Hotels
John Doherty
5-star Lough Eske Castle leads the way in ...

Lough Eske Castle, County Donegal’s only five-star hotel, has taken a significant step forward in sustainable hospitality through a comprehensive suite of eco-conscious initiatives. Leading the way is the castle’s full transition to renewable energy, achieved through a long-term partnership with a leading green electricity provider. The historic estate is now powered entirely by clean, renewable energy marking a key milestone in its ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and aligning with Ireland’s national sustainability goals.

This move to renewable power is just one part of the castle’s broader mission to embed sustainability into every aspect of its operations.

5-star Lough Eske Castle leads the way in eco-luxury with sustainability overhaul
Art
John Doherty
Lucian Freud & me: The real 'Donegal Man' ...

Irish Examiner - A major exhibition of Lucian Freud's work is currently on at Titanic Belfast. Marc O'Sullivan spoke to two of the key people who were involved with the German/British painter

Pat Doherty has the distinction of having sat for three portraits – two paintings and a copperplate etching – by the legendary British painter Lucian Freud. 

Several copies of the etching feature in the exhibition, Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration, which has just launched at Titanic Belfast in partnership with the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Lucian Freud & me: The real 'Donegal Man' on his encounters with the great artist
Art
John Doherty
Freud exhibition with new immersive experience ...

A free exhibition celebrating the work of Lucian Freud has opened at Titanic Belfast, in collaboration with the V&A, giving visitors the chance to view over 60 of the renowned artist’s famous etchings as well as a new immersive experience created by the world-famous attraction.

Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration exhibition runs from Friday 2nd May until Tuesday 30th September in the Andrews Gallery on Level 2 of Titanic Belfast and charts Freud’s development as an etcher, from his early, tentative explorations to his later mastery of flesh and form through line.

Artwork featured in the exhibition will include Bella in Her Pluto T-Shirt (1995); Woman Sleeping (1995); Self-portrait: Reflection (1996); Pluto Aged 12 (2000) and Donegal Man (2007) – which has a special connection to Titanic Belfast as the sitter was Pat Doherty, the visitor attraction’s Chairman.

Freud exhibition with new immersive experience opens at Titanic Belfast
John Doherty
Harcourt Hotels Collection report strong start ...

The Harcourt Collection has announced a strong start to 2025, reporting group revenues up by 10% for the first quarter compared to the same period last year. The Ulster properties, Lough Eske Castle, Redcastle Hotel & Spa and Titanic Hotel Belfast, have been standout performers, recording an impressive 16% growth in total revenues year-on-year. The significant uplift was further bolstered by the €5 million investment in the Donegal Suites extension at Lough Eske Castle, launched late last year, which has helped deliver a remarkable 23% increase in revenue, against the same quarter in 2024.

Hotels
John Doherty
Think you know Belfast? Try this gem of the ...

Belfast Newsletter - Well well well. There is a whole different side to Belfast that I suggest many people have been totally unaware of - to their loss. So you are familiar with city centre shopping, Belfast City Hall, The Cathedral Quarter, the Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens, the Golden Mile, the Victoria Square and environs, Lisburn Road and the Troubles Tours in the west of the city?

But what about the Titanic Quarter as a weekend leisure designation?
Never thought of it? Me Neither.

But that all changed with a stay in the delightful Titanic Hotel.

Think you know Belfast? Try this gem of the Titanic Hotel Belfast on the 'hidden' Maritime Mile

Companies’ contribution to the arts ‘truly enriches our society’

Companies’ contribution to the arts ‘truly enriches our society’

Irish Examiner - HARCOURT Developments and Heritage Properties were among the winners of the Allianz Business to Arts awards, which were presented in Dublin last night by President Mary McAleese.

The awards, now in their 16th year, honour the contribution of businesses in Ireland to the arts.

President McAleese said last night: “The arts flourish where patronage is strong… At this event we get a clear view of what corporate social responsibility can accomplish when it allies itself to the arts.”

Peace fuels prosperity in NI

Peace fuels prosperity in NI

Irish Independent - The timing of the latest political breakthrough in Northern Ireland could scarcely have been more opportune for the ambitious £5bn Titanic Quarter project in Belfast - Europe's biggest waterfront regeneration project.

