Christmas in Galway

December is here and everyone is busy decorating trees, planning nights out with friends and time with family. Christmas really is a magical time of year with glittering fairy lights brightening up dark nights and cheerful tunes bringing a smile or two. In Galway we have welcomed back the Christmas Market on Eyre Square and now have a market at Spanish Arch with crafts on display and antique children's carousel. Storm Desmond has passed overhead and our festive spirit is out in force.

At the g Hotel & Spa our Christmas Party nights are being enjoyed to the full and the popoular Console Christmas Lunch is already booked for 2016. With 18 days to Christmas, the season really is in full swing. We hope to welcome you to the g Hotel this year, whether for Festive Afternoon Tea at just €44 for two guests and €14 per child or for coctails in our

Signature Lounges. We have seven Chritmas trees shining bright and covered in ribbons and baubles. Our team are in the Christmas spirit and don't surprise to hear a carol or two. In fact we have two very special choirs joining us for in the Grand Salon. Join our guest Christmas Carollers who will fill the Signature Lounges with songs of the season on the following dates:

• Saturday 12th December - 3pm to 4pm - Mervue Children's Choir
• Sunday 13th December - 3pm to 4pm - Something to Sing About Choir

Our Festive Afternoon Tea is the perfect Christmas present or perhaps an indulgent gift from the 2015 ESPA Christmas gift collection. Our team are on hand to assist you in selecting your Christmas gifts from spa vouchers to winter escapes. See our Christmas gift collection for more details.

Whether it’s gorgeous gourmet or gingerbread galore – we recommend that you book the Christmas Afternoon Tea at the g well in advance to ensure availability of your preferred date. To book email eat@theg.ie or call 091 865200.

10th Birthday Celebrations at the g Hotel & Spa

Throughout the month of November, we are celebrating 10 years in business at the g Hotel & Spa in Galway. We have a host of events and offers available to our loyal guests and are very grateful to every guest that has stayed or dined with us, our wonderful local Irish suppliers and our hard working team. We hope you will join in the celebrations.

RESTAURANT gigis TASTING NIGHT
Fri 27th Nov - 10 course Tasting Menu celebrating each year of culinary delights at the g from 2005-2015. Price €75.00. TO BOOK eat@theg.ie

COCKTAIL FEST
November will be filled with weekly specials, masterclasses, signature drinks and meet the maker evenings. Live music every Friday & Saturday from 9pm-11pm with the Supernova's & Mike Corbett.
Our Masterclasses will be hosted by David Dillon and guests may book in advance by emailing drinks@theg.ie - just €10pp in celebration of our 10th Birthday.

Wednesday 11th November – Whiskey Wednesday
Bringing the world's most magical spirit to life - the g Hotel & Spa invites you to discover the attributes and appreciate the nose and taste of a trio of whiskeys. You will also learn about distillation and how each whiskey is distilled, barrelled and bottled. The masterclass will be hosted by Food & Beverage Manager at the g Hotel & Spa, David Dillon, a whiskey expert who honed his craft in top establishments both in Ireland and Scotland.

Wednesday 18th November – Wednesday Wine
The g Hotel & Spa offers a diverse list of unique, high quality wines from around the globe. Wine flights are a fun way to explore regions, varietals, and styles of wine-making. During the masterclass you will enjoy a selection of three wines. Join us to taste and compare the three wines specially selected by our Food & Beverage Manager, David Dillon.

DESIGNER AFTERNOON TEA
Limited edition with mouth-watering delicacies, each with a fashionable twist inspired by master milliner and Design Director of the g Hotel & Spa – Philip Treacy. €44 for two guests and advance booking advised. To book email eat@theg.ie or Call 091 865200.

ESPA GIFTS
10% savings on gift sets - Purchase your Christmas gift set from ESPA at the g Luxury spa before 26th November and receive espa@theg.ie
10% savings on your purchase. Contact our ESPA professionals on 091 778460 or email

WEDDINGS
Book your 2016 midweek wedding during our 10th birthday month of November and receive 10% savings. T&Cs apply - email Rachel on weddings@theg.ie for more details.

MEETINGS
Book your 2016 meeting for 10 guests or more during our 10th birthday month of November and receive 10% savings on your main meeting room dining requirements. Contact our team on meetings@theg.ie for more information.

Halloween in Galway

Planning a Halloween or mid term break in Galway? Have a spooktacular time at the g Hotel & Spa.

