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Irish Times
7 days ago
- Irish Times
Boyne Companions – Frank McNally on why the road from Dublin to Slane lies mainly on a plain (allegedly)
Glamping on the banks of the Boyne at Slane , Co Meath , on Saturday night, I was reminded what a staggeringly beautiful setting for a village that is. Historic too, of course. Our campsite was on the right bank of the river – the Jacobite side during the famous battle of 1690, which happened a few miles east of Slane. But it was hard to imagine this had ever been a place of conflict as peace came dropping slow on the steep, wooded hills. The only threat we faced at the weekend was from an army of insects that invaded the tent overnight. An indirect effect of 1690 was to change ownership of the local castle, of which we had fine views across the water. Perhaps ironically for a battle won by a Dutch king, the big losers included a family called the Flemings. They had previously lost castle and lands in the confiscations following the 1641 rebellion, before regaining royal favour in subsequent decades. Then they ended up on the wrong side of history again in 1690. The Conyghams – an Ulster plantation family, ancestors of the late Henry Mount Charles – acquired the estate soon after. READ MORE The loveliness of the setting is matched by Slane itself, a model of 18th-century British town planning and still dominated by handsome stone buildings. In keeping with its left-bank setting, the village now has a self-deprecatingly declared 'arty quarter'. And it all looked rather idyllic on Saturday night, especially the view down on the old bridge, as the sun set on the river and on its adjoining canal, which used to serve the biggest mill in Ireland, now a hotel. I haven't always appreciated Slane's beauty. Before the M1, it used to be the halfway point on the journey between my hometown (Carrickmacross) and Dublin: a route that, north of Slane at least, is notoriously hilly and winding. As a child and later, I was prone to car/bus sickness, especially on morning trips. Slane tended to mark the full onset of nausea. From there on, it was a grim battle to retain my breakfast as far as Dublin. Sometimes, having reached the outskirts of the city but unable to trust myself for another 20 minutes of lurching through traffic, I would decamp from the bus at Finglas for fresh air and resume the journey on a 19A. [ A life's work reviving the Irish language - Oliver O'Hanlon on Liam Ó Briain Opens in new window ] It could have been worse. Even back then, the road from Slane to Dublin was relatively flat and very straight. This was in part a reflection of different terrain. But it was also – according to oral tradition – a legacy of the fact that King George IV had his favourite mistress in Slane Castle . Hence, during his Irish royal visit of 1821, he made a beeline for there, the road smoothed in advance, and spent most of the trip in her company, to the chagrin of Irish loyalists elsewhere. The mistress in question was Elizabeth Conygham, maternal forebear of Lord Henry. She was married and a mother of several children. But being consort of the monarch was a semi-respectable career in former centuries, so she used it to advance the family's wealth and status, her husband becoming a marquess as part of the deal. Kayakers on the river Boyne at Slane Castle in Co Meath. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire After serving time as one of the assistant mistresses, she ousted Isabelle Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of Hertford, from the main job in about 1820, just as the then prince ascended to the throne. And although she was hitting 50 and he a decade older, the new king was besotted. He was said to be 'nodding and winking' at her throughout the coronation ceremony. For ordinary people, such an ancestral inheritance might be an embarrassment, to be spoken of in whispers if at all. But the aristocracy are not like us. On a visit to Slane Castle after the recent funeral (the whole congregation was invited back, including journalists), I was amused to see that a giant portrait of George IV is still a centrepiece of the ballroom. In fact, it was one of the treasures saved during the 1991 fire, when Lord Henry cut the canvas from the frame just before flames gutted the place. [ Make more of the Moores: An Irish village's connection to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Opens in new window ] In fairness, the castle also displays a pair of cartoons satirising the couple, who enjoyed high living as well as each other and were both somewhat corpulent as a result – a detail the caricaturists exaggerated. According to The Irish Aesthete (a website curated by my former Irish Times colleague Robert O'Byrne), the extent to which the king's Irish visit was dominated by his Slane lover inspired much mockery. One satirist commented in verse: 'Tis pleasant at seasons to see how they sit/First cracking their nuts, and then cracking their wit/Then quaffing their claret – then mingling their lips/Or tickling the fat about each other's hips.' In any case, according to legend, the affair left its mark on Irish transport infrastructure. The course of true love may never have run smooth, according to Shakespeare. But the road from Dublin to Slane seems to be an exception.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Couple marry at Glastonbury with cake they brought
