At Castle Leslie — the setting of Paul McCartney's  ill-fated nuptials — you can stay in the newly refurbished private members’ club, whose 20 unique guestrooms are decorated with antiques and Victorian heirlooms. The magnificent 1,000 acre County Monaghan estate — just 70 miles from Belfast, or 90 miles from Dublin  beside the picturesque cut stone village of Glaslough. — has also converted its Hunting Lodge into a luxe hotel with an organic spa and an equestrian center.

The Castle is the jewel in the crown of one of the few remaining Irish Castles still home to the original family, home to the Leslies for over 300 years.  It is an enchanted place steeped in history yet gently refurbished to offer modern comforts and luxury. The Castle is a welcome oasis of calm with no television or telephones. It's a vast Victorian home filled with beautiful furniture, antiques and heirlooms.

The Castle was built to entertain - welcoming everyone from artists to poets, explorers to writers, politicians to actors and musicians to ufologist through its great doors. In keeping with this  - The Club at Castle Leslie was born. The Club is a truly egalitarian private member's club for individuals with a passion for life.  On arrival Guests will not find a front of house reception desk but a welcoming oak panelled hall and afternoon tea in the Drawing Room.

The beauty of Castle Leslie is that in spite of its rich history and Victorian splendour it is one of the most informal of the Great Houses of Ireland. The Castle is like a step back in time with all the glory of a bygone era. There are no phones, televisions or clocks in the rooms and the only concessions made to 20th century is lots of hot water and plenty of heating. The original furniture, family portraits and books fill every room enhancing the Castle's homely atmosphere. The family live in the servants wing so guests can enjoy the castle for themselves. Due to the nature of the Castle it is unsuitable for children but a wonderful refuge for grown ups from the outside world.

There are 20 bedrooms each one very individual, decorated and furnished around an era, colour, or country. They are steeped in the past with Prince Pierre of Monaco, The Duchess & Duke of Connaught (Queen Victoria's Son) the King and Queen of Sweden, the Churchill's, Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful among the many house guests. Winston Churchill was a first cousin of the Leslie's. The literary set in the earlier part of the century were great friends of Sir Shane Leslie. George Moore, W. B. Yeats, and Gogarty were regular visitors to the Castle.

The ensuite bathrooms are a feature in their own right with fabulously large baths, wacky showers and outrageous toilets all done in a very tongue in cheek style, reflecting the family's mildly eccentric history and the wonders of Victorian plumbing. The peace and quiet makes for a great nights sleep and breakfast is a casual affair which is served until noon on Sundays with all the newspapers to browse through.

As a meeting and conference venue one of the most attractive features of the Castle is its lack of 20th century distractions which allows guests to focus on the work in hand. The 600 sq ft Morning Room is ideal for meetings, sales seminars or training courses. It seats 40 theatre style, 28 classroom style and 22 at a board room table. With large bay windows it has lots of natural light and overlooks the Fountain Garden. In the adjacent Victorian Conservatory, afternoon teas and morning coffee can be served. The Gallery with fine Italian plaster work and 16th century Flemish tapestry framed by marble pillars provides a dramatic back drop for conference speakers. This room  comfortably seats 110 theatre style, 50 classroom style and 40 at a board room table.  A full range of secretarial services and office facilities are available. There is a private office with fax, phone, computer and internet access solely for the use of clients who may have sensitive or private information they wish to deal with themselves.   

Riding holidays

Castle Leslie Estate is Ireland’s ultimate ridestination & Equestrian Playground with an outstanding range of facilities, including:

1000 acres of private estate land to explore
21 miles of bridleways to trek and absorb the beautiful scenery
A mile long all-weather gallop to thunder along
300 new cross country jumps from the knee-high to the knee-tremblers! (Built by Willis Bros. of Badminton Horse Trials fame) 
The Virtual Horse - Ireland’s first fully sized simulated horse
Side-saddle lessons
Carriage driving on the Estate
50m x 30m indoor arena with tiered seating for 200 people
20m x 40m outdoor arena 

The new Hunting Lodge with 35 bedrooms a cosy Cellar Bar, Brassiere and Victorian Spa is situated in the hub of the Equestrian Centre. 

Rates

The price for accommodation in the castle includes:-

All meals including lazy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner with champagne reception
All drinks including club wines and spirits
Fishing and boating on the Glaslough lake
Welcome Organic Spa treatment in the castle - i.e. half hour head massage
Use of estate grounds, castle and gardens
Concierge services
Access to private cinema, Billiard and games room
The castle has no triple or family rooms and the accommodation is not suitable for children under the age of 18.

 Weddings

Incredibly romantic, Castle Leslie is the most informal of Irish Castles - on your special day you can enjoy total privacy and freedom when you choose to either take the Castle exclusively or the luxurious Club Pavilion for you wedding or event.

For the more intimate wedding, the Castle is ideal with the Club table in the Gallery comfortably seating forty for dining. For larger events, the Club Pavilion situated in the fountain garden of the Castle enjoys magical views of the lake and can cater for up to 300 revellers.

With the recently restored Old Stable Mews, The Hunting Lodge and Village Cottages, Castle Leslie Estate can offer 102  bedrooms for guests.

The Castle has many great rooms such as the Billiard Room now complete with a full sized billiard table. For the movie minded, The West Wing is now complete with private screening room, sitting room and BBQ terrace overlooking the lake, making it yet another new place to share with colleagues and friends.

