A Magellan PR Press Release

Client Name: The Merrion

Title: Romance for Art Lovers at The Merrion

Date of Release: October 2003

Art lovers with romance in their souls can take advantage of a special package offered by The Merrion, Dublin in conjunction with the new Love Letters exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland, located across the road from the hotel. Guests can also admire the hotel�s own private art collection of 19th and 20th Century Irish art, displayed throughout the magnificently restored interior.

The Merrion Love Letters Offer, which costs �115 (approx. GBP�80) per person sharing, offers guests overnight accommodation in an award-winning Garden Wing double or twin room, complete with full Irish breakfast the following morning. Included in this package are two tickets for the �Love Letters: Dutch Genre Painting in the Age of Vermeer� exhibition in the Millennium wing of The National Gallery, where guests can view an exquisite collection of Dutch 17th century master paintings celebrating the intimate and mysterious world of letter writing.

The very special Love Letters exhibition is the only one of its kind in Europe and is a collaboration between the National Gallery of Ireland and the Bruce Museum in Connecticut. It is the first exhibition dealing with the theme of letter writing. In 17th century Holland there was a veritable craze for letter-writing and this exhibition will feature 40 Dutch Master paintings from that period. Featured are three Vermeer examples � including �The Love Letter� itself - as well as other pieces by Metsu, de Hooch, Duyster and Ochtervelt.

This exclusive offer is valid until 31st December 2003, is inclusive of value added tax at 13.5% and there is no service charge at The Merrion. A range of other packages are also available at The Merrion, Dublin. For further information and reservations please contact The Merrion directly on +353 1 603 0600, facsimile +353 1 603 0700, email [email protected] or alternatively via the website - www.merrionhotel.com. This release is posted at http://www.magellan-pr.com/pressoffice.

Background on The Merrion: Opened in October 1997, The Merrion � a recipient of several awards, including Five Red Stars from the AA, the 2003 Gold Ribbon Award by RAC Hotel Services, �The World�s Best Places to Stay�, Conde Nast Traveller 2002 Gold List and �Best Hotel Spa in Dublin�, Harpers & Queen magazine 2002 - was created from an historic row of Georgian townhouses and the eighteenth century architecture and design have been preserved throughout the hotel. The 145-room property includes twenty suites, and features state-of-the art technology thoughtfully incorporated into the period-Georgian d�cor.

For more information contact:

Magellan PR on Tel: 020 8875 2850

Email: [email protected]