Press Articles
Tatler
Magazine November 2006
Las Vegas Review Journal 19
November 2006
Evening Herald 20 March 2006
Sunday Tribune 27 August 2006
First International Wedding
at Crom Castle, Belfast Telegraph, 8 September 2006
The Independent on Sunday, 14
May 2006, A Taste of the Upper Crust
Impartial Reporter Newspaper,
24 February 2005
Newsletter, 28 April 2005
Ulster Tatler Magazine, May
2005
Belfast Telegraph, January 2005
CGA's Country Magazine, Oct/Nov
2005
Live like a king with a stay in an Irish Castle
By
Tony Wheeler
THE LONELY PLANET
Live like a lord? If you've wondered what it's like, then try a
spell in a castle in Northern Ireland. The Lake District of County
Fermanagh, on the western side of Ireland, is dotted with sturdy
castles and romantic stately homes, a number of which can be rented
for a weekend or a week.
The Earl of Erne still lives at Crom Castle on the shores of Upper
Lough Erne, just as his ancestors have done for more than three
centuries (although the current castle dates from only 1830). He
can watch the deer graze between the castle and the lake, looking
down toward the ruins of the old castle. "Survived two Jacobite
sieges in 1689," Lord Erne commented, "but caught fire
and burnt to the ground in 1764.
"The tower wasn't built until after the fire," he continued,
"When they built the new castle, they decided the view of the
ruins of the old one didn't look impressive enough, so they added
a ruined tower."
With a group of friends, we'd rented the West Wing of the castle
for a week. There's room for up to 12 people among its seven bedrooms,
along with a living room looking onto the terrace, a dining room,
a TV and computer room and even a boot room, where you can dry your
shoes after exploring the 2,000 acre estate. Guests can also use
the castle tennis court and leave their own outboard-powered dinghy
for exploring the lake.
If the lordly life begins to fade, there's plenty of interest in
the area. Enniskillen at the junction of Upper and Lower Lough Erne,
is the main town in the area, with fine old Castle Coole and the
more warklike Enniskillen Castle to discover. Lower Lough Erne is
dotted with ancient sites and mysterious stone figures, some of
which may even predate the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Devenish
Island, reached by a short ferry ride, has the ruins of an Augustinian
Monastery, an interesting collection of old gravestones and a lofty
12th Century round tower, which once would have been very useful
for keeping watch for Viking raiders. Plus Dublin is close enough
to make an enjoyable day trip.
Practical information: Dublin has many direct flights from the
US or you can connect via London to Dublin (100 miles from Enniskillen)
or Belfast (80 miles). Rent a car to get to your castle; you'll
want it for exploring the surrounding countryside.
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