Ireland's Lodge at Doonbeg Highlights Seasonal Festivals

The Doonbeg Seafood Festival (July 15 and 17) features cooking demonstrations, education and family activities. The Feakle Traditional Music Festival (Aug. 3 to 8) features traditional Irish music with artists and aficionados from around the world. The 24th annual festival in the village of Feakle offers demonstrations, participations, workshops, lectures and recitals of music, song, dance, poetry and folklore.

The Kilmurry Harvest Festival (Aug. 21 to 27) features everything from a vintage tractor show to horse jumping and carriage driving, as well as the "Infamous Black Pudding Night" to a children's disco and road bowling. The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival (Sept. 1 to Oct. 2) is Europe's largest singles' event, a month-long celebration of Irish matchmaking. Don't be surprised to see the country's oldest matchmaker, Willie Daly, hanging at the bar.

Burren Peaks Walking Festival (Sept. 23 to 25) provides an experience of the Burren, a fertile limestone plateau stretching south from Galway Bay, with guided hill and lowland walks of varying distances and grades. The Willie Keane Memorial (Oct. 28 to 31) celebrates the life of the legendary dancer with a four-day weekend filled with traditional music, song and dance in the village of Doonbeg.

The Lodge at Doonbeg is the only five-star luxury coastal resort in western Ireland. The 400-acre property features 189 guest rooms and suites as well as a Greg Norman-designed championship links course and distinct dining by Tom Colicchio, consulting chef of the lodge. The White Horses Spa incorporates the essence of Ireland into all treatments, with skincare products by Kerstin Florian. Also available are whole ownership cottages and suites and a private residence club managed by Timbers Resorts. The Lodge at Doonbeg is owned by Kiawah Partners, the master planner behind Kiawah Island, South Carolina and Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts. The Lodge at Doonbeg is a member of Small Luxury Hotels.

The Lodge at Doonbeg also offers a variety of offerings for active and family travelers. Both adult and children's bicycles and helmets are available for complimentary guest use. The pond located next to Doughmore House is stocked with trout and fishing rods are available. Horse and carriage rides can transport guests from the courtyard to the local areas and the chef can customize a picnic basket to complete the afternoon. Rates at the Lodge at Doonbeg start at $227 per night. For more information, call 866-DOONBEG (366-6234) or visit www.DoonbegLodge.com.

Hotel Profile: The Lodge at Doonbeg Golf Club