donegal

Harcourt to invest €5m in expanding Lough Eske’s five-star luxury hotel

Harcourt to invest €5m in expanding Lough Eske’s five-star luxury hotel

Irish Independent - Harcourt Developments, one of Ireland’s largest property development and management companies, is to invest €5m in an expansion of its five-star Lough Eske Castle Hotel in Co Donegal.

The company, which was founded by Donegal property developer Pat Doherty and is behind the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, recently submitted a planning application to expand Lough Eske Castle by building a two-storey extension with 24 suites and four bedrooms.

Harcourt's Pat Doherty On Building A Property Empire

Harcourt's Pat Doherty On Building A Property Empire

Hospitality Ireland - Pat Doherty is something of a legend. The founder of Harcourt Developments, he left school at 14, left home in Donegal for London at the age of 19, and started working in construction. From there, he has built an empire. Along the way, he became friends with Andrew Parker Bowles and was painted by Lucian Freud. Here, he talks to Emily Hourican.

Pat Doherty’s vision celebrated at 15th anniversary of Lough Eske Castle: Picture Special

Pat Doherty’s vision celebrated at 15th anniversary of Lough Eske Castle: Picture Special

Donegal Daily - The team at Lough Eske Castle celebrated its 15th anniversary last night with a memorable event which included special guest Packie Bonner. 

With over 100 guests attending including Donegal Mayor Pauric Kennedy and Directors of Harcourt Developments, who opened the property in 2007 after €40 million investment. Prior to the event commencing, Donegal man Pat Doherty OBE planted 15 Irish Oak Trees on the estate to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the hotel first opening.

Inishowen Peninsula is a staycation paradise

Inishowen Peninsula is a staycation paradise

Sunday Independent - ‘Do bears really love marmalade sandwiches?” Judging by her smile, this isn’t the first time our guide, Fiona, has heard this question.

Today it’s asked by my 10-year-old son as we stand in a forest in Donegal watching two enormous brown bears wrestle in the grass beyond. It’s a hot day so the exertions don’t last long. Rionach, the smaller bear, climbs a log to sunbathe while her brother Donnacha takes to the lake to retrieve some floating fruit treats.

Redcastle Hotel and Spa to unveil 90 refurbished rooms in June

Redcastle Hotel and Spa to unveil 90 refurbished rooms in June

Derry Journal - The Redcastle Oceanfront Golf & Spa Hotel, Inishowen is set to unveil the results of a complete refurbishment of 90 of their bedrooms in June 2022 representing a renewal of the entire bedroom stock.

With over half a million euro already spent and further investment due later in the year this represents a major project for the hotel. It is also a very bold and positive step forward for a hospitality business following the last two years that the industry has endured.

Lough Eske Castle named Best Luxury Hotel in Ireland by The Times

Lough Eske Castle named Best Luxury Hotel in Ireland by The Times

The Times - Ireland is as renowned for the warmth of its hospitality as for the beauty of its landscapes, and its five-star hotels deliver magnificently on both counts. Many are privately owned, and run by loyal staff who are as fiercely proud of their hotel’s history and setting as they are delighted to share their knowledge with guests — preferably over a whiskey by a roaring fire. And well they might be proud, for the houses of Ireland are fabulous, and their settings world-class, especially along the Wild Atlantic Way

Lough Eske Castle crowned No.2 Top Hotel in Ireland

Lough Eske Castle crowned No.2 Top Hotel in Ireland

Lough Eske Castle, outside Donegal Town, has been recognized as No. 2 in the Top Hotels in Ireland category of the Condé Nast Traveller annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

The awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel.”

Dónal Cox, General Manager of Lough Eske Castle commented: “It’s a great honour to be recognised as one of the top ten hotels in Ireland by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine for the fourth year running.”

Plan your Eske-ape: Take time to relax in one of Ireland’s most sought-after and captivating luxury resorts

Plan your Eske-ape: Take time to relax in one of Ireland’s most sought-after and captivating luxury resorts

Sunday Life - IN these Covid-19 restricted times, plans are impossible to make. The R number currently denies society's movement under the second serious lockdown of this pandemic, but there will come a time again when relaxation, recreation and a romantic retreat are the relevant R words of choice.

