Ard Nahoo

After all the empty promises, here it is, Ard Nahoo on Youtube. First up is Lunasa playing their set on our deck.

1. It’s finally summer. Earlier this week we went for a quick dip in the lake, which, let me tell you, was refreshing to say the least. Once you get over the slight paralysis and feelings symptomatic of a stroke, it’s actually lovely. Gorgeous clear water and not a monster to be found.

2. Tomorrow I’ll be attending a photo masterclass up in Mullaghdun, in association with the Greenbox. There have been great reports from others who have completed the course, so hopefully in the next few weeks you’ll see some beautiful photos of Ard Nahoo up on the blog.

3. Leon Quinn at www.reverbstudios.ie tuned us in to this great site www.jumbletown.ie which has loads of free listings for Ireland. Check it regularly, and then pick up your items! We’ve spotted some great stuff on there already.

4. Do you remember the wonderful cuckoo I wrote about a few weeks ago? Well, it turns out he’s nocturnal. I’m not so enamoured with the cuckoo now, let me tell you. Does anyone have any tips? Lullabyes? Sleeping pills in bird seed? Last year it was the magpies, now it’s the cuckoo. He’s haunting me.

5. With the fantastic weather we’re having, the Surf Yoga retreat is looking ever more appealing. Rescheduled to June 27th, contact paulebyrne@gmail.com for more information.

On Monday night we had the renowned trad band Lunasa play here at Ard Nahoo, on our gorgeous sunny deck. The event was organised by the Leitrim Arts Council, who arranged for the numerous artists of Dromahair to attend the evening’s festivities. The band played out in the evening sun before heading into the yoga studio for an eqsuisite meal prepared by our caterer Maria. We have photos and video ready to post, but unfortunately we’re having a bit of trouble locating our new photo uploader (which was purchased after the last one went on the missing list) As soon as one of those turn up, prepare for Lunasa!

We’re also in very early talks with the greatest band in the world (to remain secret) regarding a gig here in August. If all comes together, it will be an exceptional event. Keep checking the blog to see what the craic is.

Until tomorrow…

Ard Nahoo has been used as one of 15 case studies produced by Failte Ireland, as part of a Review of Environmental Good Policy and Practice in the Tourism Industry. We’re really pleased to be featured in a list that recognises the best practices accross the country. When we get a copy of the case study, we’ll publish it here on the blog.

Hello again on this beautiful cloudy May day!

1. Again, the business took over, and the Friday Five ceased to be, contrary to all of my earlier promises. We’re fully booked this weekend, with Nick Dimes’ 50th birthday down in the village, and our Eco Cabins filled with far flung friends. Happy birthday Nick!

2. We have another celebration today, with Niamh O’Sullivan getting married, again in Dromahair village! Ah, the bustling metropolis of Leitrim. Niamh is up with a group of 20 friends who are all going into the Uisce Area, our indoor/outdoor wet space with detox box sauna and hot tub. Bubbly in hand, it’s the perfect way to start the happiest day of her…no, I can’t bring myself to write that awful awful sentence. One of the happiest days of her life. One. Congratulations Niamh!

3. Nikki Briere was up this week planting in and around the new Eco Cabins. There are now gorgeous plants in and around the gardens, with herbs, flowers and climbers really finishing the buidlings off.

4. Mother and Baby yoga is really kicking off now that a fresh influx of Yoga for Pregnancy bubs have been born. The classes run every Wednesday from 10.30 - 11.30am, and are perfect for bonding, calming the baby and a bit of peace for the mother. Contact us for more information.

5. Our website has had a bit of a redesign thanks to Leon Quinn at Reverb Studios. Now it’s even better, and considering before the rejig we won best website at the Greenbox awards, just think how amazing it must be now. Have a play at www.ardnahoo.com and see Leon’s site here www.reverbstudios.ie

6. I’ve said it three times, but I’ll say it again. I’m in love with broadband. Right now, I can pick up the phone, and there’s a dial tone. A dial tone! A DIAL TONE! No longer do we miss the calls. No longer do we sit and wait for the emails to download. No longer do we yank and the phone jack in utter frustration, kicking small children and puppies in the heat of the moment. It’s marvellous.

That’s it for the Saturday Six! Another group have jumped in the hot tub, and we’re off to Dublin this afternoon to see Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds play in Dublin Castle. Good times.

Until next time…….

It’s been a bit of a quiet week on the blog front I’m afraid. Much of the early part was spent in the fuzzy aftermath of a concussion. But all is well, back on track, and here it is, the Friday Five!

1. Brendan heard the first cuckoo last night. The most impressive part of this is that it took me no less than five attempts to remember the spelling of cuckoo. I went through coucou (laughable) caoco (coco bean) cookoo (getting there) and cukoo (close, but no banana). There’s almost a Friday Five there, in the spelling misadventures alone. Maybe that concussion hasn’t quite left the system yet. But seriously, welcome cuckoo!

