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"Paul Carroll has powerhoused Ghan House into one of the most successful restaurants with rooms. Lovely cooking, great wines, a chill out centre par excellence" John and Sally McKenna 2003 |
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"Ghan House itself is a destination restaurant address with superior cooking that is hugely enjoyable. Ghan House is one hot ticket." Best 100 places to stay in Ireland 2003 |
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"
The kitchen really shone, and the main courses and both our dishes
showed an admirable attention to detail.." |
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Your key address is the Carroll family's smashing Ghan House: lovely
rooms, great cooking...you'll need to book well in advance." John and Sally McKenna, Bridgestone Food Lovers Guide to Ireland October 2001 |
| "...in
a breathtaking setting at the foot of Slieve Foy. Situated only an
hour from Dublin or Belfast, Ghan House provides the ideal setting
from which to explore the area." Ireland on Sunday 17 October 99 |
| "
It has everything that one needs to mark it out as somewhere just
a little bit special - a long history, interesting architecture, sympathetic
decor and refurbishment and glorious cooking .From arriving at Ghan
House on the Friday evening until we left on the Sunday morning we
never once got back into the car. The town has much to offer..." The Irish News 10 July 99 |
Carlingford
has proved to be a popular destination for over 1000 years - raided by
the Vikings in the 8th and 9th centuries and then by the Normans in the
12th century!
It is now a listed Medieval Hertitage town - it has more ancient buildings
than any similar sized town in the whole of Ireland.
King Johns' castle (pre 1210) lies on a high rock guarding the entrance
to the harbour, Taff's castle (15th century) with its' crenellated battlements,
murder holes, slit windows for archers and barrel vaulted basement is
a fine example of a castlelated town house.
The mint was established in 1467 and it too stands today. Most of the town walls have gone but The Tholsel (or gate tower) remains in fine condition. The Heritage Centre is located in the tower of the original town wall, now part of the Old Carlingford Church. The ruins of Carlingford Abbey, a Dominican Friory was founded by Richard de Burgo, earl of Ulster in 1305.
Ghan
House
Built in 1727 by William
Stannus it is a fine example of a Georgian House. It is surrounded by
castellated walls and a guards tower. The drawing room on the first floor
has a decorative ceiling of roccoco plaster work of flower garlands and
medallion busts of the Stannus daughters.
From the basement there are 2 underground passageways (sadly blocked)
- 1 to the Heritage Centre behind the house and the other to the bakers
(now chemists) in the town. This latter tunnel was apparently used by
the silent order of monks who once lived on the site - they supplied the
local bakery but wished to avoid contact with people. Nowadays they would
use the Internet.