Gardaí insist Kingscourt searches are not related to Ciara Breen disappearance

Gardaí have insisted that searches taking place in Kingscourt, Co Cavan at present are not connected to the search for missing Dundalk teenager Ciara Breen.

Searches began in Kingscourt, around 35km from Dundalk yesterday, but while Gardaí would not be drawn on what they were in relation to they denied it had anything to do with the ongoing search for Ciara Breen.

They would only say that the Kingscourt searches were part of an “ongoing operation.”

A man in his 60s from Dundalk was arrested on Monday on suspicion of withholding information from Gardaí but was later released without charge.

Ciara has not been seen since going missing from her home in the Bachelor’s Walk area of Dundalk on February 13^th 1997.

Last week a search of the Balmer’s Bog area, off the Ardee Road, commenced following a tip-off to Gardaí. That search remains ongoing.

Corscadden family announce purchase of Markree Castle

Markree Castle

The Corscadden family, who own and operate two of the North East’s most popular wedding venues, have announced the purchase of Markree Castle in Sligo.

The owners of Bellingham Castle in Castlebellingham and Cabra Castle in Kingscourt, have paid an undisclosed sum for the hotel which will now undergo a €5m restoration with a view to re-opening to the public in March 2016.

It’s the first time that the castle has changed hands since it was gifted to the Cooper family by Cromwell in the mid-17th century. The family put the property on the market back in September 2014 for an asking price which was understood to be €3.1m but no selling price has been disclosed for the sale.

“We are delighted to add this incredible property to the Corscadden collection of Irish castles,” said Howard Corscadden, whose family also run Ballyseede Castle in Co Kerry.

Last year the family completed the restoration of Bellingham Castle, which it acquired in 2012 for €900,000.

Cabra Castle announce sad passing of Irish Wolfhound Oscar

Anyone who ever got married or who had the pleasure of visiting Cabra Castle in Kingscourt will be saddened to learn of the passing of the hotel’s Irish Wolfhound, Oscar, yesterday morning.

A constant companion to visitors to the hotel, many people have been sharing stories and pictures of Oscar on the hotel’s Facebook page.

The Corscadden family had made Oscar a star of Cabra in recent years and even got another Irish Wolfhound, Ferdia, to take up residence in their sister hotel Bellingham Castle when it opened in January 2014.

Wedding band showcase in Cabra Castle this Sunday

A live wedding band showcase will be held in Cabra Castle in Kingscourt this Sunday from 3pm to 5pm.

Hosted by www.myweddingband.ie, the showcase will feature The Texas Wildcats, The Urge and The Liberals.

All are welcome to attend with further information available by contact John McCormick on 086 2468125.

Local wedding venues up for top awards

Bellingham Castle Hotel

Two local wedding venues have been nominated for the Exclusive Wedding Venue of the Year award in the weddingsonline.ie awards 2014.

Bellingham Castle in Castlebellingham and Ghan House in Carlingford will battle it out with 11 other venues for the prestigious prize.

The nomination of Bellingham Castle is slightly surprising considering it does not officially open its doors to the public until January. The very fact it is in the running alongside such prominent names as Lough Eske Castle and Rathsallagh House shows the excitement that it has created within the wedding community following its massive revamp in the last few months.

Ghan House, meanwhile, has become a favourite amongst couples from both near and far for its intimate nature and idyllic setting.

Meanwhile, John Mathews of the Four Seasons Hotel in Carlingford has been nominated for Wedding Venue Co-Ordinator of the Year.

The Four Seasons in Carlingford has also been nominated for the Leinster Wedding Venue of the Year, alongside the Crowne Plaza Dundalk.

Cabra Castle in Kingscourt has also been nominated for the Castle Wedding Venue of the Year award with the Nuremore Hotel in Carrickmacross nominated for the Ulster Wedding Venue of the Year.

You can vote for your favourite here.

Voting closes on Friday December 6^th at 5pm.

Bellingham Castle gets its own Irish wolfhound… Ferdia!

