Set amongst 300 acres of rolling countryside, Lough Rynn Castle is the ancestral home of the Clements family and its has seen major investment and a great deal of TLC to restore it to its former glory for its current use as an hotel.
Aside from structural restoration, original furnishings were located and refurbished before being reinstated in their former home, and many other luxurious items, including hand-painted silk wallpaper from Paris, were carefully sourced to complement the property.
Approached via a winding wooded road, it is now entered through an impressive black and gold wrought iron gate, and guests are welcomed at the door.The ambience is warm and welcoming and, while a long history often hides some dark secrets, it is hard to imagine any here. Yet the infamous Lord Leitrim, who owned the property in the mid 19th century, was a notoriously bad landlord and eventually, in 1878, came to a bad end that seems to have been richly deserved.
Today, the ambience is serene. Opulently appointed lounges, drawing rooms and a library (with memorabilia connected with author John McGahern, who was from the area) are remarkably private and intimate for public rooms in an hotel, and have open fires in winter and views out over the lawns and lake: a peaceful and comfortable place to read, or have a light lunch or afternoon tea.
Bedrooms include luxurious castle rooms offering unique accommodation, with wonderful views of the estate and surrounding countryside.
The aim is to make Lough Rynn a perfect country haven, and no expense or effort has been spared; there is over a square mile of lake, and the gardens - which are also of significant historical interest - have undergone exensive restoration, together with the nature trails and lakeside walks.
All round, there is plenty to keep visitors occupied at this lovely place - and, unsurprisngly, the romantic setting has made it popular as a wedding venue.
