Fabulously Festive at the g!

December is here and the countdown to Christmas has begun in earnest!

We are all starting to prepare – mixing the pudding, visiting the Christmas Market, braving the elements to buy presents, selecting the perfect tree and having a few hot chocolates or mulled wines along the way. Here at the g Hotel & Spa, our season has been underway for months. Our festive fairies have been planning our stunning Christmas trees and arranging a beautiful array of gifts for our guests to choose from.

ESPA at the g have every need catered for; from luxury ESPA skincare sets and home fragrance sets and candles that smell incredible to a wide selection of ESPA

treatments, you are sure to find the perfect gift. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without boxes to unwrap and carefully selected presents to uncover. All ESPA gifts and g Hotel vouchers come beautifully presented, boxed and ribboned ensuring delight and happiness all round.

Choose from Afternoon Tea at €26 for 1/€42 for 2, Dinner & a Movie at just €29.50 per guest or Dinner in our 2 AA culinary rosette Restaurant gigi's with new chef, Cedric Bottarlini. We have Christmas all wrapped up with our perfect escapes from €190 or give the gift of choice and select a g Hotel monetary voucher for the loved one in your life.

Also available this year we have yummy foodie gifts including a traditional plum pudding complete with cooking instructions and sumptuous preserves; the strawberry and Prosecco jam will have you dreaming of summer whilst the ginger marmalade will elevate any breakfast table and the flavoursome raspberry preserve is the ideal topping for freshly baked scones. Simply gorgeous!

You can purchase g Hotel & Spa gifts from our pop up shop in the Eyre Square Centre in Galway, Thursday to Sunday throughout December or online at www.theghotel.ie

Collection time for COPE Galway

Last month, we organised a donation drop off week for COPE Galway, inviting the local community to donate to our COPE Galway donation booth in the g Hotel.

We were delighted to have received such a huge positive response to our appeal. We were blown away by the generous donations made by our own hotel staff, suppliers and the general public in Galway, who all dropped in items COPE were in need of in the run up to Christmas.

COPE Galway is one of our chosen charities this year, an organisation whose vision is an improved quality of

life, in a home of your own for people affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic violence and older people. The items that you kindly donated will go directly to the services operated by COPE Galway including the Fairgreen Hostel, Osterley Lodge Hostel, Waterside House Day Care Centre and their resettlement and tenancy support.

A sincere THANK YOU to everyone that supported this initiative. You can continue to help those in need by donating directly to COPE Galway. Please see all details below:

Warm regards,

Triona Gannon
General Manager
The g Hotel & Spa


What can I donate?

• Books/ Home-ware/ crockery
• Good quality clean clothing and shoes.
• DVD’s and books/ Games for children
• Dry foods and unperishable items (i.e. tinned food, pasta, tea, coffee, sugar, etc.)
• Toys: good quality children’s toys (stuffed toys must be new, with tags) (no toys requiring batteries, please)
• Toiletries: new and unopened toiletries, (ie. cosmetics, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, shampoo)
• Towels (clean and in good condition)
• Vouchers (Dunne’s, Smyth’s, Lidl, Aldi, etc.)
• Bed Linen (clean and usable single sheets/duvets and duvet covers]

COPE Galway – what they do…
COPE Galway has been providing Social Services in Galway since the 1970s. Originally called Galway Social Service Council, the organisation was established by the Galway Diocese. In 1996 the organisation became a limited company and the name changed to Galway Social Services Limited. In 2000 the name was changed to COPE and in 2008 the organisation was re-launched under the name COPE Galway, to signify that all the services are provided in Galway city and county. COPE Galway employs over 100 people in a wide variety of roles including social care professionals, childcare workers, community support workers, chefs, cleaners and administrative support staff. Our employees are supported in their work by a committed team of over 150 volunteers. We could not deliver the full range of services without the generous support of these volunteers. Together their dedicated team work towards COPE Galway’s vision of improving the quality of life in a home of your own for people affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic violence, and older people.

Turkey to go this Christmas from the g Hotel & Spa, Galway

Do you feel like hassle free cooking for family and friends at home this Christmas? 

We have just the solution! The 5 star g Hotel & Spa in Galway have launched a Turkey-to-go Christmas dinner home dining experience created by talented Head Chef Cedric Bottarlini and his culinary team. 

From December 24^th, take away your complete Christmas dinner with all the traditional trimmings for just €20.00 per person with a minimum order for six people required.

