We've just spent three days at Lough Rynn Castle lounging in the Baronial Hall and its reception rooms, dining sumptuously, strolling the gardens and terraced lawns of this estate that once comprised several thousand acres and employed several hundred tenant farmers. In the early 70's, it was sold to developers. The above advert, displayed on a wall in the hallway, caught my attention.
Advert in the Dublin/Belfast News of the late 1960's:
"Lough Rynn House, built in 1832, family home of the Clements, Earls of Leitrim, is a charming combination of Tudor and Gothic styles. Its builder, the first Earl of Leitrim, chose a romantic setting on a natural peninsula surrounded by lake and river then added terraced lawns, gardens, and a forest park of outstanding beauty. Lough Rynn provides superb facilities for fishing, boating, hiking, and swimming on over 600 acres. The House can sleep 20 or more in 12 bedrooms, all with fireplaces. The Great Baronial Hall (60' x 40' with 15' ceiling) and three drawing reception rooms provide ample room for entertaining. The kitchen is fully modernized. The House is furnished with its original 19th century period furniture and comes completely equipped from glassware to blankets. The services of a married couple are included in the rent, as well as turf (peat for fireplaces) and electricity. Lough Rynn is located 90 miles from Dublin, just off the main Dublin/Sligo Road, two miles from Mohill, a good market town with excellent shopping facilities.
Rent per week with basic staff, fuel and electricity:
June, July, August £120 ( $288)
April, May, September £100 ($240)
Winter months £90 ($216)
Enquiries: Marcus Clements, Lough Rynn, Mohill, Co. Leitrim, Ireland
Written by Joy Davis - Summer of Travel 2007