Latest news with #Galgorm
Irish Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
First new golf links in over a century to open in Northern Ireland
NORTHERN IRELAND is set to open its first new links golf course in over a century, as the Galgorm Collection unveils plans for a championship-standard development at Bellarena on the north coast. The new Bellarena Golf Links will be based just 20 miles from Royal Portrush, which is currently hosting The Open. The course will be built along the Causeway Coast, between Portrush and Limavady, with plans to open by 2029, subject to planning approval. The Galgorm Collection, known for its Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Ballymena and Roe Valley course in Limavady, is investing £30 million in the project. This will be the first newly constructed links course in Northern Ireland in more than 100 years. Links courses are considered the most traditional form of golf course, built on sandy coastal terrain that offers firm and natural playing conditions. Bellarena Golf Links will be designed to take full advantage of the area's natural beauty and rugged coastline. Colin Johnston, managing director of the Galgorm Collection, said that preparatory work is already underway, with construction potentially beginning as early as 2026. 'We believe Bellarena will be a game-changer for golf tourism in the region and a powerful draw for international visitors,' he said in a public statement. The project is part of Galgorm's wider £65 million investment strategy in the northwest. This includes the recent £50 million acquisition of the Roe Park Resort in Limavady—now rebranded as Roe Valley Resort—and the Galgorm Castle Estate. An additional £22 million is being invested in redeveloping Roe Valley Resort and its 18-hole course. The development is expected to generate 300 new jobs and boost local tourism. With over £120 million invested across Northern Ireland over the past two decades, Galgorm has become a major investor in the country's hospitality industry. Its portfolio also includes luxury hotels such as Galgorm Resort, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, and The Old Inn, as well as restaurants Fratelli and Parisien. The announcement comes at a high point for golf tourism in Northern Ireland. The sport brought a record £86 million to the regional economy last year, with figures from Tourism Northern Ireland showing a 66% increase in value since 2019, when Royal Portrush last hosted The Open. Golf tourists typically stay around nine days and play five different courses during their visit. Economy Minister Dr. Caoimhe Archibald praised the plans, saying, 'Golf is a vital driver of our tourism economy, and this new course will help spread the benefits across more parts of the region. I commend Galgorm for their vision and commitment.' Tourism Northern Ireland chairwoman Ellvena Graham described the development as a major step forward: 'With our rich heritage and dramatic landscapes, Northern Ireland is already a highly sought-after golf destination. Bellarena will only strengthen that appeal.' The location of the course offers strong infrastructure advantages. Bellarena is on the Coleraine-to-Derry rail line and the main coastal road, making it easily accessible for visitors to reach. Bellarena Golf Links will join a lineup of other north coast courses, including Royal Portrush, Portstewart, and Castlerock. With planning permission expected to be submitted soon, the project is set to become a major driver for international tourism in the years ahead. See More: Galgorm, Golf, Royal Portrush, Sport, Tourism, Tourism Ireland
RTÉ News
18-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Galgorm Collection plans new £30m golf course in Co Derry
Luxury hospitality group Galgorm Collection plans to invest more than £30m to create a new links golf course at Bellarena - the first new championship links course in Northern Ireland in over 100 years. The Northern Ireland-based company owns and runs the championship parkland course at Galgorm Castle in Ballymena and the Roe Valley course in Limavady. Galgorm said it will develop a new 18-hole links course at Bellarena, which is located between Portrush and Limavady within the Causeway Coast and Glens area and around 30 minutes' drive from Derry and its adjacent airport. It said the new course will help create new local jobs and act as a major catalyst for further tourism investment in the area. Research last year showed the golfing sector's value had risen by almost 66% since 2019, when The 148th Open was held at Royal Portrush. On average, golfers spend around nine days on their visit to Northern Ireland, playing five rounds on different courses during their stay. Subject to planning approval, Galgorm Collection said development of Bellarena Golf Links will start next year and open in 2029, bringing its total investment in the north west to around £65m and with an additional 300 jobs created. The group last year bought the nearby Roe Park Resort in Limavady and Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena as part of a landmark £50m investment. It is now investing a further £22m in the now newly-named Roe Valley Resort and its own 18-hole golf course. Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston, said the company's plans to develop a new 18-hole links golf course at Bellarena on Northern Ireland's north west coast will deliver a once-in-generation opportunity to drive a new era of golfing and tourism success that will amplify its outstanding and award-winning credentials while also creating hundreds of jobs. "Preparatory work is already well under way that could pave the way for development from next year before we welcome our first guests in 2029," he said. "We look forward to consulting widely on our plans and engaging stakeholders at every level to ensure collective, shared success for the local community, the north west region and Northern Ireland as a whole," he added. Northern Ireland Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said that golf tourism generated a record £86m for the region last year and this month's Open at Royal Portrush will help to increase this impact even further. The Galgorm Collection is anchored by its flagship Galgorm Resort near Ballymena in a group of properties which includes The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, The Old Inn, restaurants Fratelli and Parisien in Belfast city centre and Roe Valley Resort.
