Ireland as a MICE Destination? Fam Trip to the Emerald Isle

In Ireland, it rains all the time, all Irish people have red hair, and rural Ireland is a combination of castle ruins, sheep, and the “40 Shades of Green” famously sung by Johnny Cash – this is how most of the stubborn stereotypes about Ireland go. It’s time to get to the bottom of it all, clear up these misconceptions, and see what Ireland has to offer beyond fluffy lambs and delicious Guinness. The emerald green island in the Atlantic has long established itself not just as a destination for nature and culture enthusiasts, but also as an easily accessible MICE destination.

That’s why our colleague Theresa set off in mid-November for a familiarization trip with “Meet in Ireland” to Éire (the Irish name for the country). Today, she shares her experiences in Ireland: The journey began at Munich Airport with the Irish airline “Aer Lingus.” The flight was pleasant, and I believe the quality on the plane with the four-leaf clover can be compared to that of a Lufthansa flight.

At the airport in Ireland, event planners from Munich, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Berlin gathered and started their journey in a VIP 20-seater bus towards Galway. Just about half an hour from Dublin Airport, we made our first stop: Carton House, a hotel in the Fairmont group. After a lovely lunch, we were given a tour of the estate, admired the elegantly furnished rooms, and explored the various restaurant outlets.

The wonderful gardens and the two golf courses immediately confirmed a classic Irish cliché for me, as the parkland was drenched in at least “40 Shades of Green.”

Rain Status: Not a Drop in the Sky

In addition to the two golf courses, the 5-star hotel offers 169 rooms in a luxurious-historical style, a spa area, and numerous activities such as archery, fishing, and cycling – the surrounding fields can also be used for self-booked and organized team activities. The hotel has 11 banquet and meeting rooms, the largest of which can accommodate 500 people in theater-style seating or 360 in banquet seating.

Next, we headed toward Galway. In the evening, we arrived at the “G-Hotel,” where we also had dinner. The guest rooms are spacious and beautiful. However, the hotel is somewhat located on the outskirts, and the meeting room is relatively small. Therefore, the venue is only suitable for very specific groups.

Afterward, a few other participants and I continued to Galway’s city center – a pub visit, of course, is a must in Ireland.

Rain Status: It’s Pouring.

Fortunately, we are inside the cozy pub “The Quay,” enjoying Guinness and cider while learning that the residents of Galway are not fans of Ed Sheeran’s “Galway Girl,” which we had been singing along to during the drive. Instead, they passionately sing “Galway Girl” by Steve Earle.

“And I ask you friends, what’s a fella to do? Because her hair was black, and her eyes were blue. And I knew right then, I’d be takin’ a whirl. Down the Salthill Prom with a Galway girl.”

The next morning, we kicked off with a culinary city tour through picturesque Galway. We visited the oldest pub in the city and had our first whiskey tasting by mid-morning.

Rain Status: It’s Pouring.

Next, we headed to perhaps the most famous and mystical place in Ireland: the Cliffs of Moher. Across from the cliffs (with a fantastic view of the Cliffs of Moher), the outdoor provider Orangeworks set up a small team-building camp for us, featuring axe throwing, a campfire, and an “ape station” with a selection of Irish cheese, Baileys, and whiskey, along with a Guinness tap station.

Rain Status: It’s Pouring. Still…

No problem, we’ll just wear rain capes. The campfire warms from the outside, and the Guinness warms from the inside. This part of the fam trip was definitely my absolute favorite—because despite the rain (or maybe because it was so 100% authentic), the atmosphere was fantastic, and the whole group had fun—thanks in part to the great support. Especially when the conditions aren’t ideal, it often brings the team closer together.

After another roughly two-hour drive, past sheep and castle ruins (stereotype confirmed), we reached our hotel for the night: the Armada Hotel at Spanish Point. The hotel is located right by the water, so a large portion of the 86 rooms, as well as the spacious meeting room and the restaurant (which serves exquisite food, by the way!), have views of the North Atlantic. A particularly important factor at the Armada Hotel is corporate social responsibility. The restaurant and the in-house pub focus on local and sustainable products, and they also offer relevant activities for conference guests, such as planting seagrass or restoring sand dunes.

During a walk the next morning, we visited Armada House. The estate located across from the hotel offers 8 luxury rooms, all individually decorated and perfect for small groups that prefer a more private and luxurious stay.

Rain Status: It’s Drizzling. A Change! 

Or is it just the sea spray? The destination of the day: Glasson Lake. On the way there, we visit a few more hotels. However, the highlight is definitely our target hotel.

The Glasson Lakehouse, which sits on a hillside overlooking the lake, of course has a golf course. I get to test my golf skills for the first time while teeing off. Well… I have a long way to go until the championship. So, I’d rather focus on the spa area.

In addition to these amenities, the Glasson Lakehouse offers a good restaurant, an in-house pub, and a ballroom for up to 300 people. I particularly like the 65 rooms, which are tastefully decorated in colorful styles.

The next morning, unfortunately, it was already time to say goodbye. After a short stop at the Old Kilbeggan Whiskey Distillery, the oldest distillery in the country, we drove about an hour back to the airport.

Time for a Conclusion:

40 Shades of Green? Definitely!
Sheep and castle ruins? Absolutely!
Rain? In November, for sure, but that’s just authentically Irish and ensures that all service providers always have a plan B up their sleeves.
Red-haired people? I didn’t see an above-average number. But one thing I will always remember: The Irish are incredibly hospitable, positive, music-loving, and open people—and the Emerald Isle is a fantastic destination with endless possibilities for events in the MICE sector. I definitely want to come back!

And guess which song I’m listening to on the plane while writing this blog post…

… So, when I woke up I was all alone
With a broken heart and a ticket home
And I ask you friends, oh, what would you do?
Because her hair was black and her eyes were blue
See, I’ve traveled around, I’ve been all over the world
Boys, I ain’t never seen nothin’ like a Galway girl…