.

Well-known chef, food writer & cookery school proprietor, Catherine has worked closely with many of the excellent suppliers she knows so well and Druids Glen Resort’s Head Chef Dheeraj Ramgoolam to create a signature wedding menu, now available to brides and grooms in Druids Glen Resort.

From Italian prosecco at the pre-dinner drinks reception, where guests have the chance to toast the happy couple with "Per cent'anni!” (the traditional Italian wedding toast of “For a hundred years!”) to delicious homemade biscotti with fine Italian coffee at the end of this Italian feast, Catherine has created a luxurious and sophisticated menu, showcasing fabulous Mediterranean flavours

This evocative meal begins with generous antipasti platters to share, including crostini of local goat’s cheese, marinated artichokes, grilled courgette & roast peppers, Parma ham and Gubeen salami, served with garden salad, sundried tomatoes, olives, balsamic dressing and freshly baked breads and dips such as extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pesto Genovese.

With an option of rustic Tuscan bean soup or rich roast tomato & basil soup, main courses are a choice of fillet of beef with a Parmesan & fresh herb crust, potato & garlic gratin and Chianti reduction or fillet of seabass, stuffed  with lemon, almond and sun dried tomato couscous, roast fennel & courgette with mint and citrus & white wine sauce.

There are side dishes of sage & garlic roast root vegetables or, in summer, green beans and mangetout with lemon butter, and the vegetarian option is roast stuffed aubergine with saffron custard.

And finally, dessert includes a Limoncello meringue pie with mixed berry compote & lemon curd cream – deliziosissima!

With wonderful bedrooms at special rates, outstanding service and dedicated wedding coordinator providing a reassuringly constant presence for brides and grooms on the big day, 5 star Druids Glen Resort is a peaceful and luxurious country retreat, and a lovely setting for glamorous weddings.

And at the end of your big day at Druids Glen Resort, as they say in Italy - "Evviva gli sposi!" or "Hurray for the newlyweds!"

Italian Weddings by Catherine Fulvio at Druid Glen is just one of the options for elegant and stylish weddings available at the Resort. 

Call 2870811 to find out more! 

Winter in Druids Glen Wild Life Sanctury

Druids Glen Resort is a registered Wild Life sanctuary and whatever the season, always a very interesting place to take a stroll around. You may recall I reported hearing a woodpecker in the Druids Glen….  A recent report in the Irish Times confirms that there are Great Spotted Woodpeckers in County Wicklow so let’s hope they stay and nest here. When you are staying in our Hotel and out for a walk or playing golf on either the Druids Glen or the Druids Heath golf courses, please listen for the woodpecker or more importantly, if you see one, do report the sighting to one of the Druids Glen Resort staff.  Males have a red spot on the back of the head and females have a black and white head but they are very similar and you will get more information on the Bird Watch Ireland site http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/

I will keep you informed about our programme to attract kingfishers to nest and breed. We have plans to create another nesting bank on the Knickity River and we will do this work very soon to let it weather before the kingfishers start looking for a nesting site for the 2012 season.

The shooting season started on 1^st November so we welcome the clever local pheasants into our sanctuary.  They know that they will be safe from hunters here and we also provide pheasant feeders in strategic locations.  You will see a cock bird taking ownership of each feeder and then build up his harem of hens in the vicinity and the success or otherwise of the breeding is very weather dependent.  A cold wet spring is not good for the chicks and they find it hard to survive the early days without insects to feed on and dry sunny mornings to warm up their feathers.

 Due to our changing seasons you may see the mallard ducks mating in December and resulting in very early ducklings on our lakes.  They are very nice to see when the woodlands are bare and there is little vegetation on the banks but again cold wet weather makes life very tough for the young ducklings.

We have otters on the Knickity River and they come up to the bridge near the 14^th tee on the Druids Glen Course. You can be lucky and look over the bridge and see them fishing for trout.  They are not to be confused with wild mink and the otter is their enemy so you will not see them together. The otter is one of our most important mammals and since 1976 they are a protected species in Ireland.

We are fortunate to have a healthy population of yellowhammers and they are to be seen on the road behind the Hotel running parallel to the golf course. The males have a bright yellow head and underside with a brown breast band and brown streaks on the flanks and the white tail feathers make them very easy to recognise.

