Famed for many years for its lovely gardens (open to the public) and garden shop, Patrick and Patricia Barrow's fine property just north of Drogheda has moved into a new and energetic phase of late, with the involvement of their daughter and son-in-law, Juliet and Raymond Gogan, who have introduced a number of new elements to the traditional mix.
The Listoke Distillery (listokedistillery.ie) - producer of the small batch 'sipping gin', Listoke 1777 Gin - has generated a lot of interest, especially as it has a public face, the Listoke Gin School, which offers much more than the usual distillery tour as visitors are able to design and distil a mini-batch of their own gin to take home. Educational and entertaining, it has proved a great success.
An impressive Art Gallery opened in 2015, showcasing the work of local and other Irish artists, and the Tea Room has become a popular destination for their atmosphere and friendliness, as well as the good teas and coffees and homemade treats on offer; these include a Decadent Afternoon Tea, which is available every day that the cafe is open but needs to be pre-booked.
The Tea Rooms are also where breakfast is served to guests staying in the spacious and beautifully situated Courtyard Accommodation, an amenity which has to be one of the region's best kept secrets.
Listoke is also available as a venue, mainly for weddings but also for meetings and other events - all this and lovely sociable people who like nothing better than to share their beautiful property with visitors. Drogheda - and indeed County Louth - is truly blessed.
