Latest news with #'sPass
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Stepping it out at €610k Ledbury in Conna with nod to super hoofers Flatley & Monty's Pass
SUPER hoofers — human and animal — have ties with Ledbury, a gallopingly good split-level property in Conna. Ledbury's connections with speed and stamina are as follows: The Waterford joiner that built the staircase in Castlehyde for Lord of the Dance's Michael Flatley, also made the staircase at Ledbury; the horse that won the 2003 Aintree Grand National, Monty's Pass, trained in the yard next door. Staircase at Ledbury Amidst all this fancy footwork, it was inevitable that some of it would rub off on Ledbury which comes with its own stable yard and four loose boxes, each fitted with automatic drinkers, rubber matting and feed mangers. Four stables ready for new occupants There's a grass arena too, and a large feed and tack room (also for use as a covered hay barn) and there's a water supply to three drinking troughs in the fields around the house, where horses or ponies can graze to their hock's content. It's the kind of set-up you'd envisage as the dream buy for a family of horsey types. Ledbury didn't start out with its best hoof forward. In 1979, the year it was built, it was no more than an over-basement bungalow, owned by agricultural advisor John Anthony, who used the basement for offices. He sold it in 2012 to a UK-based couple, Jo and Patrick Clarke, who relocated from Derbyshire, after falling for the pretty Bride Valley village of Conna. The Clarke's took the bit between the teeth and re-ordered the house completely, upgrading every element, installing the new staircase, and ultimately delivering a high-end home, with a commendable B3 energy rating, and enough space (3,700 sq ft) for an entire yard of stable hands. In time, the house and three acres of grounds outgrew the Clarke's and they put it on the market in 2016 — whereupon it was spotted by a family looking to move out of a semi-d in Midleton's Broomfield to a detached home in the countryside. 'My wife Laura always had an eye out for a detached home with more room and when she saw Ledbury, she absolutely fell for it,' says current owner, Henry Switzer, who bought the property, next door to the yard of horse trainer Jimmy Mangan (Monty's Pass) in 2017. Although their kids are more focused on swimming pools than stables, the couple themselves knew a thing or two about horses. Laura had been involved in eventing and Henry had found himself 'of all places, on one of the German national studs outside Munich, while I was trying to become a sound engineer'. They put Ledbury to good use as a sanctuary for mistreated ponies, taking referrals from My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue. 'They were ponies that had been mistreated, so getting them to trust humans again— that was so, so rewarding,' Henry says. 'Like people, some horses are difficult and some are easy,' he adds. The Switzers also fostered a few lurchers and kept hens. 'What the house represented for us was freedom – to move around, to have animals, room for the kids to roam. It was very much a lifestyle choice for us,' Henry says. Among the loveliest features is the acre of landscaped gardens and the various patio and terrace areas that overlook them. The star of the show though is the first-floor roof top garden terrace, with spectacular views to the Galtee and Knockmealdown mountains. The same views — spanning four counties — are served up to the sunroom, which opens onto the terrace, as does the first floor living room. Sensibly, the main daytime accommodation is upstairs — including the kitchen (with AGA) and family room. The kitchen at Ledbury Six bedrooms are spread across the two floors, with one in use as a library. The main downstairs bedroom has French doors to a patio and there's a conservatory to the rear. Rear terrace Henry says he will 'miss the views the most', but that it's time to move on as their kids' needs have changed. Adrianna Hegarty of Hegarty Properties is selling the five-bed Conna home with double garage and brings it to market with an AMV of €610,000. 'It's been redesigned and renovated to a very high spec and orientated to make the most of the spectacular views,' the agent says. She adds that it 'will excite families with an interest in horses, as well as fishing enthusiasts' as both the rivers Blackwater and Bride are nearby. Moreover the layout could easily accommodate guest accommodation or Airbnb, Ms Hegarty says. Conna village is within walking distance of Ledbury, the town of Midleton is a 20-minute drive, Fermoy is 10 minutes away, there's handy access to the Dublin motorway and Shannon Airport is 30 minutes by car. VERDICT: Quality home on beautiful grounds, ideal for horsey types. Successful bidder gains entry to the Winner's Enclosure.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Here's How To Play Split Fiction With Any Friend On Any Platform