So I hope you enjoy your golf and walks through the estate.  Please keep a keen eye open for our wild life and report interesting sightings to Druids Glen Resort Staff.

Derek Mulrooney

Honorary Wild Life Conservator.  

Winemakers Dinner at Druids Glen Resort

Druids Glen Resort Winemakers Dinner

November 2011

Druids Glen Resort is delighted to announce the first of our Winemakers Dinner on Thursday 10th November 2011.  Join us for a special menu created by Head Chef Dheeraj Ramgoolam in conjunction local Wicklow celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio.

We have chosen a sample of the best dishes from our new Winter Menu to give you a four course meal which will be accompanied by wines specifically chosen for the menu by our wine supplier Bodegas Muriel.

Bodegas Muriel was founded in 1986 Julián Murúa. He decided to rejuvenate his parents vineyards & cellars which were originally established in 1926, in order to produce wines of the highest quality associated with the Rioja Appellation Controllée. Julián’s son Javier is heavily involved in all aspects of the winery,  bringing the bodegas through to another generation of the family. Bodegas Muriel is located in the heart of Rioja Alavesa and stands next to the River Mayor, the winery covers over 22,000 square metres of vineyards. It is in Rioja that the region´s local wine is made with the utmost care, ensuring a level of quality guaranteed to delight even the most demanding palate.

The team from Bodegas Muriel will join us here in "The Garden of Ireland" on the evening of the 10th November to tell us about their beautiful wines and choose the perfect wine to match each of the courses we are serving. The evening will include a Prosecco & Canapé reception followed by a four course meal featuring the best of local Wicklow produce.

Price €55.00 per person

For further information or to book call ..........................

Druids Glen Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow

www.druidsglenresort.com

T: + 353 1 2870800

 Email: reservations'druidsglenresort.com

Druids Glen Wins Service Excellence Award

Wicklow a Winner - As Druids Glen Resort Receives Service Excellence Award

One of Wicklow’s leading tourism businesses, Druids Glen Resort, of Newtownmountkennedy, this week received a Service Excellence Award, as part of the Fáilte Ireland Optimus Programme. Established in 2004, the programme is designed to develop a culture of excellence within the Hospitality Industry through supporting organisations to become more profitable, more efficient and more competitive. The Druids Glen Resort has pledged their on-going commitment to continuous improvement and to delivering a first class customer experience.

Congratulating the award winners, Liam Campbell, Manager, Quality Systems & Management, Fáilte Ireland, said: –

“I wish to congratulate Richard Collins and his team in Druids Glen Resort, who are now reaping the rewards of the many months of commitment and drive from all the staff - culminating in receiving their Service Excellence Award, through Fáilte Ireland’s Optimus Programme. Optimus develops a culture of excellence in a hotel where everyone must make a real and measurable difference in the delivery of service excellence, operational standards and strengthening the whole organisation."

He continued:

“For our part, we in Fáilte Ireland are committed to working with the industry to overcome the challenges posed by the current economic climate. We would welcome even more tourism businesses to get involved in the Optimus Programme and invite anyone interested in getting involved to contact us. Further information on the Optimus Awards and programmes is available online from www.optimus.ie or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).”

The performance of Druids Glen Resort reflects well on the tourism industry’s willingness to embrace change and innovation towards self-improvement by providing a practical approach to improving the quality, value and delights that visitors experience during their stay in Ireland.

Richard Collins, CEO at Druids Glen Resort, commented:

“I am delighted to accept the Service Excellence Award, as part of the Optimus programme, for Druids Glen Resort. Our priority has always been to deliver outstanding service to our customers and the Optimus programme has really helped by providing the practical tools necessary to re-focus everyone.

The Service Excellence Award has helped our business, the personal development of our Associates and most importantly, our customers by experiencing the highest levels of customer service which keeps them coming back.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Catherine Whelan, Fáilte Ireland Communications Department

Tel: 01 8847 181 / 087 6449572

Hamleys and Glenroe Farm Come to Druids Glen

Druids Glen has some teddytastic special offers this mid-term – they are beary good indeed!

Famous for catering for the whole family, Druids Glen Resort has extra special packages geared towards the younger members this mid-term, in conjunction with legendary toy store Hamleys.

