Killeavy Castle to be turned into a hotel, creating 85 jobs

The new owners of a dilapidated castle in just over the border in County Armagh have announced that they are planning to build a hotel within the castle grounds.

Killeavy Castle was sold at auction for £1.19m in March. It was bought by an Australian couple who have strong links to the Killeavy area of south Armagh.

They have appointed architects to design a 36-bedroom hotel close to the castle and to restore the 19th century listed building “to its former glory”.

They said it could create 85 jobs.

The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, are hoping to apply for planning permission for the project early next year.

The castle has not been occupied for more than 10 years and was sold in a poor state of repair.

The 330-acre estate backs onto the slopes of Slieve Gullion and includes a farm and woodland.

 

 

 

 

In a statement, the new owners said: “Our vision is for Killeavy Castle and Demesne to be restored to its former glory, within a financially viable hospitality and agriculture business, so that it can be maintained and be available for use by the public for many years into the future.”

It is understood there are plans to incorporate the two-storey castle into a new wedding venue.

The couple have appointed a design team which is being led by Newry-based architects P O’Hagan and Associates.

The owners said the team also includes “conservation surveyors, hotel and hospitality consultants, quantity surveyors, landscape architects, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, arboricultural and transport consultants”.

“As you can imagine the plans for the site are still developing and are at an early stage,” their statement added.

“We think we know what will be successful, but the team is working with various statutory bodies, including Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Invest NI and Newry and Mourne District Council, to refine the plans and ensure a sustainable development for Killeavy Castle and Demesne.”

The couple have strong family ties to the area as the man’s parents both grew up within four miles of the castle, before emigrating to Australia in the 1960s.

The owners said they have been regular visitors to south Armagh over the last 30 years and have lots of family and friends living in the area.

Killeavy Castle started life as a country farm house, built in a gothic style by the Foxall family between 1810 and 1820.

In 1836, Powell Foxall commissioned the Dublin-based architect George Papworth to extend the building, adding four stone towers, outbuildings and Tudor-style windows.

The extended 4,000 sq ft house then became known as Killeavy Castle.

By 1881, the castle was the home of the Bell family, who owned it until recently.

It is located within a government-designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Source: BBC News

Attack on Natasha McShane lasted just three minutes, court hears

Natasha McShane before the attack

The attack on Natasha McShane, which left the South Armagh girl brain damaged, lasted just three minutes, a court in America heard yesterday.

The trial of Heriberto Viramontes, 34, heard from a woman who said she was with him the night Ms McShane – whose mum hails from Cox’s Demesne in Dundalk – and her friend were robbed and beaten.

He is accused of attempting to murder the women in Chicago in April 2010.

The prosecution witness, Marcy Cruz, said she stayed in a van smoking marijuana as the defendant went to “rob some women”.

Ms McShane and her friend, Stacy Jurich, were attached under a viaduct as they walked home together after a night out in Chicago on April 23^rd 2010.

Marcy Cruz has pleaded guilty to her role in the attack and testified against Mr Viramontes on Monday as part of a plea deal that would see her serve 19 years of a 22-year sentence.

Cruz told Cook County Criminal Court that they had been driving in her van in the Bucktown neighbourhood when he told her to “look at these white hoes”.

She told the court he grabbed a wooden bat from the van, jumped out and was gone long enough for one song to play on the radio, while she stayed behind smoking marijuana.

When Mr Viramontes returned, he allegedly said to Cruz that “the girls were really pretty” and that he did some “bogus” stuff.

She said he had two handbags with him and told her to “drive off”.

The defendant grabbed the credit cards and told Cruz to take what she wanted, the court heard. She said she took some perfume.

The court later heard that police first talked to Cruz two days after the attack on the two young women, after someone in her apartment block used Ms Jurich’s mobile phone.

Following the brief conversation with police, Mr Viramontes told her to get rid of the phone.

Under cross-examination, Cruz admitted giving different stories to the police at different times. She said she did not tell the truth when first questioned by police following her 26 April arrest.

Ms McShane, from Silverbridge in County Armagh, who is now 27, is unable to speak and struggles to walk or do simple tasks as a result of the injuries she sustained in the beating.

She had been attending the University of Illinois at the time of the assault.

Mr Viramontes is charged with two counts of attempted murder and 23 other charges, from misuse of a credit card to aggravated battery.

Last Friday, Natasha’s mother Sheila McShane – who is a member of the Stewart family from Cox’s Demesne – was led crying from the court following evidence from surgeon Dr Leonard Kranzler of Illinois Masonic Hospital, who carried out emergency surgery on Natasha by removing part of her skull and brain to relieve pressure caused by swelling.

Source: BBC News

Related articles

• McShane had stone lodged in her throat following attack (talkofthetown.ie)

McShane had stone lodged in her throat following attack

Natasha before the attack

Natasha now

The trial of a man accused of attacking a Co Armagh student, whose mother is from Dundalk, in Chicago has heard that a stone was discovered lodged in her throat after she was rushed to hospital.

Silverbridge girl Natasha McShane was left with terrible head injuries after being attacked with a baseball bat by muggers in Chicago in April 2010.

The trial of Heriberto Viramontes (34) for the attempted murder of Ms McShane (27) on April 23^rd begun recently with Natasha’s friend Stacy Jurich – who also suffered serious injuries in the attack – also giving evidence.

The two women were hit on the back of their heads with a metal bat as they walked home together after a night out.

The former UCD student – whose mother Sheila (nee Stewart) is from Cox’s Demesne – has been left with extensive brain injuries and has struggled with her speech and mobility since the incident.

The Cook County criminal court yesterday heard evidence from a trauma surgeon at Illinois Masonic Hospital.

Dr Marius Katilius said Ms McShane suffered a traumatic brain injury, with blood discovered both inside and outside the skull. Three lacerations were also discovered.

He told the court that following a scan “an opaque structure in the back of the throat” was identified. Doctors “pulled out a stone from the back of the throat,” he said.

The trial continues.

• Source: Stone ‘lodged in Natasha’s throat’ (bbc.co.uk)

Suspicious object being investigated in Forkhill – roads affected

The PSNI are examining a suspicious object that was found in Forkhill in South Armagh this morning.

Motorists in Louth are advised that as a result of the alert the Dundalk to Armagh Road is closed until further notice at the Border crossing.

Drivers are advised to take an alternative route.

Busy weekend coming up for Louth footballers

Louth will face Meath in a challenge match in Trim on Sunday, less than 24 hours after hosting Wicklow in Rathmullen in Drogheda

Louth footballers will play two games in the space of 24 hours this coming weekend as they continue their preparations for their Leinster Championship opener against Laois on May 26^th.

Aidan O’Rourke’s side will face Wicklow in the St Nicholas GFC grounds in Rathmullen in Drogheda on Saturday evening at 7pm, in a match that will be played in aid of Special Olympics Ireland.

Then, less than 24 hours later they will be in action again against old rivals Meath in Trim for the opening of new facilities at St Loman’s Park.

Throw-in for that game is at 6pm.

Before all that though, the footballers will host an open night in Darver on Friday night at 7pm, where supporters are invited along to meet the players and get their photographs taken with them.

Last Sunday, Louth faced neighbours Armagh in a challenge at the Dorsey Emmets field and ran out 4-17 to 4-14 winners.

Goals from Shane Lennon and Colm Judge helped the Wee County to a 2-11 to 0-4 lead at the break with a further brace from substitute Paraic Smith helping the visiting side see out what was a more comfortable win than the scoreline suggests, with Jamie Clarke scoring three late goals for the Orchard County to put a better look on things.

Previously: Louth GAA to host open night