Irish Independent
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Rory McIlroy eager for birdie mode at Travelers after finding a ‘feeling' off the tee at Oakmont
While he has been battling for motivation since winning the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam, he has also struggled to hit fairways until last week. Getting emotionally and physically ready for The Open at Royal Portrush is his next big goal, and after driving the ball well at Oakmont, he's looking forward to making birdies at TPC River Highlands. 'Definitely last week, I found a feeling, especially off the tee, that was repeatable, that was working well, and I led strokes gained off the tee last week, which was a big thing for me,' McIlroy said. Making birdies in Connecticut should help his mood. 'I think the weeks after Major championships in these events, sometimes when you are in contention and you are trying to win them, it can feel quite difficult to go play the next week,' added McIlroy, who shot a joint-best of the day 67 on Sunday to tie for 19th 'After a week like I had at Oakmont, where you are not quite in the mix but you might feel you find something in your game, you are excited to come back and play again. 'This is the perfect sort of chaser for what Oakmont was last week, and nice to get out on a golf course where you feel you can make quite a few birdies.' McIlroy is joined in the field by Shane Lowry, who missed the cut at Oakmont but plays his fourth event in a row in the knowledge that he tied for ninth behind Scottie Scheffler last year. 'There are a lot of guys in the field this week where this is their fourth tournament in a row, so they have been put through the wringer the last few weeks,' McIlroy said. 'This is a welcome setup where they feel like they can relax a little bit and not have to grind so much for your score.' McIlroy will play the first two rounds alongside US Ryder Keegan Bradley, who believes new US Open champion JJ Spaun will be a big asset to his team. ADVERTISEMENT 'I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like JJ Spaun,' Bradley said. It's a major week for Leona Maguire, who will be trying to end a miserable run of form in the KPMG Women's PGA at 6,600-yard Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco. The Cavan star arrives in Texas on the back of four successive missed cuts and faces tough conditions in 30c temperatures for her opening round alongside American Joanna Coe and Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit. There is no event on the DP World Tour this week, but Max Kennedy, Mark Power and Dermot McElroy are playing in the HotelPlanner Tour's Blot Play9 at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André in France. Meanwhile, County Louth's Gavin Tiernan was the only Irish player to get through the first round of the Amateur Championship at Royal St George's. He beat Scotland's Niall Shiels Donegan on the 18th to set up a last-32 clash with Belgium's Jarno Tollenaire. Galgorm's Joshua Hill lost 3&2 to Canada's Isaiah Ibit, while County Louth's Stuart Grehan fell 4&2 to Mexico's Rodrigo Vasquez. Leading qualifier Conor Graham of Scotland had to dig deep to see off Denmark's Mads Viernose Larsen on the 21st. Travelers Championship, 8pm
The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
The Irish sister hotels perfect for relaxing staycation with outdoor tubs, snow cabin, delicious food & resident puppy
TIME spent with a friend is good for the soul – and if you can do it in one of Ireland's top hotels, even better. With that in mind, my pal Denise and I headed for 5 The luxury 4-star Galgorm Hotel & Spa is ideal for a weekend break 5 It is renowned as a pampering hotspot 5 Many relaxing opportunities at the resort after a stressful week The resort is renowned for pampering and we were excited to see what was on offer after hearing so many good things. Our accommodation, the Forest Den, was a private hut in the woods — and it simply blew us away. It came with its own outdoor seating area, a piano, private hot tub, sauna and outdoor shower, as well as a