Christian organisation is new owner of Castledaly Manor

The historic Castledaly Manor, which operated as a hotel until recently, has become the first major premises in the Republic of Ireland to be purchased by the Christian group Bible Centred Ministries (BCM). The building, thought to be over 300 years old, is now a site for events such as Christian retreats, conferences and summer Bible camps. The purchase of the Westmeath property by BCM Ireland was completed last summer, according to its director Richard Thompson. “We had been searching for a suitable facility for a number of years and after looking at and attempting to purchase other properties we successfully completed the purchase of Castledaly Manor,†said Mr Thompson. BCM has operated in the Republic of Ireland since the 1960s and is part of a global non-denominational ministry which is “dedicated to reaching children and developing churches worldwide.†Mr Thompson explained that the group had been to keen to secure a facility of its own, and that the purchase of Castledaly Manor has enabled it to explore a “far wider vision†than was possible in the past. “The desire to have our own camp and conference centre arose primarily from the difficulty in finding suitable accommodation at affordable prices to run our Summer Bible Club Camps. However, the acquisition of Castledaly Manor has facilitated a far wider vision,†he said. “Now in addition to running the summer camps for children and teens when suits best, and at affordable fees, we have a good facility to make available to the Christian Church / Community in this country. Already a number of churches and mission organisations have had retreats in the Manor where they were greatly blessed. “While our main focus is to serve the Christian Church / Community in Ireland we also welcome those from further afield. We have just hosted a conference with attendees from the UK, Germany and the USA in addition to those from Ireland, both north and south.†He added that the local premises will “facilitate BCM Ireland to provide a Christian environment with Bible teaching and activities helpful to the physical, mental, spiritual and social development of each visitor to the centre.†BCM International was founded in the United States in 1936 but did not reach the island of Ireland until it came to Lisburn, Co Down, in 1948. In 1965 it expanded to Newbridge in Kildare where it ran children's Bible clubs in the Curragh. Castledaly Manor previously offered hotel accommodation, with 20 en-suite rooms as well as a restaurant and bar, surrounded by 36 acres of mature woods and pasture.