Belfast City Marathon, 5th May 2008

The sun was shining on Belfast upon arrival and I couldn’t help but get excited about the task at hand. It had been a year since my last visit to Belfast and so much has changed since then. The architectural wonder that is Victoria Square has opened and is home to some of the biggest names in retail and although not full finished, is a welcome addition to the city of Belfast. Monday morning, the 5th May and with the weather looking good for the day it was time to make my way to the iconic City Hall building on Donegall Square, which was the race starting point. Joined by thousands of fellow runners the atmosphere was incredible if not a little tense as many runners were taking on the marathon challenge for the first time!

9am and we were on our way, taken out of the city in a loop to re-enter the city 6miles later. Beautiful stretches along the Lagan, running through historic districts, I could not help but feel that I was experiencing all elements of Belfast both past, present and future. As the race neared it’s end, a lap of Ormeau park was on the cards and spectators were out in full force showing their support. 3Hours, 52minutes and 23seconds later, I crossed the finish line and with the adrenaline pumping, everyone became my new best friend as the adventure was relived, sore muscles were stretched out and some serious “carb” and H2O loading was done!

The rest of my Monday consisted of eating tasty food at the Grill Room and Bar to the back of City Hall, taking a drive through Stranmillis and seeing the beautiful Queens University before unwinding in the ueber-funky Mal Maison Hotel on Victoria Street, my HQ for my stay in Belfast. This hotel exudes understated coolness with friendly, casual service throughout. With emphasis on minimal lighting and plush decor, the hotel is the ideal choice for a Belfast break with a dollop of luxury. I experienced Mal life and I know I’ll be back for more!

With two races down and two to go, all attention now turns to Cork City in the south of Ireland, where I will attempt my third marathon on the 2nd June. To make things a little more interesting, there will also be a Custom Ireland relay team entered who will go head to head with a relay team from the Clarion Hotel Cork. Watch this space for the outcome of the “It’s a Corker” relay challenge!

Big hello to Lee from Portadown running on behalf of Tiny Life and all those who participated on Monday the 5th May making this a must attend marathon event. Well done Belfast.

KL

‘The event of the season’. Such were the words of the hotel’s General Manager, Olof Karlsson, as he made his opening address to a buzzing Radisson ballroom on Thursday 10th April. And indeed this event lived up to the well-worn expression.
 
While the hotel has been in operation since August 2007, the grand opening of the Radisson Royal truly launched the hotel to the market. With a host of Irish celebrities as well as Taoiseach-elect Brian Cowen, and members of the Custom Ireland team in attendance it was indeed a well heeled affair! Getting off to an officious start with speeches from owner-developer Padraic Rhatigan and Radisson personnel, the evening soon took people throughout the hotel to enjoy free flowing champagne and culinary treats from around the world. Guests were greeted by stilt walkers and acrobatics, and the highlight of the evening was sky high, suspended dining above the hotel for lucky prize-winners. On the music end of things Sharon Shannon and band got toes tapping, and as with all musical entertainment on the night this was ‘broadcast’ on flatscreen televisions in the lounge and Sure bar.

The hotel itself, in a central location near to bustling George’s Street, is a contemporary property with a high-ceilinged, spacious foyer and open-plan lounge and bar area. There’s a roomy feel to the hotel and this is a theme continued even into the large bedrooms. There are 15 state of the art meeting rooms, and as a Radisson standard high-speed internet access is complimentary and available throughout the hotel.  If the opening event is anything to go by, guests are guaranteed great service.

This hotel knows how to pull off a great event!

LC

As part of the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE) Run the World Initiative, Kenneth Lyons of Custom Ireland has undertaken a challenge to run four marathons in Ireland in 2008. The marathons will take place in Connemara, Belfast City, Cork City and Dublin City on the 6th April, 5th May, 2nd June and 27th October 2008 respectively. This challenge provides an opportunity to showcase Ireland’s diversity whilst raising money for UNICEF, the chosen charity for the SITE Run the World Initiative. SITE Ireland has given Ken its full support as he takes on this challenge. This initiative is testament to the commitment, which SITE has to its members and is a creative way of bringing all members closer together.

On the 6th April, Ken completed his first marathon in Connemara. Connemara in the West of Ireland offers the visitor beautiful landscapes, a break from city life and the buzz that can only be experienced from spending time outdoors and soaking up the sheer beauty and remoteness of the region. The attached photos will do the region more justice than words ever can. Anyone who took part in the “Connemarathon” will remember the uphill climbs, adverse weather conditions and solitude that the course provided. More importantly, participants will never forget the feeling of joy and relief upon crossing the finish line and the team spirit among all in attendance. A truly great running event and for those who relish a challenge, one that should not be missed.

The next marathon as part of the SITE Runs Ireland Challenge will take place in Belfast in Northern Ireland on Monday the 5th May. The city of Belfast has undergone a huge transformation in recent years and for people interested in experiencing a diverse and developing city, Belfast should be high on their city break wish list!

Time to the hit the pavements so it’s bye for now!

KL

Where do you begin when writing about the Shelbourne Hotel? When mentioned, the Shelbourne Hotel is often described as a “Dublin Landmark Hotel”, “Dublin Institution” or “the most distinguished address in Dublin”. After it’s EURO100 million refurbishment, it was time to see if such descriptions were valid. On a windy 29th February 2008, the Custom Ireland team made its way to the “most distinguished address in Dublin”. Upon arrival, the buzz from the Horseshoe Bar could be felt and I knew I had entered somewhere special. Meticulously restored, the hotel offers pure luxury in the heart of Dublin city. All rooms are inviting and warm with all the amenities you would expect of a 5star hotel. Think traditional surroundings with all modern conveniences. The artwork throughout would keep you busy for hours and the sense of history within the building is overwhelming. Whether you want to unwind in your room, host a private dinner where the signing of the Irish constitution took place or enjoy the atmosphere of the Horseshoe Bar, the Shelbourne has it all. Let us not forget the enjoyable dining experience in the Saddle Room, the hotel’s main restaurant complete with an Oyster Bar and thoughts of indulgence, luxury and spoiling oneself come to mind. From an incentive travel point of view, the Shelbourne offers a WOW and hospitality that’s distinctly Irish. You may even decide to learn more about your family heritage by availing of the services of an in-house genealogy butler! Is there anything that this hotel hasn’t thought of!

Welcome to Custom Ireland’s new blog pages. Here we will keep you updated on our opinion of what’s hot and not in Ireland.

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