The strains of Irish Country stars is a familiar and nostalgic theme for an Irish Diaspora returning to the Old Sod.
Although the young lad being kept awake in his rented Harkin’s holiday home next door to the bar was blissfully unaware of its meaning.
Now with Country ruling the airwaves just now, down in no small part to Cowboy Carter it is worth acknowledging its Irish offshoot.
Because long before Thin Lizzy, U2 and the Boomtown Rats put Irish pop on the map Irish Country was the music of the masses.
And with international acts bypassing Ireland for Britain, Johnny Cash apart, then Irish singers and bands covered their tunes.
And became superstars on their own island.
Bands of gold
Lough out: Lough Eske
The 78-year-old crooner and other stellar names from the world of Irish Country have become a fixture.
At the institution that is lakeside luxury Harvey’s Point just €15 taxi ride from Donegal Town.
Eamonn Gillespie is the man with the mic every Wednesday introducing the acts, running from September 3 to November 5.
And as well as the Bould Brendan guests can enjoy the likes of Sandy Kelly, Michael English, Dominic Kirwin, Sean Costello and Keith & Lorraine McDonald.
As well as Darly Simpson, Patrick Feeney, Declan Nearney, Simon Casey, Sean Cuddy, Realta Dance of Ireland, Eugene Ginty, Grainne Gavigan.
The Ennis Brothers, The Murphy’s, Jessica Mc Kean and house band, Four Masters Quintet.
Deal us in
Drinks on us: Donegal hospitality
You will, of course, sit down for a sumptuous 5-course dinner in the Ballroom.
Before immersing yourself in the captivating two-and-a-half-hours entertainment, and all for just €75.
While as you’ll likely want to turn in there for the night then check out the Cabaret Accommodation Package from €349pps.
For a two-night stay in their executive suites with breakfast by Lough Eske.
A five-course dinner and shoe,
Homemade cookies in your room, a wine tasting and cooking demo on Tuesday and Thursday
And a guided walk every Wednesday morning.
Lie back and think of Ireland: Your Donegal rest
We can’t guarantee that you’ll get your lobby washed down but Brendan Shine will put a smile on your face.
And a host of Irish Country stars making it a very special 25 years of cabaret at Harvey’s Point in Donegal.
April, who from what I can see still runs a successful series of trekking books in Scotland, but like this landlubber is best staying on dry land.
And to this day I don’t know we returned there as we both proceeded to pull in opposite directions and ended up going round in circles.
Love Soller
Far from madding crowd: A little bit of solace
Again our old amigos at loveholidays set us up with the best deals and have a 10% saving on the El Guia 4* boutique hotel in Soller waiting for perusal.
Meaning instead of £1,035 it comes in at £469pp, flight and hotel for seven days.
And to get around those foodie problems we’ve been discussing, El Guia’s restaurant serves lunch and dinner, with room service also available. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
The seasonal outdoor pool provides a refreshing retreat during warmer months, surrounded by a sun terrace.
And the full-service spa offers massages, body treatments and beauty treatments. Additional wellness facilities include a sauna and Jacuzzi.
Say your prayers: Old Soller
Bicycle hire is available for exploring the surrounding area and the hotel offers tour and ticket assistance to help guests discover local attractions.
The Ferrocarril de Sóller Train Station is just a one-minute walk away while the Church of Sant Bartomeu and Plaza de la Constitución are both a two-minute stroll from the hotel.
The Municipal Market of Sóller and Can Prunera Museum of Modernism are within a five-minute walk.
And you can end up sleeping in and getting the knock on the door because your party is about to leave.
Meaning you have to grab the quickest of showers, leave it running, and have to face Bertha in reception on your return.
Who greets you with a frozen Guten tag straight from the Eiger.
And lets you know that your shower water seeped through the ceiling onto the breakfast room and muesli eaters below.
Wake up on the water
Loch at that: Your Swiss cruise
In spite of all that, the Swiss have stuck with us and continue to invite us out to the Alps… probably to redeem ourselves.
