Since I was interviewed for the radio programme on Countrywide some weeks ago, I’ve received many comments and questions about Garrendenny, the townsland where I live and love so I thought I’d share some information about it here, especially as it forms part of the name of the online shop now.

This is the front of Garrendenny Castle now – looking rather sorry for itself, doesn’t it? I lived here until I was 5 so it has only been derelict for decades but I think it was held together with sticking plaster back then! It is right beside our milking parlour now and gives the cows a nice backdrop as they come in to be milked.

I really must do some more research about the dates and the scanty information I have. It was owned by Lord Galmoy in the 19th century, Garrett Butler who was a poor relation of the Butlers of Kilkenny  Castle. And a poor relation he was too as although this is called a castle, the original castle was three stories, 2 rooms on the ground floor, a high ceilinged large room on the first floor and 2 small bedrooms on the top floor, all connected by a wooden staircase in the tower. I think it was the late 18th or early 19th century that a two-storey extension was added on (to the left as you can see in the first photograph).

The story goes that Galmoy’s wife went mad and was put away (the house wasn’t large enough for the attic I guess – no Jane Eyre attic here), he couldn’t marry his new love but they had children. Apparently they were still received by society although they were illegitimate but struggled to afford the clothes and other trappings that would have given them equality in society.  Apparently locals would have called them Sir and Madam so they were regarded as gentry all the same.  Our ‘road gate’ is still referred to locally as the Lord’s Gate.

In 1908, my grandfather’s uncle bought Garrendenny, Herbert Sixsmith.  He was a bachelor at the time and sounds to be been a quiet, unassuming man. He married the sister of the local schoolteacher and the wedding was a quiet affair. Apparently he was making hay in Taylor’s field with other men, threw the pitchfork down, said he’d be back in a while, rolled down his sleeves and walked the mile to the local church where they married with about 2 guests and he returned to the hayfield while his new wife moved into the castle.

They were childless and he died in 1939, and his wife died in 1946.  My grandfather George Sixsmith inherited the farm and moved up from Fenagh, (selling his farm, investing in war bonds and losing the lot). My father  Joseph Sixsmith was 7 then.

Garrendenny Castle is now a shell, we do get asked occasionally if we are going to restore it and yes, it would be a fabulous project. Unfortunately, even throwing €100,000 at it wouldn’t achieve much and we seem to be investing every penny in the farm itself at the moment.  We did consider restoring the stable and coachhouse to living accommodation when we first returned from England but they were just too close to the farmyard (10 feet to a huge slurry tank!).

When my daughter was younger, we used to tell her she is a princess and built her a castle bed so she would sleep in it! but she was tickled pink by the fact that I used to live in a castle until I was 5 and she used to ask if I was a princess back then!

For now, Garrendenny Castle remains a striking ruin through the leafless trees on a winter’s day and is sheltered from view by leafy trees during the summer months.

Why did I call my business Garrendenny Lane? I liked the idea of calling it something like Blackberry Lane or Blueberry Lane but couldn’t fix on an idea. Brian thought of incorporating Garrendenny into it and as Garrendenny Castle Interiors sounded way too grand and pretentious, I settled for Garrendenny Lane (and yes, there is a real Garrendenny Lane that was once used as a short cut running behind the farm)

If you heard me chatting on Countrywide this morning, this was the Aw Go On print we were talking about and these are the Greengate items. I haven’t had the courage to listen to it yet but apparently they edited out the bit where I said Greengate is from Denmark.

If you would like to listen to the interview, it is on RTE Countrywide here, about 12 minutes into the programme.

Our Greengate order left Denmark last Thursday and the new stock from the new collection will be here towards the end of next week

I’m at Maison D’Objet today, so I’m looking forward to bringing you news of some of the latest design trends as well as some new suppliers I’ll be discovering hopefully. Hope you have a good week,

Au revoir

I’m a tad late doing the draw – the weekend just flew by. Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, Scout carol service and then as Brian was taking the children to see his mum yesterday, I decided to bite the bullet and paint the living room.  I’m in my painting clothes as I type this as there’s a couple of place near the ceiling that I’m about to touch up, then its attack the weekend orders

Many thanks for all the entries and the lovely comments on my 1000th blog post and I’m delighted to say the winner is Cait, at number 9 who has won the farmhouse bag for her son.

Well, here we are – 1000 posts in just under 4 years and particularly as it is coming up to Christmas it seems the perfect time to have a giveaway – both to celebrate the 1000 posts and to say thank you to you all for reading my ramblings and news for some of that time.

If you’d like to enter the giveaway (and please do – the more the merrier) just tell us which product you would like to win from the shop (under €50/£50/$75) and I’ll draw the winning number/name using the random number generator on Saturday.

Good luck, we despatch almost all over the world so do have a go and tell your friends