2. WE HAVE BROADBAND! It is incredible. We can answer the phone whilst online. We can look at a page online without having to take a tea break during the wait. We can do lots of things that were just never available to us. It’s a blessing.

3. We’re taking lots of bookings at the moment for healthy hen parties. Groups of girls come up for the weekend take a few Eco Cabins and indulge in treatments, Uisce Hours, and a bit of TLC. It seems that the appeal of trawling through a city centre with all manner of bumf stuck to your back is dwindling. For more information, get in touch.

4. We’re experimenting with a wheat and dairy free diet at the moment. Our bread is already spelt and vegan (don’t forget the ongoing bread war) and we have switched to oat or rice milk, which is just fantastic. For anyone who isn’t a fan of soya (myself included) either is a brilliant alternative. Keep your eyes on the blog for some new vegan recipes.
 
5. Apparently it’s set to be a gorgeous weekend this week, so hopefully you’ll be out and appreciating a spell of good weather. This Saturday we’re hosting our second Yoga & Relaxation Retreat, which is set to be great fun. Included in the afternoon is a guided walk around Loch Nahoo, which is only here for a few more weeks I’d say. A fine time to see what wildlife is still milling around!

That’s all for this weeks (somewhat blurry) Friday Five. Have a fantastic weekend!

Now, don’t all 12 of you get excited, but here is ANOTHER Friday Five. We have five questions for you, our avid readers, so we can find out a little more about you all. Don’t worry, this is no market research project, just a little curiosity…

1. Have you ever been to Ard Nahoo?

2. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?

3. Do you think this is the best blog in the world?

4. If not, why not?

5. Which bread do you like better?

Go on. What else would you be doing? That’s not one of the questions by the way.

1. Check out this quote from an avid reader of our blog…”Very readable and definitely the best blog I’ve read.” There you go. The best blog she’s ever read. The BEST BLOG she’s ever read. What a way to start the Friday Five.

2. This week we had a group up from the Burren Connect Project, who were working in association with the Greenbox to make their businesses more environmentally friendly. We had great fun with the group, who enjoyed a four course organic vegetarian dinner courtesy of our chef Maria, and an epic buffet breakfast in the morning. We hope that they benefit from the link made with the Greenbox, and start their own project in Clare.

3. Mother and Baby yoga is starting with Noeleen this Wednesday, 23rd April at 10.30am. Suitable for babies up to crawling age, the class is geared at incorporating babies into your practice, and connecting mother and baby. There is also a routine for the infants themselves (don’t worry, no headstands involved)

4. Brendan is outside at the moment putting the finishing touches to our Earthen Oven (I know it’s features heavily on the blog, but it really does look fantastic) We’re creating a stone seating area, so during our Family Eco Retreat we can sit around the clay dome, pizza in hand, and watch the beautiful Leitrim sunsets.

5. Contain your excitement, because I can’t. WE’RE GETTING BROADBAND! It’s early days, but it looks promising. We’re expecting the saviour to come any day now to put up the…broadband thing. As soon as that is done, it’s fast internet ahoy. Expect video clips on our site, 360 degree photo tours, and an email attachment to take less than 47 minutes to send. Glorious. Just glorious.

Have a fantastic weekend bloggers!

After a well informed vote from guests this morning, we have a clear lead in the bread battle. I’ll keep quiet about who’s on top until we get some more votes in. In the meantime, here is recipe number 2…

400g organic spelt flour
Tablespoon quick acting dried yeast
1 pint warm water
Tablespoon honey
Splash olive oil

In a large bowl, mix together the flour and yeast. At this stage, you can also mix in sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc.
Mix a spoonful of honey into the warm water. Make sure the water is body temperature, and not hot.
Pour the water and honey into the bowl bit by bit, and mix with your hand until you’re left with a sticky and gloopy ‘dough’.
Splash about a couple of tablespoons of olive oil into the mix and squish together.
Grease a bread tin well, and put the mixture in.
At this stage, it’s nice to put poppy seeds on the top. Make sure they’re pressed down.
Leave in a warm place to rise for about 20 minutes.
Put in a hot oven for about an hour. When the loaf makes a hollow sound when tapped, it’s ready.

Enjoy!

Here is the first contender. The traditional Ard Nahoo bread. Given to everyone staying in the Eco Cabins, along with organic eggs, milk, butter, teas, coffee etc. Despite my misgivings, it’s one of the easiest bread recipes in the world.

Experiment, and then prepare yourself for recipe number 2!

Ard Nahoo Seed Bread
2lb organic wholemeal flour (spelt)
2oz mixed seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin)
1 heaped tablespoon black strap molasses
2 heaped tsp. bread soda (sift into the mix)
1 ltr milk (regular, soya, rice)

 

Place in large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.  Pour into two well oiled bread tins and cook at 180 degrees for approx. 1hr 10mins.