'Tying The Knot'?

Just recently engaged and planning a wedding? Thinking of a winter wonderland theme, or a Summer Fiesta? The options are endless and you'll have fun planning every last detail!

Traditionally tying the knot was thought to literally mean; 'He has tied a knot with his tongue, that he cannot untie with his teeth: i.e. he is married!" (Francis Grose 1811). We prefer to think of it as a unifying bond, interlaced with love!

At The Castle Hotel. 'We Love Weddings' and we understand just how important that occasion is to you and your guests. That's why on February 19th 2012, will be hosting a "Wedding Afternoon".

View our boutique Ardilaun Wedding Suite and the intimate and very popular B’s Private Dinning Suite. Open from 3 – 6pm and admission on the day is complimentary!

In addition to the banqueting rooms being dressed, you will have the opportunity to meet with our wedding specialists, who are here to give advice and tips on how to have your perfect wedding. On the day our Head Chef Pat Ryan will be on hand to discuss his wedding menus and assist in creating your dream meal!

Pop in for a peep or sit down one to one with our very experienced wedding team and receive expert advice and opinion!

We really look forward to meeting you on the day!

A Toast to Tapas!

Our Taste of West, North & Mid Cork Tapas Platter

Who doesn't love tapas? They are the ideal, chilled out , perfect for entertaining dish, fit for any occasion. But where did this delectable dish come from and gain such popularity?

Tapas are Spain's greatest food invention. "Eat when you drink, drink when you eat" is the philosophy. Spanish men traditionally drink outside the home and rarely alone. They are not meant to be a meal (although a ración is a substantial portion). One tapa per person and a different one with each drink is the idea, then everyone enjoys tasting and sharing. Tapas food is real food - good local ingredients presented with flair.


Here at the Castle Hotel Macroom, we too offer a deliciously unique tapas platter, involving local ingredients from the finest producers in our locality.


Jack McCarthy’s of Kanturk Black Pudding
When Queen Elizabeth visited Ireland in 2011, McCarthy’s black pudding was served at the state banquet. It was chosen because of the quality and flavour imparted by the fresh blood from free range pigs, Macroom Pinhead Oatmeal, fresh cream and butter from North Cork Dairy and Midelton Special Reserve Whiskey.

Follain Chutney
Based in Coolea, Macroom, Co. Cork, making Fresh Fruit Preserves, Marmalades, Jams, Relishes, Salsas and Chutneys. They create these delicious products from 100% natural ingredients. They also avoid the use of any obscure flavourings, additives or preservatives common to so many of prepared foods on the market today. A 100-year old Irish recipe, passed on through several generations, was the secret to Folláin’s first product, a chunky Grapefruit Marmalade which was launched back in 1983.


Coolea Farmhouse Cheese
Coolea Cheese is made from a very old Dutch Gouda recipe. Using high quality pasteurised cows milk, Coolea Cheese is ripened to a minimum of two months. It's texture is semi-hard to hard, when matured up to 18 months it’s taste becomes sweet, almost toffee like. Coolea Cheese is now sold all over Ireland, the United Kingdom, Wales, Scotland and their cheese mongers distribute the cheese all over the world.

Ardrahan farm House Cheese
handmade by Mary Burns at Ardrahan House Kanturk Co. Cork. This mature cheese exhibits all the classic characteristics of A farmhouse semi soft cheese. Its' pronounced aroma indicates maturity and correct development.

Macroom Oatmeal
This is used to make our adored brown soda loaf here in the Castle Hotel. It is stoned ground from freshly roasted oats and manufactured at Walton's Mill Macroom Co. Cork. Macroom oatmeal is favoured by highly acclaimed food Critics and chefs such as Darina & Myrtle Allen of Ballymaloe House and John & Sally Mckenna of the Bridgestone Guide to Good Food.

Gubbeen Chorizo Provensal
Artison made by Fingal Ferguson, using only quality ingredients, time and care - a marriage of traditional and modern flavours. This is produced in Schull Co. Cork Ireland.

Toonsbridge Mozzarella

Ireland's only buffalo mozzarella producer resides in the west cork area of Toonsbridge, just outside Macroom. Johnny Lynch's creamery is the place where this delicious, mouth watering soft cheese is produced, along with the help of cheesemaker Sean Ferry and Toby Simmonds of the Real Olive Company.