cosy, indoor kitchen and sleeping quarters. Denise was so excited she hopped on a video call straight away to show off the room while I had a nosy around. READ MORE IN TRAVEL After a few glasses of As a The staff were that perfect mix — appearing just as you were about to call them and then leaving you be when you want some time to chat and eat. And just across the courtyard was the bar, with live Most read in the Irish Sun After a couple of drinks, we went back to our den via the resort's free courtesy bus, where we spent two hours soaking in the outdoor bath. We fell into bed content and dozed happily to the sounds of the forest outside. The short Irish train journey perfect for summer day out with 'stunning views' If you are staying at the Galgorm, you get full access to its Thermal Village Spa. This has a number of gorgeous relaxation spots, from the outdoor hot tubs overlooking the river to the sauna huts. Inside, they have a pool and a snow cabin. CABIN FEVER Said to be great for circulation and the lungs, a snow cabin is essentially like walking into a freezer! There were blocks of what looked like snow on the walls, and it was a contrast to the heat of the pool I had been in just moments before. We raced through breakfast to spend as much time as we could there, sunning ourselves in the sauna, and taking a swim. There's no need to dress up, as everyone walks around in their recognisable brown dressing gowns. We only wished we had more time to have a treatment, such as the 90-minute Taste of Galgorm, which includes a back and foot massage, and a head treatment. Or the 60-minute Relaxing Full Body Massage. But by the time we had booked our stay, they were fully booked, so try to book early. ON THE MOVE We packed up the car and head for Galgorm's sister hotel, The Rabbit. Just a 25-minute drive away, I would describe it as the cool, younger sibling. And it gets my vote simply for being dog-friendly. It even has its own resident pup, Florence. While the previous night was more focused on spa and chill — and there is a lot of that at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat — there is also music, for those wanting party vibes. We met groups of women and hen parties, all enjoying the pool with cocktails in hand. Our room was fab, with a retro vinyl player, quirky wallpaper and accessories, as well as a secluded outdoor tub. WELCOME PACK There was also a welcome pack with some chocolates and a bottle of prosecco, so we sat out in the sun and poured ourselves a glass before our afternoon plans. We were booked in for a Private Botanical Bathing Experience. The one-of-a-kind treatment includes your own private jacuzzi, filled with soothing smells and an unbeatable view of the water. A QR code connects you to the bar, which delivers your order. You get to pick the botanicals used, with options such as Sleep Time (best near night-time) and Rest and Restore, but we went for Feel Good. This was a mix of bergamot sweet orange and rosemary, to detox and promote relaxation. GO: GALGORM RESORT AND THE RABBIT HOTEL STAY HERE: Lodging at the Forest Den at Galgorm, is available from £270 Bed & Breakfast per room (2 guests) – coming in at €321.94 based on current exchange rates. The Comfy Room with Outdoor Bathtub at The Rabbit is available from £275 Bed & Breakfast per room (2 guests) – coming in at €327.90. For guests staying overnight at the Rabbit, adding the Botanical Bath is an extra £50 or €60. Then it was time to get changed and head to the hotel's restaurant, where once again I was delighted to see they had a vegetarian menu. To top off our night, we had prime position in the restaurant to watch a man surprise his partner with a proposal — thankfully she said yes! The next morning, after a delicious breakfast, it was time to hit the road again. To anyone who is overdue a catch-up with a friend, this is the one for you. 5 They have an excellent menu for vegetarians 5 Nicola enjoyed her weekend break at the hotel
Irish Daily Mirror
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Will you try out Galgorm's new AI massage treatment?
