The owner of Castle Leslie, where Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills celebrated their wedding, yesterday revealed plans to develop the estate into a 1,000-acre international equestrian holiday destination.
Samantha Leslie's plans were outlined at Donegal Circuit Civil Court when she successfully applied for planning permission to convert a hunting lodge on the estate, in Glaslough, Co Monaghan, to a hotel.
It means she will be able to serve a wide variety of alcohol in the converted lodge. The castle, although often described as a hotel, is really an upmarket guest house because it does not have a licence to serve spirits.
Moreover, because it does not have formal hotel status only beer and wine are allowed with meals in the restaurant.
The castle does not qualify for hotel status because several amenities are absent. There are no phones in the rooms, no locks on the doors, no reception desk, no television sets and all guests must be over 18.
Ms Leslie (38) said after the hearing that although the estate was undergoing a €10 million refurbishment she aimed to retain the current atmosphere.
Earlier, licensing law expert Constance Cassidy SC told the court that Ms Leslie was "single-handedly" managing the estate since her return from London in 2002.
Everest climber Dawson Stelfox is architect for the refurbishment. He gave evidence that fire officers had no objection on safety grounds to the plans.
Judge John O'Hagan said: "I can't help but make comment that I see no disco in the plans." Ms Leslie told the court that the estate would be increasing its workforce from 86 to 120.