  

Menu:

Traditional Whole Roast Turkey

Stuffed with slow cooked Ham hocks, Chestnut and apricot stuffing

Served with its own gravy

Accompanied by: Roast Potatoes, Carrot and Parsnip Glacé, Buttered Brussels sprouts with bacon and cranberry sauce

Collection: 

Up to 5pm on Christmas Eve from the g Hotel & Spa.Your Christmas dinner will be packaged, ready for collection with cooking instructions ready to go. 

Contact the g to place your order by telephoning 091 865 200 or email Sinead Cassidy on scassidy@theghotel.ie

For the ultimate present, a g Hotel and Spa gift voucher is a stylish choice. The hotel is also launching an exclusive range of beautifully wrapped Christmas Puddings and Prosecco Jams - a truly tasteful gift – with prices starting from E19.95.

Console and the g Hotel team up for a Christmas Afternoon

As the festive season approaches, the g Hotel & Spa is proud to be hosting an afternoon of goodwill and gourmet food on Sunday 7^th December with proceeds from the event going one of its select charities of choice for 2014, Console. Console, a National Organisation based in Galway, supports people in Suicidal Crisis and those bereaved by suicide through professional counselling, support and helpline services.

Guests can look forward to a festive drinks reception from 3pm followed by a delicious four course meal served in the g Suite, prepared by Head Chef Cedric Bottarlini and his culinary team. Lively after dinner music will be provided by Marc Robert’s and friends, as you eat, drink and be merry with plenty of festive cheer and a host of impressive giveaways. 

All monies raised from this event will go directly to support the counselling services, provided free of charge by Console. “Christmas can be an exceptionally difficult time for people suffering with depression or for people who have lost a loved one through suicide. This event that we are organising with the help of the g Hotel is a wonderful opportunity to generate awareness of our services and will help raise much needed funding for our services located in Renmore, Galway, while enjoying an afternoon of festive entertainment and delectable dining” says Margaret Tierney of Console. 

Speaking of the event Triona Gannon, General Manager of the g Hotel said “This is our third year running working with Margaret Tierney and Console. It’s a charity that we’re very much committed to helping and are passionate about. The work carried out by Console is literally lifesaving and the g Hotel is thrilled to support these services in any way possible. This year’s event by all accounts will be a sell out so book your tickets fast to avoid disappointment as its always a fantastic day”.

The Console Festive Christmas Event at the g Hotel is the perfect Christmas get-together with family or friends with tickets costing only €50 per person. Tickets can be purchased directly from Margaret Tierney in Console by calling 087-950 0380. Credit card bookings available. 

Five star weddings at the g Hotel & Spa, Galway

The g hotel is Galway City’s only 5* Hotel & Spa. A uniquely special place designed by Philip Treacy, milliner to royalty and celebrity clients, the g offers stunning surroundings for your special day. 

Located on the edge of Lough Atalia as you enter the heart of Galway City, the g is a stylish venue that evokes Hollywood glamour and romance.

Adored by wedding photographers, the exquisite Grand Salon with over 300 twinkling mirrored balls, Swarovski crystals and 19th century Italian fireplaces is the perfect backdrop for your drinks reception.

Beautifully designed, the g suite exudes elegance and caters for weddings for up to 180 guests. With a 1920s art deco navy, white and silver colour scheme, the g suite cleverly uses antique and modern mirrors to create an atmospheric space with its own private bar area. Guests will enjoy award winnng cocktails in the g suite bar whilst your chosen band keep them dancing til the wee hours! We are happy to recommend a number of bands that have kept our wedding guests entertained in the past.

The glamorous ground floor guides you to the restful bedrooms, where each guestroom has the distinctive Philip Treacy touch in the detail with an overall effect of stylish luxury. The spa, ESPA at the g was recently voted ‘Best Hotel Spa’ at the 2014 Irish Tatler Awards and couples who book their wedding at the g regularly choose to avail of the ESPA facilities with their wedding party in the run up to the day.

A recent bride, Laura, and groom, Enda, recommend the g after their own wedding in May 2014 

"The one word our guests have used to describe our wedding day in the g Hotel was that it was a “fairy-tale”. From the time we stepped through the doors of the g Hotel and met Rachel (the g Hotel's wedding coordinator) our every thought and wish was catered for. We did not worry once on the day of the wedding as we knew we were in the right hands.  We had high expectations and a clear vision of what we wanted from our wedding. Not only were these expectations met, they were surpassed on every level. We could not have imagined it any better.”

 

Offering Special Winter All Inclusive Packages from €58 per person, the 5 star g hotel is the perfect beginning to your future together. Contact dedicated Wedding Specialist, Rachel Shanaghy, on rshanaghy@theg.ie or call 091 778454 to make your wedding day a truly outstanding occasion.