The 250 year old toy retailer, which opened its first European stand-alone store outside of its famous flagship shop in London’s Regent Street in Dundrum Town Centre in October 2008, brings its famous bears to Druids Glen this mid-term on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October.

This mid-term give everyone a treat, with the younger children enjoying face painting and nail painting by the Hamleys team, a games room stocked with Hamleys toys, and an opportunity to meet the animals of Glenroe Farm as well as the Hamleys Teddy Bear himself! Two night family packages in two rooms, including breakfast and one dinner, with kids eating free, cost from €220 midweek or €250 at the weekend.

Druids Glen has welcome activity packs & a selection of kids’ games, dvds and books available, with a fantastic range of activities on site, and parents can enjoy the fact that baby-sitting can be arranged too!

There are changing facilities & supplies, highchairs & cots, flexible accommodation options for families with interconnecting or spacious family rooms, complimentary dvd players for rooms on request, and, with special kid-focused buffets during seasonal holidays and 24 hour family room service, children under 12 eat free!

So this mid-term, if you go down to the woods today you’ll miss the bears entirely – they’ll be in Druids Glen!

Druids Glen Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow

T: +353 (01) 2870800, www.druidsglenresort.com

Druids Glen Launches New Winter Menus With Catherine Fulvio

Druids Glen Resort launch new seasonal menus

in partnership with local chef Catherine Fulvio

Druids Glen Resort is delighted to announce the next phase of their successful working relationship with local Wicklow woman Catherine Fulvio, when they launch their delicious winter menus designed in partnership with chef Catherine, on Friday 4th November.

Well-known chef, food writer & cookery school proprietor, and passionate about food provenance, Catherine has worked closely with many of the excellent local suppliers she knows so well and Druids Glen Resort’s Head Chef Dheeraj Ramgoolam to create signature dishes available in Druids Brasserie and throughout the resort.

The goal at Druids Glen Resort is to create an outstanding local food offering, so the new winter menus incorporate seasonal specialties showcasing the flavours and the produce of the region. From Bannow Bay cod and Kilmore Quay scallops to Druids beetroot home cured salmon, Glenmalure rabbit, Wicklow lamb and venison, Hempenstall’s farmhouse cheeses, Goldenhilll Farm ice creams and apples grown in Druids Glen Resort’s own orchards, these menus capitalise on produce from the Garden of Ireland and its neighbouring counties.

A representative example of the winter menu might be Catherine’s recipe of Dunlavin pork cutlets stuffed with fig, apple & hazelnuts with honey mustard & thyme glaze, chive mash, caramelised Druids Glen apples and cider apple sauce… perfect comfort food for a dark November day!

“Catherine is the perfect partner for Druids Glen,” says Richard Collins, CEO of Druids Glen Resort, “as she is as proud of our region’s great produce as we are, and our joint focus is to ensure that our guests at Druids Glen Resort have the pick of the local crop. This time of year, dinner in Druids Brasserie with its open log fire and candlelight and views over our magical grounds is an atmospheric experience. Now, with these great new winter menus, that experience will be more enjoyable than ever!”

ENDS

For further media information please contact

Gillian Duke

Host PR

Tel: 00353 1 855 8500

Mob: 00353 87 9050287

Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Midterm Breaks With a Difference

Druids Glen has some teddytastic special offers this mid-term – they are beary good indeed!

Famous for catering for the whole family, Druids Glen Resort has extra special packages geared towards the younger members this mid-term, in conjunction with legendary toy store Hamleys.

The 250 year old toy retailer, which opened its first European stand-alone store outside of its famous flagship shop in London’s Regent Street in Dundrum Town Centre in October 2008, brings its famous bears to Druids Glen this mid-term on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October.

This mid-term give everyone a treat, with the younger children enjoying face painting and nail painting by the Hamleys team, a games room stocked with Hamleys toys, and an opportunity to meet the animals of Glenroe Farm as well as the Hamleys Teddy Bear himself! Two night family packages in two rooms, including breakfast and one dinner, with kids eating free, cost from €220 midweek or €250 at the weekend.

Druids Glen has welcome activity packs & a selection of kids’ games, dvds and books available, with a fantastic range of activities on site, and parents can enjoy the fact that baby-sitting can be arranged too!

There are changing facilities & supplies, highchairs & cots, flexible accommodation options for families with interconnecting or spacious family rooms, complimentary dvd players for rooms on request, and, with special kid-focused buffets during seasonal holidays and 24 hour family room service, children under 12 eat free!

