Castle Leslie

Located in the picturesque village of Glaslough, Co Monaghan, Castle Leslie Estate will transport you back to a bygone era in Irish life. On entering the Estate one could easily forget that this is 2011 and not the 18th Century. The Estate itself stretches across 1,000 acres of rolling hills and enchanting wood groves.
It’s also a working Estate so don’t be surprised if the odd cow or duck wanders across your path, just remember to beep!

Our CEO Cormac, recently paid a visit to check out the property for our Guests and he was very impressed. So much so, he took the time to write about his experience:

The accommodation is excellent. I stayed in the lodge which I must confess I thought was the castle when I first entered the estate. If I was undeserving of the Castle, I would be very content to live in the lodge I must say. The rooms are large, very comfortable and overlook the equestrian centre. The bar in the lodge is cosy and attracts as many locals as it does lodgers. I ate there and had a couple of pints and the best compliment that I can give is that my plate was clean and I slept like a baby.

The castle itself is all you would expect from a castle and more. Although it has undergone extensive renovation over the past 10 years it has not lost any of its old world charm. There are many rooms to explore or simply relax and read a book sipping a well deserved G&T, which I’ve done of course. The bedrooms are all unique and, depending on which one you get, may entice you to start redecorating as soon as you get home.

There is also plenty to do on the estate. From fishing to horse riding to relaxing in the spa you will not be stuck for options. For me just walking about the estate and in particular the Castle was the best activity of all. I will not go into the history of place here, (stay there and read for yourself) but Sir John has decorated the various rooms in the castle with memorabilia from his life and the lives of his predecessors. Maybe I’m boring but I found it fascinating just reading the various letters, telegrams, plaques and other such stuff dotted about the castle. Its real history and gives you a great sense of the place you just stayed in.

One of the most pleasing aspects of my stay at Castle Leslie was the genuine friendly nature of the staff. I very much got the sense that this was a “family” and not a workforce. They all took pride in what they were doing and in their product which shone through in the customer service they provided. They achieved all this while having a really fun time. If my room had internet access I would have typed up my CV and left it with the manager before I left!

In ending having stayed at Castle Leslie I can say hand on heart that it is one of the hidden gems of Ireland. All too often people arrive in Dublin and head straight for the South or West of Ireland, Castle Leslie is now just one of many reasons to reprogram your sat nav and head north. Its a mere 1hr 30 mins from Dublin and a great gateway to the North of the Country.