We'd be super grateful if you voted for us in the WeddingsOnline Awards:
 
1. Hotel Venue of the Year Connacht
2. Venue Co-Ordinator of the Year [Rachel Shanaghy]

http://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/awards/vote/

Origins of Halloween

Did you know that Halloween originated in Ireland?

It has its roots in the pagan festival of Samhain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest and it was an important fire festival in Ireland, celebrated on the 31 October and throughout the following day. The flames of old fires had to be extinguished by the druids and ceremonially re-lit to begin the new cycle or year.

It was a time when all the crops had been gathered and placed in storage for the long winter ahead and when livestock would be brought in from the fields and selected for slaughter or breeding. The bonfires were also used as part of the slaughter ceremonies.

Samhain was a time when the souls of the departed would return to their family homes and when potentially malevolent spirits were released from the Otherworld and visible to mankind. It was a night when banshees, fairies and other spirits could come and go quite freely. 

To ward off the evil spirits, people wore masks and disguises which has since become our modern day costume tradition for Halloween.

Lights were placed outside houses to further protect against spirits and later, in America, pumpkins were carved with scary faces and lit with candles to ward off evil.

The Druids used to collect gifts of food from local villagers and it is said it was better to provide a gift or 'treat' rather than run the risk of a curse or 'trick' which has since transformed into  the family trick or treating today. Excavations at the Hill of Tara produced evidence that Samhain was celebrated as far back as 3000BC before the Celts even arrived in Ireland and later it coincided with All Hallow's eve, the evening before All Saints Day which was eventually where the name 'Halloween' came from. 

In Galway we celebrate a Galway Aboo Festival starting on the Bank Holiday weekend before Halloween. The Macnas Parade is a popular highlight each year with giant puppets, restless stilt walkers, crowds of themed followers and pyrotechnics combine to create a street spectacle that wows and amazes locals and visitors alike.

Join us at the g Hotel & Spa for a hauntingly fantastic Halloween with bewitching martinis & vampiric spirits. Our spooky mixologist will brewing up a cauldron of tasty beverages for our guests.  

Try our Dracula's Kiss Martini with black vodka or our Pumpkin Perfection on the rocks combining Hennessy with orange juice and ginger ale or the refreshing Captain's Blood Punch with vodka, pomegranate, lime and cranberry.

We also offer a Spooktacular Afternoon Tea with savoury sandwiches, freshly baked scones, pastries and Halloween themed sweet treats such as white chocolate ghosts, spiced pumpkin cake, orange macaroons and baked chocolate & pumpkin pie. Afternoon Tea is served 3pm - 5pm Monday to Friday and 1pm - 5pm on weekends. Served with your choice of hot beverage, Afternoon Tea at the g is €26 for one and €46 for two guests. Email eat@theg.ie to book.

Happy Halloween!

Cedric Bottarlini - new Head Chef at the g Hotel & Spa

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Cedric Bottarlini as our new Head Chef. 

Bringing more than 15 years of international experience to his role, Cedric has recently returned to Galway from Jordan, where he worked as the Executive Sous Chef in a leading luxury 5 star international resort. Trained in France, Cedric has many years’ experience in a variety of top culinary positions around the world. He’s very familiar and well known in the West of Ireland, particularly Galway, having worked in fine establishments such as the Twelve Hotel Barna, Ballynahinch Castle, and Delphi Mountain Resort and Spa. In his role as Head Chef at the g, Cedric will oversee all culinary aspects of the hotels various food offerings including Restaurant gigi’s, the Signature Lounges, weddings and all conference business.

"We are so delighted to bring Cedric on board” explains Triona Gannon, General Manager of the g Hotel. 

"He possesses an incredible mixture of experience, talent, education, and foresight. Our customers are going to love him and what he creates for them."

Commenting on his new appointment, Cedric said, "this is an exciting next chapter in my culinary journey. I'm delighted to be back in Galway and working with the team in the g. I have a number of new, fresh, exciting ideas up my sleeve for the hotel. I'm looking forward to meeting our customers and helping to make their dining experience truly enjoyable. My vision is to bring the guest’s dining experience to the next level with tasty, healthy, exciting and memorable food, all sourced from local producers”.

To sample Cedric’s cuisine, please call 091 865200 to book Restaurant gigi’s or email eat@theg.ie

Galway Oyster Festival

After a busy summer of film, arts, music and horse racing, September is a lovely time in Galway city. We have two oyster festivals to look forward to, Clarenbridge Village festival 12th-14th and the larger Galway International Oyster Festival 25th - 28th September.