So this mid-term, if you go down to the woods today you’ll miss the bears entirely – they’ll be in Druids Glen!

Druids Glen Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow

T: +353 (01) 2870800, www.druidsglenresort.com

http://www.druidsglenresort.com/images/uploads/Tantrums + Ms Bear 045.JPG

Powerplay Golf Comes to Druids Glen Resort

POWERPLAY GOLF is coming to Druids Glen Resort. In conjunction with The Irish Times PowerPlay Golf is hosting the Big PowerPlay at The Heath Course at Druids Glen Resort on Tuesday 20th September 2011.

The sensational Druids Heath championship golf course, designed by Pat Ruddy, opened in 2003 and was very soon described as ‘Nature’s gift to golf’ by golfing media. This heathland course with strong links influences weaves its way around quarries, trees, gorse, lakes and pot bunkers, all with a backdrop of mountains, sea and rolling Irish countryside. Venue for the 2006 Irish PGA Championship, Druids Heath has played host to many leading Tour Players including double US Open Champion Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter. With the front nine overlooking the Irish Sea and the back nine nestled in the Wicklow Mountains, it has one of the world’s longest Par 3s, and the constant sea breeze calls for shot-making skills and imagination from any golfer.

What is PowerPlay Golf? It is a 9-hole golfing format in which players choose to aim for one of the two flags on the green - a White Flag and a Black "PowerPlay" Flag. Golfers have limited PowerPlays, and score extra points for net birdie or better, when playing to the Black Flag. Vey Exciting! Tour superstar,  Graeme McDowell, is an ambassador for PowerPlay Golf, making it one of this years' big golf talking points.

The Big PowerPlay entry is €95.00 for a team of 2 and will include goodies, a bite to eat and prizes.  You can enter your team online at www.powerplay-golf.com/irish-times2011 or call Rob Hill @ 01 2810338.

For more information and a video a video explaining the game visit www.powerplay-golf.com/play

Druids Glen Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow

T: + 353 1 2870800

www.druidsglenresort.com

More Info

Fall under the spell of pure relaxation With the Signature Treatment from Druids Glen

Sometimes the choice between a soothing massage or an indulgent facial is just too difficult to make, so the five star Druids Glen Resort have arrived at the perfect solution: a well balanced combination of the two with their brand new Signature Treatment. The 75-minute therapy, perfect for ladies or gentlemen, treats you to a totally pleasurable combination of 45 minutes of massage designed to improve your flexibility and deeply relax you, allied to a 30 minute Elemis Skin Booster Advanced Facial chosen specifically to suit your skin type.

Step into the small yet perfectly formed bijou Spa at Druids Glen – which was Highly Commended for Best Treatment in the Irish Tatler Spa Awards 2011 -  and you will be presented with your personal treatment consultation form whilst enjoying refreshments in the Relaxation Suite. You will then enjoy a Welcome Touch Elemis foot ritual before being enveloped in the soft, exotic smell of coconuts from the Coconut Melt massage oil that is sourced from just 25 minutes away from Bomar Aromatherapy in Kilcoole.

After the tension has been soothed away from your body, the coconut oil is given time to melt into your skin while you experience your Elemis facial, using an Amino Active Mask tailored to match your skin’s needs, leaving you in a state of complete and utter bliss with a radiant glow. After your treatment and further time in the Relaxation Room refreshing yourself with fresh fruit skewers and yoghurt dip, you can also enjoy the facilities in the Druids Glen Fitness Club – overlooking the stunning grounds with an 18-metre lapping pool, Jacuzzi, steam rooms, sauna and fitness suite with a wide array of equipment and a busy programme of fitness classes. 

Surrounded by hundreds of acres of lush, green countryside, including two renowned championship golf courses, the relaxed and elegant Druids Glen Resort is polished, warm and spacious – a glorious 440 acre resort with exceptional levels of service.

The Spa at Druids Glen has many special offers this August!

Coconut and Milk Ritual Wrap 75 minutes Normally €75 Special Offer €50

Eyes Package Eyelash Tint, Eyebrow Shape and Tint 30 minutes Normally €26 Special Offer €18

Spa Manager Michelle O'Connor's Top Tip for August:

The Simple Body Brush!

