The Old Bank Bruff

01/10/2026

Where did September go?

It was a whirlwind of a month here at The Old Bank, and somehow we’ve arrived in October already!

Autumn has well and truly arrived, bringing crisp mornings, cosy evenings and plenty happening around Bruff, Lough Gur, Limerick and the Ballyhoura region .

There’s lots to look forward to this month — from the Halloween programme at Lough Gur with Limerick.ie, to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn Schooll, the Ballyhoura Walking Festivaland, for a bit of autumn family fun, the Pumpkin Patch at Ballyhoura Escape! 🎃

Whether you’re looking for a spooky day out, a good walk through the autumn countryside, a little local history and culture, or simply somewhere lovely to escape for a few days, October is a fantastic month to visit our corner of Limerick. And after a day of exploring, there’s nothing better than coming back to The Old Bank, putting the kettle on and settling into your cosy room.

Our October newsletter is here, with some of the events, local happenings and little pieces of life from The Old Bank that we think you’ll enjoy.

24/09/2026

🌿 REGEN BALLYHOURA 🌿

What if travel could leave a place better than you found it?

Welcome to Ballyhoura Country, part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, a beautiful region across East Limerick and North-East Cork, where mountains, woodlands, farmland, rivers, heritage, local food and vibrant communities come together.
Here, tourism has always been part of something bigger.

REGEN BALLYHOURA brings local tourism businesses, communities and people together to create a more sustainable and regenerative future, one where visitors don’t simply see a place, but connect with it, support it and become part of its story.

Because Ballyhoura is more than a destination.

It is the people who welcome you.
The farmers who care for the land.
The producers who create locally.
The volunteers who protect our heritage and biodiversity.
The businesses that work together.
The stories passed from one generation to the next.

From walking and cycling through the Ballyhoura Mountains and forests, to discovering ancient heritage at Lough Gur, local food, wildlife, bogs and village life, every experience has a connection to place.

Regenerative tourism is about more than reducing our impact. It is about creating a positive one.
🌿 Rooted in Place.
🤝 Shaped by People.
💚Shared Through Stories.

Come and discover Ballyhoura, part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and experience a different way to travel through Ireland.

21/09/2026

🌿 Small steps, big ideas and a shared vision for Ballyhoura🌿

It was a real pleasure to be part of the launch last week of the Ballyhoura Sustainability Stories Campaign at Charleville Park Hotel.

On the day, I had the privilege of representing not only my own business, The Old Bank Bruff, but also Griston Bog and Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment CLG, with whom I volunteer, and the wider contribution that community-led heritage, environmental and tourism projects make across our region.

The Ballyhoura region has a long tradition of people giving their time, energy and commitment to building communities, developing tourism and creating opportunities. It was wonderful to see that spirit brought together in one room.

Last week, for me, it was setting up our (first) stand, meeting people, sharing our stories, promoting upcoming festivals in Bruff Community, such as Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School and showcasing what Ballyhoura- Bruff & Lough Gur has to offer within our region.

It was easy to be relaxed with Lynda from Rockbarton Garden School and Claire from Lough Gur Pottery been my stand neighbours, as was John from Ballyneety Golf Club and James from Limerick Field Archery Club on the other side

But I also have to acknowledge the people who make it possible for me to give my time to these things. I am incredibly grateful to Claire and Louise, who support me every day at The Old Bank, in helping keep the business running when I need to attend events, supporting me through last years college studies and the next training course ( they dont know about yet), and being there to support me on days like this.

It really does show what can happen when we come together, small wins, shared ideas and collaboration creating something much bigger.

With Ballyhoura Fáilte celebrating 40 years of community-led tourism, it feels like a particularly special time to reflect on what has been achieved by generations of people who have given their time and energy to this region, while looking forward to what comes next.

Proud to play my small part in that story, and grateful to the people who help make it possible.

