The group is a collection of global, independent hotels whose shared characteristic is progressive design (the Morgan in Dublin is one) and the magazine's layout is reflective of its keen appreciation of aesthetics.

The spring/summer issue is concerned with green issues, from smart buildings in north California to how the French eschew the concept of organic for terroir, the idea that produce should taste like its place of origin instead. Get it at www. designhotels. com

Get ready to lunch The Dylan Hotel was undoubtedly the most exciting arrival on the Dublin scene last year and if you don't have the occasion to stay there, do lunch instead and check out its fabulously contemporary interiors and its equally chi chi clientele.

There are four different lunchtime dining experiences to try including the fine dining option at the restaurant where a typical dish might be confit rabbit leg, poached loin tartlet and baby carrot.

Dylanbar is for an informal bite, with soups, salads and rock oysters, while Room 1900 is a the private dining option that can host up to twelve people, where you can choose from a selection of menus starting from 25 per person, with room charge hire of 300.

For slightly more informal dining, there's the Library, with its chess boards, chandeliers and white leather couches, which can be reserved privately for 300, which is a pretty luxurious setting for any gathering.

Eastmoreland Place, Dublin 2. Tel 01 660 3000. www. dylan. ie

Girl Power From 25-27 May, St Angela's College on the shores of Lough Gill hosts a girlie weekend but not as we traditionally know it.

Wise Woman Weekend, a gathering of women for women, is light on the shopping and cocktails but big on the hatha yoga, Egyptian dance, meditation and shamanism.

Other pick and mix activities include 'Come drum with the sistas', 'Creative writing' and 'Stepping stones to wealth'.

What it offers is a chance for women to take some time out of their busy lives, get on the road to self discovery, get back in touch with nature, while meeting like-minded sorts. Tel 071 9643963 and visit www. wisewomanireland. com

This Sporting Life Concept hotels are not a big trend in this country yet, so Breaffy International Sports Hotel in Castlebar, Co Mayo is an exciting innovation.

Inspired and designed by rugby great Keith Wood, it's targeting the growth in sports tourism, combining accommodation with state of the art sports facilities.

These facilties include a full size ruby/soccer pitch, a full size GAA pitch, 30,000 sq ft of multi-purpose indoor sports arena, astro turf pitch, gym, muscle recovery ice baths and a spa and fitness club. The 120 rooms have been designed by Paul Costello and the hotel hopes to attract clubs from both Ireland and abroad, amateur and professional.

www. breaffyinternationalhotel. com

Me old china Most houses in Ireland probably possess some item of Belleek China, which is after all, Ireland's oldest china and immediately recognisable by its green shamrock paintwork and Celtic designs.

But what you might not realise is that for some of the 6,000 American members of the Belleek Collectors International Society it's such a passion that they've climatically-controlled and earthquakeproofed their homes to secure their collections.

Hundreds of collectors are expected at this month's Belleek convention in Fermanagh, which celebrates the pottery company's 150 years in the business.

Taking place 18-21 April, events include tours of the workshops, gala banquet, as well as auctions and evaluations. Visit www. belleek. com for further information.