For years, the benefits of body brushing have been known, but I still don't think enough ladies are using them. Is enough known about their benefits? Body brushing alone, can prevent and improve the appearance of unsightly cellulite on our bodies. The brushing action stimulates the skins natural elimination system (lymphatic) helping the body to flush out those unwanted toxins that are the main cause of orange peel skin. 2 - 3 minutes daily can make all the difference when it comes to bikini time!!!

The Spa, Druids Glen Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow

T: + 353 1 2870834

www.druidsglenresort.com

Druids Glen Resort Wildlife Programme 2011

The Resort is a registered sanctuary for wild life and walking around the estate and the two 18 hole championship golf courses with it’s rivers, lakes and woods it is easy to understand why there is so much wild life.

The good weather contributed to the wonderful show of blossom on the wild cherry trees on the avenue up the Druids Glen Club House and I am sure the black birds, thrushes and finches look forward to the fruit.

The varied spices of flora on the two courses are at their very best and the rhododendrons and azaleas together with the white thorn near the water create a special tranquillity in the early evening.

The cock pheasants are in evidence and many of the hens will I hope have a second clutch of eggs. It was a good season for the chicks with dry sunny weather as wet weather with cold mornings is not suitable for rearing pheasant chicks. The cock pheasant keeps well away from the nests as his bright plumage would attract predators to the eggs or chicks. The cocks are very territorial and the large cock at the back of the hotel can be heard early in the morning announcing his presence and telling other young cocks to stay away from his hens.

You will see nesting boxes on trees around the estate and they are popular with the blue tits but other birds will use them but it’s a first come situation. I put them up on Druids Heath in some of the open areas to encourage nesting but now that the gorse is strong there are lots of nesting opportunities.

The badgers set at the back of the 12th in the Glen is very active and on the nice sunny mornings they pull out their bed to dry. They walk around the estate at night time and forage in the woods and it is important to leave them in peace and not interfere with their routine.

Swans are important residents in the Druids Glen Resort and nest on our islands in the lakes. The exception are the pair on the way up to the hotel who are perched on the edge of the lake in front of the apartments. The residents keep a watchful eye on them and will report progress.

This morning the first seven young signets were with their parents on the lake on the 17th hole in Druids Glen. The nest is on the island near the 15th hole and is quite safe from predators. There is another nest on the island near the 13th green and I expect to see signets very soon.

I notice an increase in the number of jay thrushes and this reflects the increase in the number of small birds and this is natures way of balancing the population.
Wood peckers are back in Ireland and I did hear one in the glen so I am sure we will have more sightings. They are in they are becoming more numerous in the area so be on the look out and keep your ears peeled.

I wish you a happy visit and if you meet me on the estate please say “hello”.

Derek Mulrooney
Honorary Wild Life Conservator

Catherine Fulvio and Druids Glen Resort – a natural Wicklow partnership, to guarantee fabulous food

Druids Glen Resort is delighted to announce a perfect new partnership with a local Wicklow woman – Catherine Fulvio.

Well-known chef, food writer & cookery school proprietor, Catherine
will be working closely with Druids Glen Resort and many of the excellent local suppliers she knows so well to create signature dishes that will be available throughout the resort. Aside from those dishes she will also work with the chef to contribute to the restaurant, bar and banqueting menus.

Author of an award-winning cookbook, Catherine has firmly established herself as a familiar face on TV screens both at home and abroad, as well as being a very familiar face in Druids Glen – as she lives just down the road, she has spent many happy afternoons and evenings enjoying Druids Glen with her friends and family!

Having been raised in a traditional Wicklow farmhouse as the daughter of a committed foodie who developed a business based on her passion, it is no great surprise that Catherine’s food philosophy is one of ‘farm to fork.’ Putting a huge emphasis on provenance and using only the best of local and seasonal produce fits perfectly with the Druids Glen approach to capitalising on the produce from the Garden of Ireland.

“Catherine is the perfect partner for Druids Glen,” says Richard Collins, CEO of Druids Glen Resort. “Our goal is to create an outstanding local food offering and you can't get more local than Catherine. Along with her talent and her innate understanding of the wonderful produce we have in the Wicklow area, she also knows Druids Glen well too – as she's a regular! We are also really excited about Catherine and our chef’s new wedding menus.”