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Enniscoe House
Castlehill
Ballina
Co. Mayo
Ireland
T: +353 96 31112
F: +353 96 31773

NEWS, EVENTS & COURSES

ENNISCOE HOUSE

Enniscoe House Is a member of Ireland’s Blue Book. Sadly we had to take the decision to leave Hidden Ireland (for financial reasons) We regret this as we were founder members, but we are not entirely gone as the self catering houses remain part of Hidden Ireland’s Special Holiday Houses Guide. Instead we have joined the Great Fishing Houses of Ireland and look forward to many years with them.

We officially opened on 1st April this year but with Easter so late it will be late April before it gets busy. As usual we plan to stay open to the end of October 2011 and from 1st November to 15th December we will be happy to accommodate small groups (four or more) at weekends.

We will be open again over New Year and into early January 2012 for group bookings. The self catering apartments are open all year

ENNISCOE GARDENS

The ornamental garden in its present layout dates back to the late 19th century. It has been restored with the support of FAS, Meitheal Mayo, and The Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Programme. It was officially declared open by Dr James McDaid, T.D. then Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Recreation, in October 1999. It is hard to believe that is over ten years ago. Joy Madden continues to look after the gardens.

For the second year running there were hard frosts in January and February and this time the damage was considerable. All the Cordylines are gone, and, finally, the Trachycarpus Fortunei. Also gone are the tree ferns in the Pleasure Grounds, all the Escallonia hedges, several Pittosporums, the Strawberry Tree, and many other shrubs. To make up for all this all the bulbs in the Spring Garden sprang into life, the tree peony and the magnolias look surprisingly cheerful, the heathers are good and so are the herbs.

Plans for replanting are in hand but I’m taking this opportunity to make some changes. Who knows what next winter will bring, so native Irish plants may stand a better chance.

Work in the organic vegetable garden continues, and the new poly tunnel was put to good use again. This tunnel has been set up as a teaching area with good access for wheelchair users as we plan to run more courses for disabled groups. And the supply of fruits and vegetables to the house kept going right to the end of our season. At present the potatoes and onions are being planted, the vegetable and herb seeds are set and new fruit cages have been built for the soft fruits.

Access to the gardens and pleasure grounds is available to Enniscoe guests at any time without charge. There is a separate entrance for day visitors through the Heritage Centre.

ENNISCOE WOODLANDS and Lakeside Walks

Work on opening up more paths continues through the woodlands in the Native Woodland Programme. Crossmolina Community Council is working with us on up- grading the paths and small bridges and has put up the directional signs. The walk officially starts from the Heritage Centre car park and there is now a large sign board with a detailed map of the walk at the entrance. We have brought in a kiln and are now making charcoal, a great way of clearing up timber and branches lying in the undergrowth. We have Enniscoe charcoal for sale for those summer barbeques! It is now possible to walk a circuit of the estate from the Heritage Centre to the lake, through woodlands and old paths and back the Heritage Centre, a good stop for coffee on the garden terrace.