Self Catering Houses

The twelve picturesque Village Cottages are within the beautiful grounds of Castle Leslie Estate. These comprise of four and five bedroom houses which are perfect for those who like their independence or have families and wish to self-cater

 Castle Leslie Town Houses

5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms

Built in 2006, these wonderful four & five bedroom cottages cater for up to ten guests. The houses enjoy spacious living area complete with open fire central heating, hard wood floors,  TV, DVD and hi-fi. The open plan fully fitted kitchen boast equipment needed to whip up the grandest of meals.  

A perfect choice for large groups or families, they allow you to do your own thing, whilst still availing of the many pleasures of the estate. The Equestrian Centre, Cookery School, Fishing and Spa facilities are all open to our Village Cottage guests. If you tire of self-catering, you are welcome to have a drink in Conor's bar or why not have dinner in Snaffles Brassiere. The Hunting Lodge door is always open!

Light, space and water make a property in the picturesque village of Glaslough a truly unique destination  The bustling Community Centre including Tennis Courts and play area, Churches, Pubs and Convenience Stores are all within a stones throw of your new home. Within easy walking distance is the Historical Castle Leslie Estate, home to the award winning Castle restaurant and the more casual Hunting Lodge and Equestrian Centre. 

Strolling around the many country estate walks. On the Estate, in the village of Glaslough and in the local area, there are a whole host of exceptional walks from short jaunts to long leisurely strolls. Enjoy the fresh country air and stunning scenery as you walk through the beautiful undulating landscape.

Shopping in Monaghan town just 10 minutes away or in Armagh City, just 25 minutes away.

Golf :There are four 18 hole Golf courses within an hour of the Castle.

Nearest Airport:  Dublin/ Belfast both within 2 hours.

Touring Suggestions Using Castle Leslie As A Base
Castle Leslie is an ideal base for sightseeing. The castle is only 30 minutes from Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, where you can visit the Palace Stables, St. Patrick's Trian & Navan Fort the ancient capital of the Kings of Ulster. Monaghan offers the European award winning Monaghan County Museum, the St. Louis Heritage Centre, Clones Lace, Canal Stores and the Patrick Kavanagh Rural & Literary Resource Centre. Carlingford, a Medieval fishing village with its historic sites and scenic drives in the mountains of Mourne is only an hour away to the east and Enniskillen to the north west has the spectacular Marble Arch caves and beautiful Lough Erne.

Giant's Causeway Tour
Leaving Monaghan town and travelling north-east you reach the provincial capital, Belfast. Heading for Carrickfergus and on to Larne, leave the beaten track and follow the spectacular, uncongested coastal route through villages where time has stood still.

Enjoy the breath-taking nine glens of Antrim . . . cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and marvel at Dunluce Castle, perched dramatically on towering cliffs high above the North Channel. Visit the oldest distillery in the world at Bushmills, and end the day at the eighth wonder of the world the amazing Giant's Causeway. Head south back to Monaghan.

A Day in County Donegal
Spend a day admiring the wild magnificence of Glenveagh National Park, one of Ireland's most treasured beauty spots and just a few short hours drive from Monaghan town. Heading north to Aughnacloy, take the opportunity to enjoy the charming River Mourne valley. On through Strabane, cross the River Foyle to Lifford, County Donegal. Continue to Letterkenny and Kilmacrennan, with Muckish Mountain in the distance. Glenveagh National Park is about two miles further on. Have lunch at the restaurant there before spending some time exploring the wonderful parkland, returning south-east to Monaghan.

Armagh Day
Head north-east from Monaghan to Armagh, where the city's two cathedrals are of great historical interest and well worth exploring. Other outstanding architectural features are the Courthouse, designed by one of Ireland's most famous architects Francis Johnston (1761-1829) who was born in the city. Visit the Royal School and the County Museum, situated on the edge of the Mall a pleasant green area lined partly by attractive Georgian houses. Well worth seeing is the domed Planetarium, which gives public shows daily and has a Hall of Astronomy with a telescope for public use.

A short drive south-west of Armagh is Navan Fort, one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland and the ancient capital of Ulster. Complete your day in County Armagh by visiting this very interesting site, returning to Monaghan via Armagh city.

The Carlingford Day
Travel south-east from Monaghan, continuing through Castleblayney to Inniskeen. There you can visit the Patrick Kavanagh centre, situated in the former St. Mary's Church. Patrick Kavanagh is one of Ireland's most outstanding poets and novelists. Continue to Dundalk for lunch before driving to Carlingford village, a short distance north of Dundalk.

The Carlingford Peninsula makes a very pleasant circular tour, either in full or as a partial tour, depending on timing. Dominated by Slieve Foy, Carlingford is one of the most scenic corners of Ireland. Historical sites in the vicinity are Taafe's Castle, King John's Castle and Proleek Dolmen. Return to Monaghan via Dundalk.

Erne Waterway Day
Enniskillen is at the centre of the Erne Waterway system. You get there from Monaghan by travelling south-west to Clones, before heading north-west through Newtownbutler, Lisnaskea and Lisbellaw. The town of Enniskillen is beautifully situated between two channels of the river joining Upper and Lower Lough Erne, and is now one of the most popular, yet uncrowded cruising centres in the country.

After lunch in the town the most rewarding route is to continue north-west along the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne, passing through the village of Tully and enjoying fine views along the way. Further west the lake narrows in the River Erne, flowing past Belleek on the County Donegal border. Belleek is noted for its famous chinaware and the pottery has a gift shop, exhibition centre and cafe, with guided tours available

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