A couple who got married at Glastonbury transported a wedding cake made by the bride nearly 250 miles (402km) to the ceremony. Charles and Charlie Shires, from Harrogate, had a "spiritual" hand-tying wedding in the festival's Healing Field on Thursday morning. A celebrant conducted the ceremony, which the couple attended after spending the night in a glamping site. Mrs Shires, 31, a baker, had a "blow-dry bus" to get her hair styled in, and after the wedding they partied in the BBC Introducing tent. "It was a brilliant day," said Mrs Shires. "I make birthday and wedding cakes for a living and I usually make buttercream, but I wanted a challenge to see if a white chocolate ganache would melt. "It survived!" The couple were joined by 15 friends who also got festival tickets for the occasion, but have planned "another wedding do closer to home" in the next few months to legalise their marriage. Mrs Shires, who has been to four previous Glastonbury festivals, wore old, comfy boots while Mr Shires, an aerial surveyor who has also been to the festival six times before, wore his walking boots. He said he "sadly" lost his jacket in a field. "It was the only thing we lost!" he said. The cake was kept in the couple's tent and fridges in the glamping site before it was taken to the Healing Field. The newlyweds have now returned to their "normal lives" in Harrogate and are likely to officially marry at a registry office later this year. Mrs Shires added that her wedding dress was "ruined, muddy and stained". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Glastonbury's best bits: Capaldi's comeback, celebrity sightings and lots of spoons
Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Best campsite in England' has heated pool, spa and sandy beach nearby
VisitEngland has named the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year, and with its thanks to its luxury facilities, it's not hard to see why There's arguably no finer way to embrace the British summer and enjoy the great outdoors than embarking on a camping trip. Many of us may remember childhood camping trips involving pitching our own tents, enduring cold showers, and relying on thin sleeping bags for warmth. However, with the right location, camping can feel like a truly relaxing holiday. Indeed, there are some truly remarkable campsites in England that could easily rival a holiday resort rather than just offering a patch of grass for your tent. One such site has recently been crowned the best in the country. Set near St Ives in Cornwall, Polmanter Touring Park has officially been named the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year by VisitEngland. This accolade is part of the tourism agency's annual Awards for Excellence, which honour businesses providing top experiences for tourists nationwide. As a Gold Award Winner, Polmanter Touring Park has demonstrated the highest standards of guest experiences and excellence across its operations. The park is situated in a picturesque corner of Cornwall known as Penwith, reports the Express. However, it wasn't just the breathtaking location that clinched this year's award for the campsite, but also its state-of-the-art facilities that make it feel more like a retreat than a traditional campsite. With a heated 20-metre swimming pool and a spa offering a range of luxurious treatments from full body scrubs to scalp massages, it's a world away from the shaky tents and chilly showers you might associate with some campsites. Kids won't be bored here, with both indoor and outdoor play areas, a kitted-out games room, and two tennis courts where rackets can be hired on the spot. Forget about roughing it in the great outdoors – there's no need to forage for wood or start a campfire when you can grab freshly-baked pizzas from the on-site restaurant. For those keen to venture out, the site offers two footpaths leading directly to St Ives, or if you're not up for the walk, a handy shuttle service is ready to whisk you off to town. One satisfied Tripadvisor user described their visit as: "Our experience exceeded all expectations and truly felt like a five-star stay. As first-time campers, we approached the adventure with a mix of curiosity and hesitation, but we were pleasantly surprised by how wonderful the site was." Praise also came from another guest who shared: "Polmanter is incredible. It's super clean, the food is great, the park is immaculate. The kids play areas are well maintained, as are the toilet blocks. They have thought of everything!" With a selection of pitches to suit every type of camper, whether you roll up in a campervan or pitch a traditional tent, many come complete with electricity, water, and even a TV socket, though they can also accommodate those seeking a tech-free zone. Whether you opt for a luxury flat or cottage, rest assured, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the Cornish coastline wherever you choose to stay.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Monumental': Campground celebrates post-Helene reopening
A campground in Boiling Springs celebrated its post-Helene reopening just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Several campgrounds in the area were shut down by damage caused by Hurricane Helene when it swept through western North Carolina in September. Many of the affected campgrounds were in remote areas near rivers. Boiling Springs, winner of a national Glamping award, suffered heavy damage, even though it only lost power for a week. 'There was a lot of data about closed roads, which concerned people about getting to campgrounds that were even open,' co-owner Tyler Watts told Channel 9's Ken Lemon. But, like many other campgrounds, Boiling Springs was packed for Memorial Day weekend. 'Monumental for us on the weekend to be fully booked and have people here still showing up,' Watts said. 'Very big for us.' READ: FEMA offers to sell temporary housing units to WNC families displaced by Hurricane Helene One campground owner cried tears of joy as she spoke with Lemon about how grateful she was to reopen Rose Creek Campgrounds in Morganton with no vacancies. But after Helene, it wasn't so easy to have hope. 'I was ready to throw my hands up and walk away,' she told Lemon. 'We put our heart and soul into this campground.' For Boiling Springs, it was Charlotte residents turning to outdoor life that made a difference. Scott and Shay Costin were out camping during the holiday weekend. They said they were glad to help a business in recovery. 'We try to help small businesses, local businesses, family-owned,' Scott Costin said. Watts said he knows how lucky he is. He said some of the campgrounds that were wiped out are still rebuilding. WATCH: FEMA offers to sell temporary housing units to WNC families displaced by Hurricane Helene
