Galway Bay Health Farm Spa & Relaxation Centre in Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland
Julie Register visited this resort spa in October, 2003

The Health Farms of Ireland is a consortium representing 8 Health Farms in Ireland that are recommended and approved by the Irish Tourist Board. All the Health Farms are set in idyllic locations and provide a haven of peace and tranquility. Here visitors can relax and enjoy a welcome break away from the stresses and strains of today’s hectic life. They all offer excellent value for money, a friendly environment in which to indulge oneself with relaxing treatments, healthy food and exercise opportunities.

Margaret McNulty, owner of the Galway Bay Health Farm Spa & Relaxation Centre enlisted the support of about 12 other health farms and B&B’s offering ‘health weekends’, developed a portfolio, and sent it to Bord Fáilte, the Irish Tourist Board. In late 1997, the Health Farms of Ireland Association was established. Magaret remains active in the association and serves as the Secretary.

During my trip through Ireland, I had a chance to tour Galway Bay Health Farm Spa & Relaxation Centre and have a chat with Margaret McNulty. When I think of Margaret, I think of the following words: Passionate, Dedicated, Dynamic, Energetic, Vibrant, Full of Life, Strong, Intense, Earnest and Sincere.

*With a background in nursing and a passion for fitness, Margaret and her family moved from New Zealand to Ireland in 1990. In 1991, they bought a 50-acre deer farm overlooking Galway bay and applied for planning permission for a house. By 1993 their Georgian-style residence was built, and they had decided to develop a health farm. Mary Kate, Margaret’s sister, had been studying holistic medicine and was the inspiration for starting the Loughaunrone Health Farm - now known as the Galway Bay Health Farm Spa & Relaxation Centre.

Treatments and programs grew from the initial 5-day program to the current one-day holistic and pampering days, weekend, and extended three, four and six day residential programs. Margaret's goal is to educate and people live a more balanced, healthier life - to give a kickstart to a healthy Lifestyle through a balance of Attitude, Relaxation Exercise and Eating Plan. It is obvious that Margaret lives these values and the health farm is an expression of her values and lifestyle.

Galway Bay Health Farm Spa & Relaxation Centre can accommodate a maximum of 10 people on a 4 to 5, or 6 day residential program. The programs include lectures from a dietician, image consultant, psychotherapist, private health consultant, daily therapeutic massage, daily gym instruction, daily swimming, daily guided walks, one treatment of reflexology, 2-3 sessions of yoga, three healthy balanced meals per day and unlimited use of the facilities.

There is a strong demand for the one-day holistic/pampering and weekend programs. Weekend programs include private health consultation, lecture From professional staff on such topics as "Your Emotional Health" or "the Principals of Holistic Thought," swimming, gym instruction, yoga, one hour full body massage, one hour aromatherapy massage, three healthy balanced meals per day and unlimited use of the facilities. The Health & Beauty Pamper Day Program is available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and includes refreshments on arrival, health consultation, structured relaxation class or stretch and tone, lifestyle lecture of the day, lunch, one hour full body massage of your choice, activity of the day (yoga / guided walk), choice of cleansing facial or luxury hand or foot treatment and unlimited use of the facilities. Arrival time 9:45 am and departure is 6:30 pm. The maximum number of day guest at the time of my visit was 15.

The relaxed atmosphere is a great way to learn and to try something new, whether it is a treatment or exercise, for the first time. Many clients leave Galway Bay Health Farm with greater motivation and determination to make changes in their lives. Clients have a variety of reasons for coming to the Galway Bay Health Farm. Among the most common are to:

• Have a break from their current pressures,
• Take an opportunity to revitalise and renew their batteries,
• Relax and pamper themselves,
• Give themselves space to reassess their life,
• Grieve for the loss of a loved one,
• Facilitate them in making a change or a new start in their life,
• Have a safe place to holiday on their own,
• Develop a programme for weight-loss,
• Cleanse and begin a healthier lifestyle, and
• Commune with a partner.

Accommodations are single twin and double bedrooms in the Georgian residence - all en suite and all with telephone, remote tv, hairdryer, towels and robes.

Facilities include a gym, steam room, sauna, beauty salon, lecture hall and 5 massage rooms. There is also a tennis court and bicycles are free of charge. At the time of my visit, Margaret planned to build an extension to incorporate a relaxation room, yoga room, counter-stream swimming pool, five more treatment rooms and to enlarge the dining room. After the expansion, the maximum number of day guests will expand from 15 to 30.

Margaret's goal for the cuisine offered at the health farm is for the food to be scrumptious, highly nutritious, low in fat and varied for those with different dietary needs.

Here is one of Margaret's recipes:

Brown Bread

• 8 oz plain flour
• 8 oz whole meal flour
• 1 teaspoon bread soda (baking soda)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 oz bran
• 3/4 pint buttermilk

Cook at 180 degree C (356 degree F) in a fan-assisted oven for 35 minutes. This will fill two one-pound loaf tins. The bread should be nicely browned and sound hollow when tapped at the end of cooking. The addition of an egg gives slightly richer bread.