Home
Accommodation
Enquiries
Conference
Location
Fishing
Golfing
Gardens
Heritage Centre
Reviews
Gallery
Links
News

Contact Us

Sitemap

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

NEWS, EVENTS & COURSES

ENNISCOE HOUSE

This year Enniscoe House will open on 1st April 2010, and will stay open until 31st October 2010. 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 2011 for group bookings. As usual the self catering apartments will be open all year

GEORGINA CAMPBELL AWARD FOR ENNISCOE HOUSE

“THE FOOD EXTRA AWARD 2008” was awarded to Enniscoe House by the prestigious Georgina Campbell Guides. The award is for good food presented in “a relaxing and enriching” atmosphere. We were particularly pleased to have received it as we think it recognizes what we have been striving to accomplish over the years here at Enniscoe.

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. Last year we were fortunate to have Jeremy Emmet-Booth here for ten weeks in the spring and early summer. Jeremy is completing a degree in Organic Agricultural Science at Cirencestor and worked in both gardens as one of his practical work placements. He worked hard and encouraged us all with his enthusiasm. The garden suffered from the heavy rainfall later in the summer, the dahlias in particular never seemed entirely happy, but in general the garden held its own all summer, and we were pleased with the new plantings in the spring garden area. The palm tree Trachycarpus Fortunei, continues to amaze us. It was planted in the centre of the lawn, probably before 1910, and was blown down in a storm while we were working to restore the garden. We were reluctant to cut it up, so we laid the trunk down in the old glass house ruins. Six years later it continues to put out fresh leaves each spring, and supports a collection of ferns growing on the old and very dead looking trunk.

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.

Last autumn there was a big programme cutting down and selling the Sitka Spruce plantations that were planted in the 1960’s. It rained for the whole month of October (or so it seemed!) and there was a serious sea of mud everywhere. We are still clearing up and getting ready to replant, but the work has opened up new views and new areas for paths.

Cloonamoyne Fishery
After 15 years as fishery manager at Enniscoe Barry Segrave retired two years ago. He has totally disappeared from the scene as he is continuing to live in his house in the courtyard and will be on hand to greet old friends. However he has handed on the lodge, harbour and boats to Gary Crossley who is looking after all fishing arrangements for guests to Enniscoe House, and also for guests coming in by the day. Gary Crossley has been staying at Enniscoe and fishing on Lough Conn for many years and knows the area well. Barry rates his fishing skills and knowledge highly and is pleased to be leaving Cloonamoyne Fishery in good hands. You can contact Gary by email at gary@cloonamoynefishery.com or visit his web site at http://www.cloonamoynefishery.com/

The Mayo North Heritage Centre
Mayo North Heritage Centre is situated in one of the old farm yards behind the main house and walled garden. The centre runs a small museum, tea room, and shop, and is open from 1st April to 31st October. The family history unit is part of the national network of genealogy centres set up by the Irish Family History Foundation. This centre covers the northern half of county Mayo and is open all year round. To contact it directly see our links page. Two years ago an exciting new project was started as we have gone into partnership with Mayo County Library to get many of the records we hold onto a “pay per view” web site. This web site can be accessed at www.maycoco.ie (the library section)

Mayo North Old Engine and Tractor Club
The club held another successful Heritage day last July and are already planning a yet bigger and better show for this year, This is now an annual event and takes place around the Heritage Centre, yards, garden, and the fields around the house. There are standing engines and tractors of course, but also vintage cars, motor cycles, a steam engine and an old fashioned thrashing machine (thrashing oats specially grown here) craft demonstrations and much more. Each year the Tractor Club add another “Large Attraction”, in 2006 it was The Thatched Cottage (fully furnished, with donkey and turf stack outside!) In 2007 it was The Old Post Office and Shop. For 2008 it really was a big one as the club had been given the old Bog Train from the local power station (which has been closed down). The train has been restored, two carriages built, and tracks laid down. It runs successfully all day at the show and for some other special occasions during the year. It will be out again this July. See their web site at www.mayovintage.org

Blacksmithing and Gardening courses
There will be courses running from April onwards. For further information contact Carol Williams at the Heritage Centre. Telephone 00 353 96 31809
Email: normayo@iol.ie

We look forward to seeing some of you back at Enniscoe in 2010, and to welcoming many new visitors. See our special offers and join us for the Easter Egg hunt through the Enniscoe woods. Our yellow Labrador, Frodo, (son of Strider, sadly no longer with us) is ready and waiting to escort you on walks if you would like his company. Frodo now has a companion, a golden Labrador called Connie. She is not related to him, but comes from a good line of working dogs. She now considers herself fully grown up and very much part of the establishment.

Susan and Dj