As the days get shorter and the nights get colder what better way can you spend an evening than by downing a few pints of the black stuff?



And what better way can you spend a Thursday evening other than toasting to the man himself along with 4 million of your closest friends at 17.59!



So grab your friends, find a pub and roar at that barman to get your Guinness ready to toast to the legendary Arthur onthe 22nd ... To Arthur!!!
Temple Bar, Foggy Dew, Fitzsimons or anywhere they sell Guinness really... see you there!

As we swap sunburn for wind-burn and raid the wardrobes for our long coats and grandad-cardigans (JP) we cant help but look back on a a truly magnificent summer!
True it was the wettest in irish history and true again we haven't seen the sunshine since early April but Ireland has way more to offer than the sun!

It was a summer of fun, frolics and festivals and as it winds to a close we have the impending winter months to look forward to... Think Arthur's Day...think Octoberfest/Halloween... Think the countdown to Christmas which starts November 1st!

Here at Avalon we like Guinness so were all getting ready for next Thursday to toast Ireland's other patron Saint ... ARTHUR!

We are still here....On est toujours ici......

It's been a jam packed, marmalade squashed, butter mashed July and August for all here in Avalon. August always brings a lot of people from the continent where it gets far too hot and they get to enjoy cooler climates and refreshing showers in a misty magical Ireland.....

For us it's just another summer where we get to enjoy one or two days of sunshine amidst many pints of guinness and mild chuckling.

In other news our best and boldest James Anthony Foley is leaving us for a classroom of snotty nosed teenagers...personally I think snotty nosed receptionists are nicer but whatever floats your ducky in the bath ya know?

I think he'll be missed...


Alessandro is going to study in Trinity....Trinners for winners and all that jazz.

Mathilde came and went, she was great! Merci!

Yoann will be back soon from France.

Nicola is going to Asia soon for 2 months.

JP is a tit.

Electric Picnic next week.....YES!

Come love our city and us of course! See you soon!

Hullo hullo hullo!

Summer Claus here....bringing bouts of glorious sunshine and intermittent scattered showers by the belly full everyday.

I will be around this weekend for Oxegen too....so get your wellies and rain gear and your sunscreen and sunglasses ready.




Oxegen shuttle bus available from Avalon's Door return for €20 - available to book at reception.
Camping gear and all the essentials only a short walk to Penney's- supplier of all things cheap and cheerful.

If you're not going to Oxegen...you can stay dry and clean in Dublin City and still enjoy the nice sights and scenes all only a few paces from Avalon and some good music!!

Claire is doing a Free Travel Ireland Challenge for Independent Holiday Hostels of Ireland next week. Catch all the info and updates on this blog and follow the girls on twitter...and while you're at it you might as well friend on Facebook...


http://freetravelireland.blogspot.com/





Also if you're free this Monday 11th July you can get involved in this free and fun activitiy;
Click here to be invited

Voila Bon weekend!!!

The story so far:

Well! we are ST -20 (Summer Time minus twenty days), and to date we have had a grand total of two days of sunshine. This may not sound impressive (and it's not), but! well there is no but. Listen to me you've got to remember where you are you know; reality check please. The last time I checked we were somewhere between freezing and frozen. Irish men never sweat, we THAW OUT.

We have long ago adopted to the miserable conditions of our environment, signs of which can be seen in almost any pub worthy of its name. Sunshine indoors is created by a unique blend of intoxicating liquor and mind altering melodies that would warm the cockles of your heart.

And this is it! This is exactly what we have to offer you guys in summer 2011: "sunshine
indoors".

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO...

Well as the title of this post suggests we're feeling very adventurous in Avalon at the moment and wanted to draw your attention to some outdoor activities that you could do while visiting Ireland.


Wicklow; The garden of Ireland is only short distance by bus from Avalon. As well as tours to Glendalough available to book at reception we think you should know about this:



Once again it's festival season so we're getting psyched up for Body and Soul and Forbidden Fruit



And our very own James and Alessandro got caught up in the mayhem of Slane Castle 2011. We were tempted to post a picture of them in the height of their enjoyment but instead we decided to show this lovely picture which captures the suitable attire for Irish festivals....get your wellies, 2 for a euuurrrro.


Oh and this weird ritual that Irish men engage in on the way to a festival!

In the wise words of Barack Seamus O'Bama, Is Feidir Linn! And yes we can!
Himself and Michelle had a whirlwind visit to Moneygall for a quick pint of the black stuff (Michelle loooves the stuff) the up to Dublin to give us a good aul talk. Some called it a bit condescending others thought it was complete American arrogancy however Jedwards performance afterwards made up for it!


For the past 2 weeks Ireland, mainly Dublin, has been on lockdown as we welcomed the President of the US of A to our Emereld Isle and mere few days after Ireland's long lost cousin Lizzy O'Windsor popped over to work on her tan!
After her free breakfast in Avalon she darted off to Bray for a splash around with Prince Phillip then apent hours on the dance machine in the local amusements!


Most of us hailed the hostoric visits, others cried in frustaration at parking restrictions and not being able to cross the feckin river however the general mood was high in a time of depression.

However the best was yet to come! This saturday sees the arrival of...even more famous/sexier than Queen Liz...The Kings of Leon!! The Followill brothers and co will headline this years Slane Castle concert to an already sold-out crowd of 120,000 fans!
Better hope the weather picks up!