Ferdia, the newest addition to Bellingham Castle

Cabra Castle in Kingscourt has become well known in recent years for their Irish wolfhound, Oscar.

Now its sister hotel, Bellingham Castle, is set for an Irish wolfhound of its own after Ferdia was unveiled as the newest addition to the Corscadden family at the weekend.

Ferdia is just eight weeks old but is sure to be a welcome addition to the Castlebellingham-based hotel when it opens its doors to the public in January.

The Corscaddens have completely renovated the castle over the course of the past year and hope to make it one of the country’s premier boutique wedding venues.

Related articles

• A sneak peak at Bellingham Castle (talkofthetown.ie)
• The gardens of Bellingham (talkofthetown.ie)
• Kardashians reportedly pull out of visit to Bellingham Castle (talkofthetown.ie)

The gardens of Bellingham

Recently we brought you a sneak peek inside the revamped Bellingham Castle.

Now though another photo has been released by the Corscadden family, showing off the fabulous gardens the wedding venue will have when it fully reopens.

The picture (above) shows the wonderful walkway through the garden, which also takes in the Glyde River.

The Castlebellingham-based castle was bought last year by the Corscadden family, who are best known in this area for running Cabra Castle in Kingscourt. They acquired the hotel last year with the hope of transforming it into an impressive wedding venue, along the lines of Cabra. Extensive renovation work – estimated to cost in the region of €4m – has been going on for some time to transform the historic property into a 22 bedroom, 4 star boutique style castle, with exclusive wedding hire.

Related articles

• A sneak peek at Bellingham Castle (talkofthetown.ie)

A sneak peek at Bellingham Castle

The revamped Bellingham Castle

The Corscadden family have given the public their first sneak peak into the revamped Bellingham Castle, which is close to opening following a €4 million investment.

The castle hosted its first event – a private function – last weekend and is expected to open its doors to the public shortly.

The Castlebellingham-based castle was bought last year by the Corscadden family, who are best known in this area for running Cabra Castle in Kingscourt. They acquired the hotel last year with the hope of transforming it into an impressive wedding venue, along the lines of Cabra. Extensive renovation work has been going on for some time to transform the historic property into a 22 bedroom, 4 star boutique style castle, with exclusive wedding hire.

A proper opening is expected in the coming weeks, with a number of weddings already booked for the venue.

For all enquiries relating to Bellingham Castle please tel: 042 9679930.

The front entrance of Bellingham Castle

Inside Bellingham Castle

One of the bedrooms in Bellingham Castle

A bedroom in Bellingham Castle

Bellingham Castle opens its doors

Bellingham Castle opened its doors for the first time since its €4 million revamp on Friday night with a low key event hosted by its new owners.

The Castlebellingham-based castle was bought last year by the Corscadden family, who are best known in this area for running Cabra Castle in Kingscourt. They acquired the hotel last year with the hope of transforming it into an impressive wedding venue, along the lines of Cabra. Extensive renovation work has been going on for some time to transform the historic property into a 22 bedroom, 4 star boutique style castle, with exclusive wedding hire.

A proper opening is expected in the coming weeks, with a number of weddings already booked between now and the end of the year.

For all enquiries relating to Bellingham Castle please tel: 042 9679930.

Picture credit: Paul Connolly Digital Artist (Facebook)

Bellingham Castle taking shape

Thanks to local digital artist Paul Connolly for sharing this sneaky shot of the new look Bellingham Castle, which was scheduled to open in June but has been delayed slightly.

The Castlebellingham-based castle was bought last year by the Corscadden family, who are best known in this area for running Cabra Castle in Kingscourt. Their hope is to transform Bellingham into an equally as impressive wedding venue and extensive renovation work has been going on for some time to transform the historic property into a 22 bedroom, 4 star boutique style castle, with exclusive wedding hire.

It might be a while yet until it opens but it’s certainly looking the part based on Paul’s picture.

For all enquiries relating to Bellingham Castle please tel: 042 9679930.

Source: Paul Connolly Digital Artist (Facebook)