Condé Nast Awards Lough Eske Castle

Condé Nast Awards Lough Eske Castle

Condé Nast Traveler - Harcourt’s 5-star Donegal hotel has been named the second best hotel in Ireland in the Condé Nast Traveler, Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Condé Nast Traveler, Readers’ Choice Awards, which were announced after the votes of more than 700,000 people around the world took part in the magazine’s annual survey were counted, ranked Lough Eske castle in County Donegal in the North West of Ireland as the second best hotel in Ireland.

'It tastes even better than I remember': Lockdown drought ends in Donegal as bars re-open

'It tastes even better than I remember': Lockdown drought ends in Donegal as bars re-open

Irish News - For Derry man Mickey McLaughlin, it was a long drought.

As he downed his first pint of draught Guinness at The Harbour Bar in Buncrana yesterday, it was everything he had been dreaming of for three months.

“The days couldn’t go in quick enough. It tastes even better than I remember,” the Creggan man said.

The Last Stop: The Railway Tavern is back on track!

The Last Stop: The Railway Tavern is back on track!

Derry Journal - IT'S NOT OFTEN a hotel encourages its guests to escape from its facilities but the Redcastle Hotel is making clever use of its close connections with the revamped Railway Tavern to ensure a unique getaway experience which is certain to whet your appetite.

Weddings and US visitors push profits up fivefold at Lough Eske Castle hotel

Weddings and US visitors push profits up fivefold at Lough Eske Castle hotel

Irish Independent - The five-star Lough Eske Castle hotel in Co Donegal saw its pre-tax profits increase more than fivefold last year to €210,582. Revenues at the luxury hotel - part of Pat Doherty's Harcourt Developments - increased by 4pc to €9.33m.

All aboard the relaunched Railway Tavern

All aboard the relaunched Railway Tavern

Donegal Live - The Railway Tavern in Fahan has recently been taken over by Harcourt Developments, and to mark the launch of their new menu I was invited along to the Firebox Grill recently to sample their wares. 'Fill your boots', they told me, so I eagerly obliged.

Pat Doherty ‘The Donegal Man’ honoured with Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award

Pat Doherty ‘The Donegal Man’ honoured with Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award

London based developer Pat Doherty was honoured in his hometown of Buncrana in Co. Donegal on Friday night last when he was awarded the Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award for his consistent dedication to the successful development of business and the creation of employment.

“Pat’s success in business has been well documented” said Cllr. Nicholas Crossan of Donegal County Council “but what is remarkable about Pat is his desire to ensure that his success is Donegal’s success.

“In the last 10 years alone Pat has invested in some of the country’s most iconic businesses including the Donegal Lough Eske Castle and the Titanic Quarter in Belfast and currently employs over 500 people in Donegal alone, generating more than €100 million in the local economy”.

Lough Eske Castle Hotel Appoints New General Manager

Lough Eske Castle Hotel Appoints New General Manager

Harcourt Developments, the proprietors of Lough Eske Castle Hotel in Donegal has announced the appointment of Donal Cox as the venue’s new general manager.  Cox has returned to Lough Eske Castle from sister hotel Redcastle Hotel & Spa in north Donegal, after having previously served as the former hotel’s operations manager seven years ago.

Lough Eske Castle hotel profits surge

Lough Eske Castle hotel profits surge

Irish Independent - The five-star Lough Eske Castle hotel in Co Donegal last year recorded profits of €1.54m.

The luxury hotel, which is part of Pat Doherty's Harcourt Developments, enjoyed the profits after revenues increased to €8.56m for the year.

Harcourt Developments finance director Nick Doherty said: "2016 was a strong year for Lough Eske where overall revenues grew by 6pc. "Overall, in terms of geographical market share, we witnessed strong growth both from the Irish and US markets, which more than offset a slight decline in the UK market."

Emotional meeting with Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker

Emotional meeting with Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker

Belfast Telegraph - 'Mark Hamill was everything I ever imagined him to be and then some' as actor is reduced to tears during meeting with teen.