- Archaeolical :
Bruff is a mystical Irish town situated in the beautiful Golden Vale & Lough Gur District.
The Morning Star river & waterfall meanders through the sleepy town & tranquil park. Although Bruff is a small country town it has superb restaurants & Irish pubs where you can mingle and converse freely with the hospitable locals.
The world famous archaeological site and visitor centre at Lough Gur is located only 2 miles from the house and is open from May to September from 10 am to 6 pm. The centre tells the story of the first arrivals of the Celts through interpretative panels and audio visual means, and guided tours are run once a week through song and story telling of the crannogs, church sites, megalithic tombs, stone circles and ring forts.
De Velera home town was Athlacca some 3 miles from the house, Come visit his orginal home and the local musume.
Bruff town is ideally located for day touring the South of Ireland with its great beauty, history and wealth of visitor attractions and entertainment.
- Bruff Festivals :
March 17th St patricks Days Festival
June 16th Bloomsday in Bruff with Traditional Entertainment, Costume and Entertainment through song and poetry... Booking Essential
These are just some Festival in our town... Full listing available on our websites event Calendar.
- Children:
Get away from the big cities and take the time to visit many heritage sites and soak in the history with no shortage of free activities in the area. It could be cycling the national looped cycle ways (just bring your
bikes or hire locally) or walking the many looped walks & nature trails. Visit Lough Gur & lake, Donerail park (excellent play ground) or the Donkey sanctuary, you'll find it all near by for those quiet times.
If its fun filled action packed time try horse riding, mountain biking, clay bird shooting or archery. Or enrole the kids on a one day water & land summer camp. There are excellent facilities in Limerick city such as
Adventure centers & the UL national swimming pool.
Visit farm animals at Buttercup Farm-Croom, Parsons Green Farm Mitchelstown or the Zoo at Fota Wildlife Park Cork or experience a visit to Bunratty medieval castle & folk park, where 19th century Irish life is
vividly recreated in this top visitor attraction.
Here at this family home we understand the importance of ‘family friendly’ and we can advise on the perfect location to suit to your family. We also have interconnecting rooms available and an out side playground.
- Day trip ideas from our Home:
Things To Do:
Day 1
Visit the world famous archaeological site and visitor centre at Lough Gur, being one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe, followed by a gentle drive to Kilmallock walled town. Leaving Kilmallock stop at Eamonn De Valera museum on the way to Adare Village which is a step back in time, with its original thatched houses. The award wining Heritage centre reconstructs Adares unique past. From Adare travel to Foynes to the flying boat Museum, down the coast road to Tarbert using the ferry crossing, where at the mouth of the Shannon a unique experiences of dolphin watching can be enjoyed.
Day 2:
Visit the magical Cliffs of Moher and visitor centre, take a trip out to the Aran islands or experience a visit to Bunratty medieval castle & folk park, where 19th century Irish life is vividly recreated in this top visitor attraction.
Day 3:
A day trip to Killarney and the ring of Kerry is not to be forgotten with its spectalour scenery and varied mountains and lakes. Muckross House, gardens and traditional farm is certainly a stop on your tour of the ring of Kerry.
On a personal note any one who enjoys getting lost among boutiques and coffee shops, Killarney town is a haven.
Day 4:
Just 8km outside Cork is Blarney Castle and Woollen Mills. Any one wishing for Eloquences leans over backward from the castles tower and kisses the Blarney stone, and you will never be lost for words again as the legend goes. From Blarney lose yourself among the winding streets of Cork or continue on your quest of discovery with a trip to the Jameson experiences at the old Middleton Distillery or take the kids to Fota Wildlife Park and Cobh sea town port.
Day 5:
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- Golf : The house is a golfers paradise, with a number of of highly recommended golf course within close distances.
Limerick County Golf and Country Club at Ballyneety (8 miles)
Charleville Golf Club (10 miles)
Adare Golf Club- Irish open 2007/2008 (14 miles)
Ballykisteen golf course at Limerick junction (13 miles)
- JFK and BRUFF :
John Fitzgerald Kennedy - JFK
Thomas Fitzgerald was JFK's great grandfather on his mother's side. He was born in Bruff, County Limerick in 1823. He was a farmer and lived in a rural part of the Parish. Although the Fitzgerald farm was affected by the Great famine, Thomas managed to keep the farm going until 1854, when he left Ireland and carried with him a family bible. He settled in Boston, Massachusetts and in 1857 married Rosanna Cox who had arrived in Boston from County Cavan, Ireland.
John Kennedy’s great-grandfather on his fathers side Patrick Kennedy, left Dunganstown, County Wexford during the Great famine and became a cooper in Boston. The Kennedy home in Dunganstown was turned into a museum in 1999. In 1849, he married Bridget Murphy, who was born about 1827 in Owenduff, County Wexford. Nine years later she was a widow with four small children, the youngest of whom, Patrick Joseph Kennedy, would become John F. Kennedy's grandfather the Mayor of Boston (Honey Fitz).
On September 18, 1889, John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald married Mary Josephine Hannon of Acton, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Michael Hannon and Mary Ann Fitzgerald, both born in Ireland. Their daughter, Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald, was born on July 22, 1890 in Boston. She was John F. Kennedy's mother. In all, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy would have nine children, four boys and five girls.
In November 1887, Patrick Joseph "P. J." Kennedy married Mary Augusta Hickey, daughter of James Hickey of Cork, Ireland, and Margaret M. Field, also of Ireland. Their son, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, was born on September 6, 1888 in East Boston. He was John F. Kennedy's father.
Over a century later John Fitzgerald Kennedy would lay his hand on that same b
- Mountain Biking : The Ballyhoura mountain bike trails are the biggest trail network of its kind in Europe at 96km and provides loop trails for all cycling abilities. Part of the trail tracks were designed by the worlds leading trail designer Dafydd Davis combining the forest trails with newly built single trail tracks. The trail begins in Ardpatrick in east limerick and a full range of visitor services such as map boards, parking, showers, toilets and bike washing facilities are available.
- Road Cycling :
There is no better way to see and enjoy an area, than to cycle, this immediate area has a lot of cycle loops that will take through local heritage sites and small village on all most traffic free back road lanes
Contact house for more details
- Walking : Traversing a landscape rich in geology, archaeology and wildlife, Ballyhoura country offers spectacular walking in the ancient and unspoilt landscapes of north Cork and east Limerick.
Whether your interests lie in short looped walks or long hikes along the Ballyhoura way, whether you prefer guided walks or to organise your own walks independently, walkers of all abilities will be invigorated by the sheer beauty and tranquillity of the area.
International Walking Festival 5-7th May 2012 Excellent Guided tour to suit all ages..