Pop in and enjoy our "Taste of West, Mid & North Cork Tapas Platter" in our award winning Dan Buckley's Bar and let your taste buds be tantalised!

Staycation with us!

With all the talk about “Staycations” in the press these days, We here at the Castle Hotel thought it would be appropriate to shed light on the many wonderful sites that the surrounding areas of the hotel have to offer to visitors of our wonderful region.

Using the Castle Hotel as the base for your “Staycation” allows you to enjoy an array of historical sites and events that are occurring in the area. Below are samples of the various places and things to do while spending your holiday with us:

Summer Walking Weekends
Walking is the perfect way to explore the Lee Valley. Encircled by the Shehy, Derrynasaggart and Boggeragh Mountains there are miles of wonderful walking with stories to be told.

We offer a fantastic walking package which includes 2 nights luxurious accommodation, 1 evening meal & complimentary use of The Leisure Club to ease out those tired limbs!

The next available Walking Weekend Dates are: August 12-14 and September 16-18.The weekends will consist of three walks:

Friday evening: 8.00-9.00pm: Introductory tour of Macroom by streetlight: See where Art O Leary met his love Eibhla­n Dubh Na­ Chonaill and where William Penn lived.

Saturday: 9.00 - 4.00pm: The Paps. This twin-peaked mountain is dedicated to the Tuatha de Danaan Goddess, Dana or Anu and is a focal point of Celtic spirituality. This is a lovely climb with ascent from 200m to 694m. 6-7 miles.

Sunday: 9.00 - 12.00pm: A trek in the post glacial oak forest of the Gearagh near Macroom town with information on its formation, special habitat characteristics and human story.

Catherine Ketch of Lee Valley Walking has been running guided tours and walks in the Macroom area for the past ten years. A trained local guide she has an MA in Geography as well as a keen interest in local history and environment. Route may change due to weather conditions. For further details on the walks contact Lee Valley Walking.

Price: From €189 pp
Enquiry here!

Fill your picnic basket at Macroom Market with fine food like olives, feta cheese, home made bread and sun dried tomatoes and head to Gougane Barra the source of The Lee, St. Finbarr’s Hermitage, fishing, boating walks and much more.

Take a trip to Sherkin Island by ferry from Baltimore. Easy to explore on foot and home to the safest, sandiest beaches in the area.

Hop on The Cable Car to Dursey Island, connected to the mainland of the Beara Penninsula and hosting some spectacular views.

Take the scenic route from Kenmare and onwards to Glengarriff & Tropical Garnish Island.
Killarney, a host of opportunites await, including Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, The Sparkling Lakes & National Park.

A statutory Nature Reserve, The Gearagh, represents the remains of the last Post-Glacial Alluvial Rain Forest found in Western Europe, which was formed at the end of the Ice Age. There are over one hundred species of flowers, plants and ferns to be found here. Opened May 2009, new Bird Observation Tower.

Catch a show at the Briery Gap our local theatre. Have a look at the exciting line up for the next few weeks:
Louise Morrissey and her Band

Tickets €20

*************
Musiclee presents on
Thursday 21st July @ 8.30 pm

Folk the Recession

Bringing together five of Ireland's top folk acts Eleanor Shanley,Séamus Begley, Frankie Lane,
Mick Hanly & Paul Kelly for an exceptional evening of music, story and song.

Tickets €20

*************

Friday 22nd July @ 8.30 pm

Liam Lawton

Tickets €20

Learn To Water Ski!

Carrig Water Ski and Wakeboard Centre will provide all equipment necessary - wetsuits, skis and buoyancy aids - along with top class coaching whether you are a beginner or an experienced skier. They have 2 purpose built Ski Nautique 196 boats and a fantastic lake to provide you with an unforgettable experience as part of your visit. Ladies and gents shower facilities are available on site as are bbq and kitchen facilities if required. Ample car parking available, wheelchair friendly and have beautiful viewing areas complete with picnic tables for use by all visitors.

We have a fantastic package available- enjoy 2 nights Bed & Traditional Country Breakfast, 1 Dinner for two and learn to water ski from €155 pp!

Enquire Here!

