The Hastings Hotel-owned Ballygally Castle on the Antrim coast road - famous for the phantom of the tragic Lady Isabella Shaw - has invested £400,000 to upgrade the iconic property ahead of a year-long programme of events and festivities to celebrate its 400 years.
Currently Northern Ireland’s only 17th-century building still in use as a residence today, it was built in 1625 by Scottish settler James Shaw, and remained in the Shaw family until the early 1800s before being sold to the Agnew family for £15,400.
It passed through several owners before entrepreneur Cyril Lord transformed it into a hotel in the early 1950s.
The late Sir William Hastings then acquired the property in 1966 for £40,000, beginning a legacy of continuous investment and preservation.
Over the past six decades, Hastings Hotels has invested more than £8m in the property, carefully maintaining its historic character while transforming it into a luxurious castle hotel.
Included in the current investment is the renovation of 18 coastal rooms and the Antrim Suite, including new carpets from Ulster Carpets and fabrics and furnishings throughout. The castle’s private dining space, the 1625 Room, has been renovated, and the lounge furniture has been upgraded.
Howard Hastings, chairman of Hastings Hotels said: “This unique property, steeped in history, is the jewel in the crown of Hastings Hotels and continues to go from strength to strength.
“My father purchased the hotel almost 60 years ago, and since then we have continued to invest significantly to provide an enjoyable visitor experience which includes a stunning location, luxurious accommodation, great food and not to forget our friendly resident ghost Lady Isabella, wife of Lord James Shaw.
“We have a brilliant team of 60 employees who are at the heart of Ballygally Castle and the hotel continues to be a significant economic driver, generating £1.6m to the local economy every year and attracting visitors from around the world.”
Scott Weatherup, general manager at Ballygally Castle, added: “We’re thrilled to celebrate 400 years of our castle on the coast and have put together a special calendar of events to mark this momentous occasion, including a murder mystery event, community BBQ and celebratory accommodation for our guests to avail of.
“We have also commissioned a timeline installation detailing some of the historic global events from over the last four centuries. It is fascinating and really shows the length of time that Ballygally Castle has been in existence – before the invention of the steam train, the American Declaration of Independence and even Shakespeare’s First Folio.”
