Condé Nast - On the steely shores of Lough Eske, with the Bluestack Mountains as a backdrop, this ranks right up there among Irish castles you can bed down in. Donegal has become one of Ireland’s worst-kept secrets in recent years, a wild and rugged county that quietly impresses with its knockout scenery – and slickly operated Lough Eske Castle plugs you right in.
Alastair Fullerton has been appointed executive chef at the Titanic Hotel Belfast, which is part of the Harcourt Collection.
He will oversee the 100-cover Wolff Grill restaurant, which takes its name from Titanic shipbuilders Harland & Wolff, who were previously headquartered at the 119-bedroom hotel.
Fullerton has over 40 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, having been educated at Belfast Met before starting work under Paul Rankin in Roscoff.
Food. Drink. Life - County Donegal is stepping into the international spotlight. With a steady rise in visitor numbers in recent years, Ireland’s northwestern corner is drawing global travelers in search of rugged coastlines, charming villages and open spaces far from the usual tourist trail.
It didn’t take long for me to understand the appeal. There’s a rhythm to life up here that feels different. You’re not rushing to check sights off a list but lingering to take in the breath-taking views, pulling over because you spotted a castle ruin or a wool shop tucked into the side of the road. It’s spontaneous, a little daring and completely enchanting
Lough Eske Castle, County Donegal’s only five-star hotel, has taken a significant step forward in sustainable hospitality through a comprehensive suite of eco-conscious initiatives. Leading the way is the castle’s full transition to renewable energy, achieved through a long-term partnership with a leading green electricity provider. The historic estate is now powered entirely by clean, renewable energy marking a key milestone in its ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and aligning with Ireland’s national sustainability goals.
This move to renewable power is just one part of the castle’s broader mission to embed sustainability into every aspect of its operations.
Irish Examiner - A major exhibition of Lucian Freud's work is currently on at Titanic Belfast. Marc O'Sullivan spoke to two of the key people who were involved with the German/British painter
Pat Doherty has the distinction of having sat for three portraits – two paintings and a copperplate etching – by the legendary British painter Lucian Freud.
Several copies of the etching feature in the exhibition, Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration, which has just launched at Titanic Belfast in partnership with the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Daily Telegraph - The new owner of the former Conservative Central Office has spoken of the “buzz” of buying the site of 50 years of Tory election victories, and back stabbings and plots.
The Daily Telegraph revealed today how Conservative Party has sold its famous former head office in Smith Square, Westminster, for £30.5 million.
The buyer is Irish property company Harcourt Developments, which counts Andrew Parker Bowles, former husband of Camilla, as one of its non-executive directors.
Irish Times - Vivienne Roche's sculpture garden in Park West reflects the presence of an ancient burial ground under the modern apartment blocks, writes Aidan Dunne, Art Critic
Park West, a residential, business and industrial development bounded by the M50, the Grand Canal and the main line from Heuston Station, is singularly well served with prominently positioned sculptures.
Daily Telegraph - The derelict shipyard where the Titanic was built is to benefit from a £1 billion plan that will see it transformed into the largest waterfront development in Europe.
The docks, which were once the industrial hub of Belfast, are to be converted into a new maritime quarter with houses, businesses, leisure facilities and tourism developments.
The regeneration of the Titanic Quarter on Queen's Island is being led by the American architect Eric Kuhne, who has been responsible for similar developments all over the world including Darling Harbour in Sydney and Mid Valley Gardens in Kuala Lumpur.
Northern Ireland's largest-ever development will create …
The Times - A luxurious winter break in the Caribbean provided the perfect opportunity for Julie Burchill to indulge her passion for hotels.
Maybe it’s something to do with being one of Mother Nature’s runaways, but I’ve never understood why so many otherwise sensible people have a problem with hotels - more specifically, why people who could afford to stay at gorgeous hotels choose to hire villas instead.
I grew up in a working-class family, yet when we went to the seaside it was to a B&B - never a flat - and when we went to Butlin’s it was full-board, never self-catering. My parents regarded those who chose to do their own cooking on holiday as uptight, penny-pinching freaks, and as in all things they were so right.
Irish Independent - LETTERKENNY Shopping Centre, Port Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal has been re-launched after a major upgrade. A new extension has more than doubled the size of the centre to 11,710 sq m from 5,110 sq m retail space.
This includes a brand new 4,182 sq m Tesco and 3,700 sq m Penneys plus new Benetton, Jack & Jones, Paco, Exibit and Sasha fashion outlets.
In addition to the extension, the existing centre was entirely refit in an ultra-modern style and the centre has been re-branded. A land acquisition increased car parking to 750 spaces.
Irish Independent - THE property world was to the fore at this year's Allianz Business2Arts Awards with two of the six awards presented to leading property groups.
Harcourt Developments and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority did the sector proud by figuring prominently among the award winners.
As an integral part of developing Park West Business Park, Harcourt Developments - headed by Pat Doherty - has commissioned sculptures, water features and site specific artworks for both the exterior and the interior landscapes.
Irish Times - Park West business campus on the edge of the M50 in west Dublin has finally got the recognition it deserves. Apart from being one of the great successes of the current property boom, the entire project has won an Opus Building of the Year Award for its architectural achievements. Tim Darmody of Project Architects was commended for his architectural skill and his ability to "raise the standard of speculative office parks above the basic norm."
Irish Times - A £1 billion business park is rapidly taking shape on a 200-acre site alongside the M50 in west Dublin. Park West, a state-of-the-art development within the city boundary, has transport links spanning three generations - it includes a canal, a railway and motorways - and is well on the way to becoming one of the country's most important business centres, with more than two million sq. ft of commercial buildings
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