Monster Mash Party 

Gather your friends and join us for a spooky night of ghastly delights and spine-chilling frolics on Friday 30th October. Find your inner demon and dress up for Croi at The Monster Mash Party – tickets just €30 per person. The evening will be packed wall-to-wall with creative costumes, tantalising cocktails, terror-ific entertainment and fiendish fun. Let your imagination run riot from the wild to the wonderful with masks, gowns, wigs & blood – anything goes! TO BOOK https://www.croi.ie/MONSTERMASH 

Macnas Parade

The annual Macnas Halloween parade will take place on Sunday 25th October at 5.30pm.  Macnas will be celebrating 30 years next year and they never fail to create a stunning spectacle of  street-hopping, traffic-stopping performances including a host of giants, over 300 scampering performers, bespoke costumes and live music – consistently attracting thousands of locals & visitors

alike. Everyone is encouraged to dress up in masks, glitter, feathers, DIY costumes and whatever helps celebrate the surreal, the off-beat and the unexpected. The parade takes a similar route each year and starts at Fisheries Field – Eglinton Street – Shop Street – High Street – Quay Street – Spanish Arch – Fr. Griffin
Rd (fire station). This year’s Macnas Parade is entitled ‘The Shadow Lighter’ and it celebrates transformation, life, death and rebirth.

Galway Aboo Halloween Festival

The Galway Aboo Halloween Festival takes place in the medieval streets of Galway’s Latin Quarter on Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th and Saturday 31st of October 2015. It is the country’s largest Halloween Festival and plays host to a number of activities and free events promising to be frightfully good fun for all ages. A full line-up of events for the Galway Aboo Hallowe'en Festival will be announced shortly.

Whether you are planning a ghoulish gathering or Halloween haunt – join us at the g Hotel & Spa in Galway – it is sure to be a scream!

Photos by Julia Dunin Photography

Dinner & a Movie at the g

The g Hotel & Spa is ideally located adjacent to the EYE Cinema - one of Ireland's most technologically advanced and luxurious cinemas with nearly 1200 seats across 9 screens, each with dolby digital EX full surround sound,  widescreen and cinemascope picture. The 9,250 sq m EYE builds on Galway’s existing worldwide reputation for celebrating Irish and international theatre, music and the visual arts by offering a unique cinema experience in Ireland’s cultural capital. There is also a luxury screen which is great for booking corporate events or for special occasions which seats 40 guests. 

Book a night out with the team or treat clients to a night at the movies. Kick off with a delicious dinner in the Signature Lounges at the g Hotel & Spa followed by a movie of your choice at the EYE.

2-course Dinner & a Movie €29.95 per person OR 3-course Dinner & a Movie €37.00 per person. Supplements apply for Luxury Screen & 3D movies.

For individual bookings, select your preferred movie and time then call our g Team on 091 865200 or email eat@theg.ie and we will book you in for dinner and have your cinema ticket ready on arrival at the g Hotel.

For larger corporate enquiriues, please contact our events team at events@theg.ie.

A full list of upcoming movies for September & October are listed below with links to trailers:

Everest - Sept 18th - On the morning of May 10, 1996, climbers from two expeditions start their final ascent

toward the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. With little warning, a violent storm strikes the mountain, engulfing the adventurers in one of the fiercest blizzards ever encountered by man. Challenged by the harshest conditions imaginable, the teams must endure blistering winds and freezing temperatures in an epic battle to survive against nearly impossible odds. Starring Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The Martian –Oct 2nd - During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is  

presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit. What would you do is help was 'only' 140 million miles away?

Macbeth – Oct 2nd - From the Academy Award® winning producers of The King’s Speech and acclaimed  

director Justin Kurzel, Shakespeare as you wished for it to be during your Leaving Cert - starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. In case you need reminding .. Macbeth, a Duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

Sicario - Oct 9th - American Crime Thriller - At the border between the United States and Mexico an idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government official to aid in a joint task force tracking down an anonymous drug lord.  It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber and Jon Bernthal.

Suffragette - Oct 16th - Women of Galway unite - watch the story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement in England - women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State. Starring Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson and Anne-Marie Duff.  

Spectre 007 – Oct 30th - 007 Returns for the 24th James Bond adventure. A cryptic message from the past

sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) to Mexico City and Rome. After infiltrating a secret meeting, 007 uncovers the existence of the sinister organization SPECTRE. Needing the help of the daughter of an old nemesis, he embarks on a mission to find her. As Bond ventures toward the heart of SPECTRE, he discovers a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks.