There are plenty of things to see and do in our area so why not come and visit us and experience for yourself!

http://www.castlehotel.ie/

" Celebrating 60 years in business"

Daddy Cool !!!

"Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad."

This Father's Day, forget buying your dad the usual gift of a new pair of socks and instead spoil him with a Castle Hotel Diamond Card. This gift card is the ideal present and valid for use in all areas of the hotel; from cafe to bar & restaurant and even our Leisure Club and Holistic Therapy Suite.

We are looking forward to welcoming all those who have booked lunch and dinner with us but if you haven't and wish to do so give us a call at 02641074!

Hotel Room Made of Chocolate!

So we've seen it all now...................... A hotel in Paris has just released this photo showing The Karl Largerfeld Hotel Room made entirely of chocolate! (Including the male model, painted with the sweet stuff!).

Largerfeld has been working with the hotel and the ice-cream company Magnum in creating this design. But sadly NO, you can't sleep here! (but how cool would it be to stay here..... just to take a bit of the armchair if one got peckish!) Sounds like the things dreams are made of!

At The Castle Hotel we can't promise Chocolate Bedrooms or even chocolate models but we can promise New Contemporary Bedrooms, Kingsize Beds, Whirlpool baths, Pillow Menus, Robes, Slippers, Room Service, Breakfast in Bed.....................Tempted?

Head Chef Pat Ryan Makes Easter Easy!

Roasted Rack of Easter Lamb

Serves 4

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
* 2 tablespoons minced garlic
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
*
* 1 (7 bone) rack of lamb, trimmed
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon black pepper
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Move oven rack to the center position.
2. In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, garlic, rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss in 2 tablespoons olive oil to moisten mixture. Set aside.
3. Season the rack all over with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy oven proof skillet over high heat. Sear rack of lamb for 1 to 2 minutes on all sides. Set aside for a few minutes. Brush rack of lamb with the mustard. Roll in the bread crumb mixture until evenly coated. Cover the ends of the bones with foil to prevent charring.
4. Arrange the rack bone side down in the skillet. Roast the lamb in preheated oven for 12 to 18 minutes, depending on the degree of redness you want! With a meat thermometer, take a reading in the center of the meat after 10 to 12 minutes and remove the meat, or let it cook longer, to your taste. Let it rest for 5 to 7 minutes, loosely covered, before carving between the ribs.

Enjoy and Happy Easter!

We invite 'Ladies Who Brunch' to Royal Wedding Event!

The Castle Hotel, Macroom will host a Royal Wedding Brunch to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday 29th April in aid of Down Syndrome Cork. This unique charity event will take place from 10.30am in the Ardilaun Banqueting Suite of the Castle Hotel.







Guests will be treated to teas, coffees and scones with clotted cream as the Royal Wedding is showcased on the Big Screen from 11am. It is estimated hundreds of thousands of onlookers will line the streets of London as Berkshire-born Kate Middleton finally marries her prince in Westminster Abbey where 15 Royal Weddings have already taken place.







Over 1,900 people have been invited to the Royal Wedding which will be an even grander event than that of Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981. Among the celebrities who reportedly received the gilded invitations are David Beckham, with whom William worked closely with on England's bid for the 2018 World Cup, and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham. Other rumoured invitees include Elton John, a friend of William's late mother, Diana, and Kanye West, whom William selected to perform at a 2007 tribute to Diana. Irish rugby star Brian O’Driscoll and his wife Amy Huberman as well are expected to attend, if Brian’s rugby commitments don’t clash!







Speaking about the event, Owner of the Castle Hotel Don Buckley said, “There has been so much interest in the Royal Wedding that we thought we should do something to commemorate the day. Charles and Diana got married in 1981 when we were 30 years in business and this Royal Wedding takes place when we’re 60 years in business so we thought it would be fitting to do something around it and, at the same time, give something back to a fantastic charity”.

"Down Syndrome Cork is such an incredible charity that we thought it would be fitting that we give something back to an organisation which has done so much for so many people in the region.”







Tickets for the event cost €10 per person and are available from the Castle Hotel and Down Syndrome Cork.







For further information or to purchase a ticket, call the Castle Hotel on (026) 41074 or contact Down Syndrome Ireland www.downsyndrome.ie