An escape to royally suit the Sussexit
YOU may have heard that the royal family next door is having a few problems. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle want to relocate to Canada. It’s not been a pretty sight. It’s almost as if they’re trying a new version of The Crown on Netflix — a sort of In The Thick Of It set in Buckingham Palace.
To be honest, if the scriptwriters of The Crown get a move on, they’ll be able to get Meghan to play herself in the series.
Whatever, it seems that the young family are headed for Canada.
Of course, the royal couple don’t need to go that far to avoid the palace, Sandringham, Balmoral etc. Because Harry, a well as being Duke of Sussex, is also Baron Kilkeel of Kilkeel in the County of Down.
OK, Kilkeel may not be as woke as Vancouver, but it does have its attractions.
1 Kilkeel was, in ancient times, the centre of the Kingdom of Mourne; today it’s the main fishing port in the area. The harbour is home to a large fleet of trawlers and a slightly smaller fleet of resident harbour seals.
2 In the Mourne Presbyterian church graveyard stands a headstone (1793) commemorating a revenue officer who ‘fell by a ball discharged by an unknown murderer’ – eloquent testimony to how seriously the smuggling trade was taken here.
3 Five miles away and you’re into the Mournes. You’ll soon spot the Mourne Wall. OK, at 22 miles long this isn’t exactly the Great Wall of China, but it’s impressive nonetheless. This dry stone granite battlement stretches from peak to peak, enclosing the reservoirs of the wild and remote Silent Valley and Ben Crom. Standing five feet high along most of its length, it was constructed early in the 20th century to keep animals away from the Belfast water supply.
4 Kilkeel has some great accommodation at Hanna’s Close. This is a meticulously restored ‘clachan’ — the Ulster Scots word for a farming settlement, a closelyknit collection of cottages, barns and outhouses. Built in 1640, the fully renovated cottages look out on to the open expanse of the Mournes — true bleak chic.
In fact this would make the perfect place for Harry and Meghan — they could rename one of the cottages Dunwavin. The House of Sussex cut down to size. This would be an ideal place to begin their new career as influencers, wellness bloggers, brand connectors and what-not.
5 If the Sussexes don’t fancy selfcatering, Carlingford is just a 15-minute ferry ride away where they’ll find the finest accommodation on the east coast of Ireland — actually, probably the finest anywhere. Ghan House in Carlingford is an18th Georgian house discreetly hidden behind high walls, some the remnants of a 12th century Dominican friary. A model of elegance and sophistication, there’s a romantic snug bar, which almost demands you get up to no good, plus award-winning restaurant, intimate candle-lit dining rooms, open fires. Bliss.