Castle Leslie features in final Delaney programme

TV3's series ‘Tales of Irish Castles’ concludes with a visit to Castle Leslie in Monaghan.

The luxurious castle was saved from being burnt out by Irish republicans in the 1920s due to the generosity of the owner of the local village during the Great Famine 50 years before.

Simon Delaney gains access to exclusive home movie footage of Mick Jagger from The Rolling Stones’staying in Castle Leslie in the 1960s. Castle Leslie was also the wedding venue for The Beatles legend Paul McCartney when he married Heather Mills in June 2002.

Sir John Leslie, 4th Baronet, who will be turning 98 this December and who was handed down the castle from his late father, still lives in Castle Leslie today, where he grew up.

The series finale of ‘Tales of Irish Castles’ airs this Sunday 27th July at 6.15pm on TV3.

Tales of Irish Castles is an entertaining and engaging documentary series exploring the great stories and characters associated with the most beautiful, notorious and historical castles built across Ireland.

Presented by Simon Delaney and featuring specially shot re-enactments, archive footage and contributions from Ireland’s leading historians, archaeologists and castle owners, the series finale reflects on how we should view these important buildings today not just as part of our heritage, but also a vital part of history as Simon explores the state of Ireland and its castles during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Famine and the land wars were a time of great change in Ireland where tenant and landlord relations disintegrated. Followed by the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and then the Civil War in the early decades of the 20th century, some of Ireland’s most prestigious and historical castles were mostly abandoned or destroyed.

This final episode details the state of Irish castles during these periods of unrest and features amongst others the stately home of Castle Leslie. A haven for the rich and famous, the castle was saved from being burnt out by Irish republicans in the 1920s due to the generosity of the owner of the local village during the Great Famine 50 years before. Castle Leslie Estate’s colorful history is awash with politics, royalty and war. The Leslie family has lived on the Estate since 1665. The land was purchased with a £2000-reward given to John Leslie, the fighting bishop, by King Charles II.

While visiting Castle Leslie, Simon Delaney meets Sir John Leslie, 4th Baronet, who will be turning 98 this December and who was handed down the castle from his late father. Owing to ill health, from five years in a prisoner of war camp, Sir John Leslie transferred the Estate over to his sister Anita and lived the next 40 years in Rome until his return home to the Castle Leslie Estate in 1994 where he still lives. Anita later moved to Oranmore in Galway and transferred the property to her younger brother Desmond. In 1991 Desmond handed the Estate over to his five children and the Castle Leslie Estate is now run by his daughter Samantha Leslie, who brings Simon on a private tour of the castle. Simon gains access to exclusive home movie footage of Mick Jagger from ‘The Rolling Stones’, who stayed there in the 1960s and reflects on archive footage of ‘The Beatles’ legend Paul McCartney’s marriage to Heather Mills in June 2002.

Tales Of Irish Castles is produced by Sideline Productions for TV3, funded by the BAI and hosted by award winning actor Simon Delaney. The series finale of ‘Tales of Irish Castles’ airs this Sunday 27thJuly at 6.15pm on TV3.