I was excited to test out Galgorm Resort's innovative new Augmented Massage treatment which blends two of my favourite things – tech and music. As Irish Daily Star's technology writer, and occasional music contributor, the opportunity to try out Europe's first 'Symphony of Touch' massage experience sounded too good to miss. The North's leading luxury hotel land spa - located just half an hour's drive from Belfast in Ballymena - has taken a bold step with its pioneering motion-to-sound treatment bed which is already in huge demand due to its unique nature - a futuristic fusion of AI technology and wellness. The Augmented Massage takes place on a high-tech massage table that features built-in computer-controlled sensors which analyse the position and rhythm of your masseuse in real time. The movements and gestures are transformed into a dynamic soundscape that enhances your treatment. The calming zen-like music and sounds match your therapist's movements and help you relax through an array of immersive speakers integrated into the treatment table. I felt like I was floating in a Japanese garden as gentle oriental musical notes and melodies splashed over me. The treatment is designed to heighten your sensory awareness, so you reach a deep state of mindfulness and tranquillity. Adding to the magical serenity were two hidden speakers close to where you lay your head - once I closed my eyes it sounded as if I was surrounded by water plopping gently into a pool. My therapist explained afterwards that because the Augmented Massage Table responds to each massage differently, based on the pressure applied, the movement, your body form and positioning, it is not untrue to say that each lucky guest enjoys a completely unique sonic experience and treatment. I'm used to reviewing smartphones, headphones and gaming headsets that promise immersive digital experiences - but Galgorm's Symphony of Touch takes the immersive into a completely different ball park, one with both physical and mental healing powers. Human touch merges with cutting-edge biofeedback technology and delivers a thoroughly restorative experience. Due to the high popularity of the Augmented Massage, my travelling companion was unable to book a slot to try it for herself, but her disappointment didn't last long thanks to a classic 60-minute Galgorm massage that she described as absolutely lovely. Elsewhere at the large thermal spa, state-of-the-art facials at Galgorm's Skin Clinic combine light and cryotherapy (which treats the skin with sub-zero temperatures), while sessions in the aufguss, a Celtic sauna, see the sauna master whirl around heated towels infused with essential oils. And a range of Elemis treatments are given in Moroccan-inspired treatment rooms. As an overnight guest at the resort, you enjoy free access to the Thermal Village's walled gardens, where you will find most of the resort's facilities, such as saunas, salt caves and steam rooms inside wooden burrows. Infinity pools, hydrotherapy pools and hot tubs line the river banks. And the main pool has a pebble floor to massage pressure points on your feet. We were blessed with great weather and indulged in as much of the fun as we could. As well as lots of couples casually wandering around in brown robes, a number of larger groups of females suggested this is also a popular spot for hens' weekends. Each area of the hotel and spa has its own vibe and character. Traditional-tweed-dressed concierges, 19th century decor and antique furniture combine in the old school and rather grand lobby. The Thermal Village is luxurious but laid back, while the Conservatory, where breakfast is served, is a bright and airy space adorned with elegant furnishings. We enjoyed a splendid late lunch here – in hindsight, perhaps a little too late, given our 7.30pm dinner reservation. Options for evening meals include Gilles Grill, which has a steak-dominated gastro-pub menu, or the Italian-styled Fratelli where we dined before indulging in after-dinner drinks at McKendry's Lounge, where a live Irish band plays every evening. The resort also includes free-to-use tennis courts and a two-floor gym, while available for extra fees are horse riding, bike rental, salmon fishing, falconry demonstrations and golf. For more information or to book the Symphony of Touch treatment, which costs £115 per person, or to book one of Galgorm Resort's 125 bedrooms including suites, deluxe, and superior rooms visit