All release dates are subjec to change.

 

TO BOOK - Email eat@theg.ie or Call 091 865200

ESPA at the g Highly Commended at Irish Tatler Spa Awards 2015

We are delighted to announce that one of our ESPA at the g therapists, Jinkeer Kaur was Highly Commended at this year's Irish Tatler Spa Awards. We are delighted for Jin and our entire team are very proud of the continual acheivement of ESPA at the g - having won gold for Best Hotel Spa last year and Highly Commended for our ESPA Fitness Massage, it is fantastic to see all our dedication and belief in wellness be recognised. We thought we'd introduce you to some of our ESPA team, starting with the lovely Jin:

What makes the perfect spa treatment?

A perfect spa treatment should take you on a journey of relaxation and me-time from start to finish. At ESPA at the g we focus on the needs of our guests ensuring they feel special and pampered. For your chosen treatment itself; whether you have selected a facial or massage you should feel utterly at ease and tranquil throughout the experience.  Overall, your chosen treatment should deliver results and you should feel that it was an experience worth taking time out for and ideally that you want to come back to repeat!

 

What separates the g from other spas?

Firstly, the level of professionalism amongst our ESPA at the g team who are all incredibly passionate and committed.  We all work together to continually improve our level of professionalism throughout the spa and the experience of our guests’.  Secondly the quality of products used is exceptional – ESPA are world leaders in spa design and products and all of our treatments use completely natural ingredients.  Thirdly is the ongoing training we receive from ESPA which is of a very high standard.

What's your favourite thing about being a therapist?

The satisfaction when my guest enjoys their treatment is top on my list.  My favourite is when a guest remarks that it felt like 'heaven'! When I can follow up on this great experience and guide them through an aftercare program then I really know I have helped them to achieve long term benefits.

What's your favourite thing about the g Hotel & Spa?

The g Hotel & Spa is located in Galway city which I love, it is a thriving city that feels like a village and we are the only 5 star destination spa in the area which makes me proud to be a part of the team. It was designed by Philip Treacy, the famous milliner who was from a tiny village near to Galway city which really gives it the wow factor and then guests come into ESPA and they forget they are even in a hotel. The management encourage us to use our initiative and I feel that if you want to advance into a higher position then we are given you the opportunity to do so.

What's your favourite spa treatment?

A massage is always my favourite treatment.  Here at ESPA at the g, Chakra Balancing would be my favourite. It is our signaturetreatment and loved by our guests. It focuses on rebalancing the seven chakras that affect the mind and body given you a deep sense of wellbeing from within. Starting off with skin brushing, body exfoliation and a facial cleanse you will then enjoy a full body massage using individually chosen essential oils and hot stones as well as a soothing head massage. This treatment has previously won ‘Best Body Treatment’ at the Irish Tatler Spa Awards and was the one I gave their secret inspector during this year’s judging process.

What's your top tip for anyone going on their first spa break?

 First of all, do spend some time and look up the spa menu to know what treatment you think you will enjoy

most.  Speak with the team on booking and ask lots of questions as it is important you select what suits you best at that moment in time. Always book in advance as most spas are extremely popular availability can go quickly. When you have your treatment booked, we always recommend that you allow plenty of time before and after your treatment to enjoy the facilities.  A spa treatment is not just about your treatment time with your therapist; it's about relaxation before and after your actual treatment time – all part of what we call your ‘Spa Journey’ at ESPA at the g. All of our 55 minute ESPA treatments include an hour in our Thermal Suite beforehand which is the perfect start to your spa experience at the g. The Thermal Suite includes a vitality pool which features a number of water jets providing either gentle or vigorous massage. We also have a crystal steam-room, rock sauna, ice showers and heated tepidarium loungers which are ideal for relaxing your muscles prior to treatment.

How are you celebrating your award?

We enjoyed a lovely lunch with Irish Tatler and I took the next few days off to relax and take it all in. I am very grateful to my Manager, Elaine O’Shea and the g Hotel & Spa for having such confidence in me and Irish Tatler for the recognition of the award. I am truly delighted and have just been promoted to Senior Therapist at ESPA at the g so look forward to working with our team over the coming months.

For more information on ESPA at the g, please contact our highly trained ESPA team on espa@theg.ie or +353 91 778460. Our ESPA Treatment brochure may be viewed here.