The Swiss offer us a range of accommodations here from a boutique boat to a night under the stars to an, er, former prison!
The MS Attila Boatel on the lake at Murten/Morat offers a pleasantly luxurious interior and first-class service so that you can spend a carefree and unforgettable time.
And as a sample, on August 9, they offer a 24-hour Music Cruise with Swiss artist Bastian Baker.
The price per double cabin is CHF 1,750 (single occupancy CHF 1,500)
And whether you stay at valley level or climb the slopes or take the Jungfraujoch train up to the peak, we’re all looking up.
In the spacious Aarmühle Penthouse Suite, you can rest your limbs and take in the private panoramic roof terrace overlooking the rooftops.
Experience an unforgettable night under the stars in the cosy bed in the weatherproof, non-air-conditioned pavilion with glass roof.
A cosy warm night is guaranteed even in cool temperatures with vintage bed bottles, as well as a large selection of warming fur blankets.
Sitting pretty: Interlaken
The gazebo offers the additional choice of one of the two bedrooms in the suite, located directly under the terrace.
Two bathrooms are at your disposal, one with a sauna, the other with a large bathtub.
The unforgettable visit is rounded off with breakfast as soon as the sun’s rays have kissed you awake. And all for CHF1099.
Soft cell
Jailhouse rocks: Innenhof Hotel Barabas Luzern
And if you didn’t know it before you soon will when you get out there. All that fresh air makes the Swiss look at the world differently.
Even turning an old prison into the cult hotel that is the Hotel Barabas in Luzern.
The only reminder that these imaginatively furnished rooms, complete with shower and toilet, were once prison cells is found in the floor plans and the bars on the windows.
The Barabas Hotel offers a choice of 60 different prison cells and rooms including shared rooms with bunk bathrooms or single, double, triple and quadruple rooms with private bathrooms.
And you’ll get more than bread and water in your sample overnight package from CHF162.
Take your pick which date is the busiest and EasyJet, for example, rings July 28, but the best way to destress is to avoid the airport rush by booking out of season.
The budget airline is expecting to fly more than 300,000 customers on nearly 2000 flights across Europe.
With some of our favourites Palma, Faro, Malaga, Nice and Barcelona the most popular destinations this summer.
And dozens of interconnecting rooms adorned with gorgeous frescoes, priceless tapestries, sculptures and paintings.
Hills and thrills
Blow your own: Bavarian music
As for the Romantic Road for which the Travalue package is billed.
It’s a route “made up of a spellbinding procession of folkloric scenery, medieval towns, lofty castles and grand palaces, so picture-perfect they could all serve as film sets.”
Crowning a hill with glorious views over the meandering river Tauber below.
And the old town is cradled within immaculately preserved walls.
And there’s time to explore its narrow, cobbled streets lined with tall gabled half-timbered houses.
Mini-Rome in Germany
Aspiring: Bamberg
If it’s UNESCO sites you’re after then 11th-century Bamberg, billed as a mini-Rome as it sits on seven lush green hills, will be on your list.
While Bamberg also boasts a ‘Little Venice’ – a delightful cluster of former fishermen’s houses built along the waterfront, mostly dating from the Middle Ages.
On board we’re promised the best hospitality, a ‘Chef’s Dinner’.
And Bavarian dance and songs performed on traditional instruments by a skilled trio.
Nuremberg trail
House about that: Gingerbread is a staple
Your last stop will be Nuremberg which, yes is known for that.
But also for its football team whose supporters I met in taking in a Bayern Munich back then on that Oktoberfest trip.
But also for its rebuilt castle (the Germans are good at this sort of thing) and famous gingerbread,.
And they can turn out a mean gingerbread house too.
All of which is better taken in on the Romantic Road through Bavaria.
Rather than on a rickety booze bus with thirsty and rowdy Aussies, Kiwis and a single lost Scot.
