Don't Click the Pic...

Lissanoure Castle
Originally uploaded by di_juice.

Unless you happen to have an enduring interest in wedding venues or a long standing love of estates and hotels in Northern Ireland. ;) Six venues in one day and here are the photos to prove it. If you do look at the pics - notice how dramatically the weather changes in one day. It is really something. We visited: Lissanoure Castle (Co. Antrim), Malone House (South Belfast), Clandeboye Estate (Bangor, Co, Antrim), Crawfordsburn Inn (Co. Down), Galgorm Manor (Co. Antrim) and The Culloden Hotel (Holywood, that's pronounced Hollywood but with one l for extra badness... or goodness...or something, Co. Antrim)

Thank god for our new hoopty or there's no way we could have covered so much ground in one day. It was actually kind of fun to check out all these different spaces and towns and the like. My faves from this trip were Malone House and Lissanoure Castle where I had to stand on Tom's shoulders to see into the courtyard as it was locked up and no one was around. It would probably have been comical to see for anyone other than Tom who had my feet in his face...haha.

As is the way in Northern Ireland, the residents of any given place make it very obvious, "whose side they're on." Tom almost turned around on our way to Galgorm Manor as the nearby towns were absolutely plastered with union jacks, northern ireland red and white flags, scottish flags and any other flag or bunting you can think of in to suggest to you that you are in loyalist country. Don't even think about being Irish in these parts. Galgorm Manor is rumored to be giving kick-backs to the LVF (Loyalist Paramilitary) and after our visit, I wouldn't be surprised if it's true. Tom was getting all hot under the collar just being there so I suppose it won't be the best venue... Good thing it wasn't that nice cuz I suppose it wouldn't be ideal to fund a bunch a gangsters who beat up the local icecream man if he doesn't kick back some cookies...

Crawfordsburn Inn was quite Proddy-doddy as well but in a very posh type way although there was an Orange Hall decorated with Union Jacks across the street which meant that Tom needed to be dragged inside to even look at the place ;). Very pretty in an English Countryside way except for the actual banquet hall itself which looked like it jumped out of Pretty in Pink circa 1985...eek. Notice also, the pic of bride and bridesmaids with full on tan-in-a-can action happening...haha.

The Clandeboye Estate has gorgeous stonework and were having some sort of BBC classical concert happening when we were there (Lolo would have approved.) Pretty courtyard and a bell tower full of doves. Unfortunately, the main hall looks wicked medieval with lots of dead, white guys hanging on the walls - but still kind of cool - dead guys and all. Nice Big windows and cool wicker-type chairs.

Lissanoure is a farm and a castle so there were lots of cows and sheep and a pond and a little stone bridge going over a stream and a pond with geese and such. We peeked in the windows to see the inside which is fairly nice with Yellow walls although U shaped and a bit small. They have a big, icky, function hall behind it if you want to have an event with more than 100 peeps but yuk, it reminded me of summer camp on a rainy day.

Malone house was pretty cool too but doesn't hold as many peeps as the Belfast Castle - only 110-120 at the most. Lots of light and high ceilings. Pretty surrounding countryside but no ocean nearby.

Anyway, you get the idea. Promise the blog won't become the journal of Bridezilla but thought a few people (or maybe just my mom ;)) would like to take a look.

And just in case you didn't notice on your own (if you're color blind or over 80 years old) don't forget to check out the shockingly bad taste in carpets that are ubiquitous here... impossible to get away from - bright red with blue flowers, bright blue, bright yellow...and lest you think this is just for function halls - these textile delights can be found in numerous private homes... Amazing.

Love to you all.