Lucinda O'Sullivan's Ireland

About The Hotel

Through a beautiful old stone archway and out into a wide expanse of rambling Connacht countryside, the long drive up to the castle had me giddy with expectation. Although only minutes from Collooney village and Sligo town, it is like stepping back into a dreamy medieval world. We walked through an arched shelter, big enough to fit the old limo through, and climbed the steps up the foyer, past the little castle chapel. We were greeted by a sizzling wood fire in the reception and ascended a gorgeous dark wood staircase up to our first floor room. Light pours in from a stained glass window as you go up the stairs - be sure to give Henry VIII a wink as you go.

This is a castle bursting with history and romance not least the legacy of the Cooper family, whose ancestor Edward Cooper, a young officer in the Cromwellian Army, was given Markree Castle by Oliver Cromwell. Edward married the widow of the head of the O’Brien clan who was killed in battle. She was Maire Rua (Red Mary) and her two sons took the Cooper name. The castle itself is compact yet impressive, displaying low Gothic arches and a pastiche of Victorian Georgian architecture.

The magnificent Louis XIV diningroom is aptly named and compares favourably with those I’ve seen in the Palace at Versailles. It has a splendid painted ceiling with elaborate stucco work, a chandelier, light, airy and adorned with wall mounted mirrors emphasising space and grandeur. From here you can go outside and survey the estate from a small balcony which is flanked by two sets of curved steps down into the garden. Hundreds of couples have chosen to get married here and it isn’t difficult to see why. There’s a real atmosphere of intimacy and romance, hidden from civilisation yet equipped with everything you could want.

Markree Castle is on an 800 acre estate of unspoiled park and woodland and enchanting for nature lovers. The river Unsin is home to otters and kingfishers and you will be mesmerised by the foxes, badgers, hares and Irish red squirrels regularly seen on the estate. Horseriding is available on the estate and clay pigeon shooting and archery can be arranged. Markree is also home to a flock of Wensleydale sheep. A real haven. The bedrooms display close attention to detail in colour and design, the furniture is highly ornate and beautiful. You can enjoy the height of modern comfort surrounded in the sophistication of by-gone times.

Food is excellent and you might be feasting on steamed fresh Lissadell clams and mussels followed by crab lasagne, seabass and tiger prawns. We had a cracking venison terrine with apple chutney followed by a duo of lamb with ratatouille, and delicious succulent confit of duck leg with sauteed apples and orange sauce. We followed that up with a gorgeous pyramid of nougat with guava sauce……and a bottle of bubbles.

The Sun King would have truly felt at home in this Irish Castle.

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