In Love with 'Leslie'

IN LOVE WITH ‘LESLIE’

Nestled in the picturesque village of Glaslough, Co Monaghan, the Castle Leslie estate rose to fame back in 2002 when it hosted the marriage of Sir Paul McCartney to Heather Mills - but those links are instantly forgettable as the venue has a lot more to shout about. We found out what is making more and more people fall in love with Castle Leslie when we took our children on a self-catering family break to a place that is becoming increasingly popular with day trippers, holiday makers and bridal parties from all over the country…

 

Castle Leslie’s estate is set on 1,000 acres of woodland and countryside which is dotted with lakes and wildlife – our children loved spotting all sorts of creatures but were mostly taken by the roaming ponies which filled the fields on the way to our accommodation. It is an estate steeped in the rich history, still in the hands of the founding family who came to Ireland in the 16^th Century.

There are several options for accommodation on the estate. The Lodge, which is home to a luxury Victorian Treatment Rooms, Conor’s Bar and exquisite bedrooms; The Castle itself, which is a real step back in time treat of sheer escapism – prepare to be dazzled by the lake and views on the other side of the castle which are not visible from the front; the Village Cottages which are modern day houses located in Glaslough itself, or the Stable Mews where we stayed – a courtyard of truly splendid self-contained two story cottages which I cannot recommend highly enough for a perfect family break.

We arrived on Friday evening and explored the grounds immediately. An equestrian centre, tennis courts, a delicious evening meal in Conor’s Bar, a stroll around the Castle which was breath-taking and exhilarating to little minds who were so eager to learn on the history with eyes peeled for a glimpse of Sir Jack himself, who at the grand age of 98, still lives in the Castle! (forget David Beckham or Harry Styles – this is the celebrity we wanted to see!)

Our cottage was so impressive -  a large open plan dining and living area with high ceilings, an open fire and a small but totally contained kitchen, a flatscreen TV which allowed for some World Cup viewing at night, two bedrooms (one en-suite) and a family bathroom meant that we were truly at home from the very beginning. We even had a games room right next door with table tennis, pool, giant Jenga, Connect 4 and loads more. There is a 15minute walk from the Stable Mews to the main Castle and Lodge but with so much to see and do along the way, this was all part of the adventure!

On Saturday the children thoroughly enjoyed an hour’s lesson at the Equestrian Centre while Jim and I enjoyed some afternoon sunshine on the patio at Conor’s Bar – a great spot for people watching I have to say! Our tired bunch were thrilled with their new found pony friends and as they had worked up quite a hunger, we set off next door to Ambledown Cottages for some tasty pizza!

Located just beside Castle Leslie’s gates (down the hill – it is well signed), Ambledown Cottages is a true gem. Jeremy Herron and his staff have created quite a treat in their home from home atmosphere, rustic surroundings and a ‘pizzeria’ dining experience which was one of the highlights of our weekend. Dualta, who had just turned 13, was serenaded by Jeremy himself on harmonica and treated with some cake and Jim was persuaded to get out his guitar and treat the other diners to some traditional tunes! Jeremy even took the three children to see his very own pony which was the icing on the birthday cake without a doubt!

On Sunday morning after a sumptuous breakfast in Snaffles restaurant (which boasts 2 AA star rosettes), Jim and I set off for some pampering in the Victorian Treatment rooms while the children played tennis in the sunshine. We thoroughly enjoyed a full body massage in the Cocoon Duo Room followed by a fruit platter and ‘mocktail’ and a dip in the outdoor Hot Tub.

 

Following a truly delicious Sunday lunch al fresco, it was time for us to leave Castle Leslie – but only for now. With the school holidays upon us, I have a feeling we may be back to visit more than once.

When you discover Castle Leslie, part of you will want to keep it a secret, while part of you will want to tell the world. It really is a whole new world and best of all, it is right on your doorstep.

 

Visit www.castleleslie.com for summer offers - call 00 353 47 88100

For Ambledown Cottages Pizzeria enquiries call 00 353 47 88393

Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Awards

It was a real honour to attend the Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Awards at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Belfast recently.
I was shortlisted in the 'Woman of the Year in Arts' category with three other fantastic ladies - arts consultant Carrie Neeley, playwright Leesa Harker and Belfast Poet Laureate Sinead Morrissey. Well done to Sinead who won the award - you can see the winning announcement here.
It was a truly enjoyable and humbling evening and we met some fantastic people including Richard and Leona Kane from Limavady rapeseed oil manufacturers 'Broighter Gold'; husband and wife hairdressing duo Paul and Leisa Stafford, the truly inspirational Margaret McGuckin who is a key campaigner for those affected by institutional abuse; media personalities Wendy Austin and Lynda Bryans, Belfast Telegraph's Gail Walker and Kerry McKittrick, and Arts Council of NI's Head of Literature and Drama Damian Smyth.
We stayed in the Ramada Plaza where the function was held which made it a real pleasure to be able to get ready and just walk down the corridor to where the action was. Here, we dined in style, the champagne flowed and the craic was mighty!
Huge congratulations to Una Crudden who won the overall Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year for her tireless campaign for ovarian cancer awareness. Una took her 'Teal Takeover' campaign to Stormont recently and her story really touched the entire room. You can follow Una's story on Twitter @unacrudden - please do lend her your support!
A big thanks to everyone involved in organising the evening, especially all at Belfast Telegraph and Sarah Weir at JPR - and massive congrats to all those shortlisted and the worthy winners in each category. It really was a night to remember!