The festivals celebrate the native Galway oyster or ostrea edulis - also known as wild oysters. Ireland produces over 750 million tonnes of oysters each year and only a small percentage of these are the native oysters making them highly sought after across the globe. September is the start of the native oyster season as the warmer summer months are when they are reproducing and it is advised not to eat them 1. To allow them ensure a future and 2. they are not at their best in terms of flavour and meatiness. The larger, more widely know Rock oysters are available all year round. 

In 1953, Brian Collins, General Manager of the Great Southern Hotel (now Hotel Meyrick) came up with the idea to create a festival to highlight the new native oyster season each year and the very first Galway Oyster Festival took place in 1954. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014, the Galway Oyster Festival has seen many guises during its time.     

The traditional highlight, the World Oyster Opening (shucking) Championship takes place on Saturday 27th September and will see oyster professionals from across the globe compete for the coveted title. Last years winner was from Denmark there will be entrants from Japan, China, Singapore, USA, Canada, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, France, Belgium, Italy and England taking on the 2014 challenge. Following the main event, a new favourite of the festival is the Masquerade through the streets of Galway - in it's third year, it embodies the fun and creative nature of Galway and definitely one to book. 

The world is your oyster and for September - Galway is the centre of the oyster world. 

Wellness Membership with ESPA at the g

You will discover an urban oasis in Galway when you visit ESPA at the g. Why not take your health and fitness to new heights with ESPA at the g Wellness Membership?

Spread over two floors, it is one of only three ESPA designed spas in Ireland and offers 8 treatment rooms, 4 beauty suites, vitality pool, crystal steam room, lifestyle shower, rain shower, rock sauna, an ice fountain, heated loungers and a relaxation room.

The Thermal Suite is included in your Wellness Membership.  Part of the overall ESPA at the g spa experience, the Thermal Suite is usually for guests who have booked a treatment. There is a supplement charge should you wish to avail of the Thermal Suite without a treatment. For residents, the charge is just €10.00 and for non-residents, the charge is €30.00 (again if no treatment is booked). This gives you one hour to immerse yourself in the absolute essence of relaxation. Guests are encouraged to book in advance as the number of people allowed in the Thermal Suite at any one time is restricted so that all guests receive a full ESPA experience without overcrowding or unnecessary disturbance.

Wellness Members can enjoy the ESPA at the g facilities 7 days a week. This includes the vitality pool in the Thermal Suite, which has a number of water features such as the two ‘swan necks’ that offer incredibly strong streams of water to work on stubborn muscles, each one targeting the back & shoulders or the hip area depending on your need. For a gentler experience, the separate standing jets produce soft bubbles that will ease tired muscles or aching joints. Alternatively, the underwater bench running along one side of the pool allows you to blissfully float whilst enjoying a more traditional jacuzzi style of frothing water.

The crystal steam room is a favourite for those that enjoy breathing in the goodness of ESPA and intermittent visits during your Thermal Suite experience will help in your overall relaxation and softening of muscles. Deep breaths encouraged!

Lovers of dry heat will opt for the rock sauna but there is always the ice fountain for the more adventurous or the lifestyle showers with tropical and arctic options to keep you fully awake. Cold water ‘keeps you young’ they say!! Alternatively a short snooze on the heated loungers will help to soothe away any remaining knots that city life can bring. 

Following the Thermal Suite, you will enjoy the Relaxation Lounge on the 2^nd floor. Filled with light and large picture windows, the Relaxation Lounge overlooks the rooftop Zen garden.

Wellness Membership with ESPA at the g offers the total solution to your fitness, lifestyle, wellness and spa needs. For just €65 per month, you can avail of the fitness studio 24 hours a day and boost your post workout recovery or just take some ‘you’ time in the Thermal Suite which is also included and available 7 days a week, 12 hours a day (8am-8pm).

Furthermore, with the world’s premier experts, coupled with impeccable service, ESPA at the g offers award winning treatments and was recently awarded ‘Best Hotel Spa’ by Irish Tatler Magazine. Choose from a selection of exquisite treatment experiences using ESPA products of natural origin - Wellness Members receive 20% on selected treatments as well as 10% discount on dining. The g complements the overall ESPA offering by serving light, nutritious refreshments pre or post treatments.

Wellness Membership

1 month €65 - 3 months €180 - 6 months €330

No joining fee or 12 month contract required

Contact espa@theg.ie or Call 091 778460 for more information.