Hazelight Studios has made a name for itself with thrilling co-op adventures that have captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. Its newest outing is Split Fiction, which tasks two players with exploring two worlds at the same time—one person battling through a high fantasy setting and the other working their way through a sci-fi landscape. But what if you and a friend own different platforms? Or what if only one of you owns the game? Let's get this out of the way: Yes, Split Fiction fully supports crossplay across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Let's dig into it a little deeper, though, because this new title continues a wonderful trend. Unlike most online co-op games, Split Fiction only requires one player to own the game. Whoever owns a physical or digital copy of Split Fiction can invite a pal to play for free using an included Friend's Pass. Sick! The Friend's Pass allows a second player to download a unique Friend's Pass version of the game that allows them to play Split Fiction any time they are invited by the friend who owns the game. This means that the owner of the game will need to host each time you play. And while Split Fiction does support cross-play, do keep in mind that you'll both need an EA account if you're playing on separate platforms. But hey, there's more good news! There's also the Friend's Pass Trial, which gives you both an opportunity to try the game at no cost! Think of the Friend's Pass Trial like a demo. If you both download the Split Fiction Friend's Pass Trial on your respective storefronts, you can try out the opening stages of the game at no charge. If you're both interested in continuing your adventure together, one of you can purchase the game, while the other can make use of the standard Friend's Pass. It's wonderful to see Hazelight Studios continue to show a commitment to affordable cooperative gaming that brings players together in exciting and often hilarious ways. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
4 Things To Know Before Playing Co-Op Action Game Split Fiction
Split Fiction is equal parts heartwarming tale and heart-pounding adventure, expertly blending sci-fi and fantasy into a creative cooperative journey unlike anything you've seen. Before you dive in with a friend or loved one, though, here are four things you should know about the game. Whether you're playing couch-based or online co-op, you only need to purchase a single copy of Split Fiction for both players to enjoy the experience. If the two of you are both sat on a couch, you can obviously share a screen. However, if you're a pair playing online, the game's owner can use a Friend's Pass to allow their friend to join in free of charge. Even better, your Friend's Pass works cross-platform! This means if you grab the game on PlayStation 5 and your friend has an Xbox Series X, you're still golden. Same goes for PC! No matter where you like to play your games, Split Fiction is good to go. Split Fiction isn't an extraordinarily challenging game, but its difficulty is no doubt a notch above developer Hazelight's previous title, It Takes Two. There are a lot of segments during the game that require intense focus and quick thinking to overcome, as both players help one another bypass obstacles or defeat enemies. Luckily, Split Fiction's checkpoint system is quite generous, and failure rarely puts you back more than a minute's worth of gameplay. With this in mind, be patient if you're playing with friends or family who don't have your killer gaming acumen. With a bit of trial and error, you'll get past even the most frustrating hangups! As you venture through the sci-fi and fantasy lands thought up by main characters Mio and Zoe, you'll also encounter quite a few side stories that can be explored. These bite-sized levels tend to have only one or two main gimmicks to focus on, and they provide some of the most unique, adorable, and funny experiences the game has to offer. These shorter levels are accessed via side story bubbles (pictured above) that often sit off to the side of an area as you move through levels. In most cases, one of the characters will mention that there's one nearby—though not always—so be diligent if you'd like to see them all. Split Fiction's isn't just about action and puzzle-solving. In addition to the game's main path and exciting side stories, there are numerous optional things throughout its levels that you can interact with. Some of these, such as benches for your character to rest on, offer quiet moments of reflection with a good view. Elsewhere, you may come across hilarious interactions like a cauldron where you can make potions that turn you into funny creatures, just for laughs. So don't rush! Take your time and soak in all the game has to Fiction is an exciting and endlessly creative outing that co-op fans shouldn't miss. If you want to dive into it, it's available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