🌿 Rooted in Place. Shaped by People. Shared Through Stories.🌿

https://visitballyhoura.com/news/ballyhouras-past-present-and-future-come-together-as-new-sustainability-stories-campaign-launches

Photos by .ok

18/09/2026

✨ Inspirations 2 opens TONIGHT! ✨

A celebration of Lough Gur through the eyes of 16 local creatives — inspired by its landscape, history, stories and the people who call this place home.

A real celebration of our community and the creativity that comes from it. 💛

Come along and see Lough Gur in a different light.

Everyone is welcome. Hope to see you there.

Tonight | 6pm sharp | Istabraq Hall, Limerick City & County Council Offices

16/09/2026

A brilliant Regenerative Ballyhoura Showcase today in the Charleville Park Hotel , bringing together people who believe that tourism can do more than simply bring visitors to a place. It can give back to it too.

One of the greatest benefits of being part of something like this is the people you meet along the way, like-minded businesses, community groups and individuals who are willing to collaborate, share ideas and look beyond their own doorstep.

From local food and producers, to heritage, nature, accommodation, experiences and community projects, we all have a part to play in creating stronger local and circular economies , where the value created by tourism stays within our communities for longer.

It’s about connecting the dots.
Buying local.
Sharing resources.
Telling each other’s stories.
Creating reasons for visitors to stay longer and explore further.
And finding those small changes that can create big impacts in the way we do business.

For us at The Old Bank Bruff, regenerative tourism is about being part of that bigger picture — our home, our family, our local producers, our heritage and our landscape all connected.

Today was a great reminder that collaboration really is our superpower. 💚

Here’s to Ballyhoura — doing tourism a little differently, together. 🌿

04/09/2026

Autumn magic has arrived ..... changing colours, long evenings, and open fires 🧡

29/08/2026

No matter how much I try to research and keep up with everything happening locally, there will always be an event that manages to sneak past me!

This one is definitely worth putting in the diary. It’s going to be a fantastic evening, and Brian has a wonderful way of bringing the area to life through folklore, stories and characters. (Don’t tell Brian, but when he starts speaking Irish, it genuinely makes you want to go back and relearn the language )

A lovely evening of local stories, history and folklore, right on our doorstep.

We are delighted to announce an upcoming talk here at St.John’s Church, Knockainey on the 26th of September 2026.

Exploring Áine. Searching for East Limerick’s Ancient Goddess by Brian Collopy.

Brian will be exploring the fascinating world of myth, ancient monuments, sacred landscapes and local folklore, uncovering Áine’s deep connection to East Limerick.

Tickets are now AVAILABLE! Please visit our Eventbrite page to purchase yours today. However, a limited amount of tickets will be available at Moloney’s Bar in Knockainey.

Adult ticket - €10
Child Ticket - €5

If you have any queries please contact [email protected]

Link for tickets: https://tinyurl.com/4x9pzs84

28/08/2026

A new season, a little family chaos & plenty to explore September has arrived in Bruff, bringing cooler evenings, the first hints of autumn colour and, for us, a definite change of pace.

The children are heading off on their next adventures, school and college routines are starting again, and just when we thought the house might become a little quieter, Pat decided we needed one more bit of chaos and brought home Milo, our very cute (and very mischievous) sheepdog puppy!

So between Mum’s Taxi, crutches, college, school, puppy training, missing shoes and the occasional open gate, there is never a dull moment at The Old Bank! But September is also a lovely time to welcome our guests. With fewer crowds, beautiful countryside, local events, good food and plenty happening around Bruff, Ballyhoura, Lough Gur and Limerick, there is lots to discover.

For more details see our website www.theoldbank.ie

25/08/2026

Back to School Week has arrived, and our new Back to School arch is ready. There’s even a blackboard if you’d like to stop, take a photo and mark the start of the new school year. 📸

And if I’m being honest… I’m quite excited to get back to a bit of routine! 😂

Wishing all the children, parents, teachers and school staff a wonderful Back to School Week and a fantastic year ahead! 💚