Final curtain on Smith Square - sold for £30m

Final curtain on Smith Square - sold for £30m

Daily Telegraph - The new owner of the former Conservative Central Office has spoken of the “buzz” of buying the site of 50 years of Tory election victories, and back stabbings and plots. 

The Daily Telegraph revealed today how Conservative Party has sold its famous former head office in Smith Square, Westminster, for £30.5 million.

The buyer is Irish property company Harcourt Developments, which counts Andrew Parker Bowles, former husband of Camilla, as one of its non-executive directors.

Building on what lies beneath

Building on what lies beneath

Irish Times - Vivienne Roche's sculpture garden in Park West reflects the presence of an ancient burial ground under the modern apartment blocks, writes Aidan Dunne, Art Critic

Park West, a residential, business and industrial development bounded by the M50, the Grand Canal and the main line from Heuston Station, is singularly well served with prominently positioned sculptures.

Relaunch for Titanic shipyard

Relaunch for Titanic shipyard

Daily Telegraph - The derelict shipyard where the Titanic was built is to benefit from a £1 billion plan that will see it transformed into the largest waterfront development in Europe.

The docks, which were once the industrial hub of Belfast, are to be converted into a new maritime quarter with houses, businesses, leisure facilities and tourism developments.

The regeneration of the Titanic Quarter on Queen's Island is being led by the American architect Eric Kuhne, who has been responsible for similar developments all over the world including Darling Harbour in Sydney and Mid Valley Gardens in Kuala Lumpur.

Northern Ireland's largest-ever development will create …

Antigua: The Big Easy

Antigua: The Big Easy

The Times - A luxurious winter break in the Caribbean provided the perfect opportunity for Julie Burchill to indulge her passion for hotels.

Maybe it’s something to do with being one of Mother Nature’s runaways, but I’ve never understood why so many otherwise sensible people have a problem with hotels - more specifically, why people who could afford to stay at gorgeous hotels choose to hire villas instead.

I grew up in a working-class family, yet when we went to the seaside it was to a B&B - never a flat - and when we went to Butlin’s it was full-board, never self-catering. My parents regarded those who chose to do their own cooking on holiday as uptight, penny-pinching freaks, and as in all things they were so right.

New look for Donegal centre

New look for Donegal centre

Irish Independent - LETTERKENNY Shopping Centre, Port Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal has been re-launched after a major upgrade. A new extension has more than doubled the size of the centre to 11,710 sq m from 5,110 sq m retail space.

This includes a brand new 4,182 sq m Tesco and 3,700 sq m Penneys plus new Benetton, Jack & Jones, Paco, Exibit and Sasha fashion outlets.

In addition to the extension, the existing centre was entirely refit in an ultra-modern style and the centre has been re-branded. A land acquisition increased car parking to 750 spaces.

The art of property enjoys awards success

The art of property enjoys awards success

Irish Independent - THE property world was to the fore at this year's Allianz Business2Arts Awards with two of the six awards presented to leading property groups.

Harcourt Developments and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority did the sector proud by figuring prominently among the award winners.

As an integral part of developing Park West Business Park, Harcourt Developments - headed by Pat Doherty - has commissioned sculptures, water features and site specific artworks for both the exterior and the interior landscapes.

Park West campus wins Opus Building of the Year award

Park West campus wins Opus Building of the Year award

Irish Times - Park West business campus on the edge of the M50 in west Dublin has finally got the recognition it deserves. Apart from being one of the great successes of the current property boom, the entire project has won an Opus Building of the Year Award for its architectural achievements. Tim Darmody of Project Architects was commended for his architectural skill and his ability to "raise the standard of speculative office parks above the basic norm."

£1 billion business park at edge of city set to become top commercial centre

£1 billion business park at edge of city set to become top commercial centre

Irish Times - A £1 billion business park is rapidly taking shape on a 200-acre site alongside the M50 in west Dublin. Park West, a state-of-the-art development within the city boundary, has transport links spanning three generations - it includes a canal, a railway and motorways - and is well on the way to becoming one of the country's most important business centres, with more than two million sq. ft of commercial buildings