Ballygally Castle has concluded its 400th anniversary celebrations with the planting of a commemorative time capsule on the historic castle grounds, marking the final milestone in a year-long programme which honoured heritage, hospitality and community.
The time capsule brings together a curated collection of items that reflect both the hotel’s past and present. Among the contents are a specially brewed anniversary beer and commemorative candle, both created to mark the 400-year milestone; a Games of Thrones booklet, recognising the hotel’s connection to the globally acclaimed television series, which includes the iconic Game of Thrones Door, carved from wood salvaged from trees that feel at the Dark Hedges and now permanently displayed in the hotel’s Garden Restaurant; and the last Hastings Hotels duck ever produced.
Throughout the anniversary year, Ballygally Castle hosted a series of events designed to celebrate its history and reinforce its role at the heart of the local community. The hotel took pride in featuring some of the local supplier partnerships – this included the introduction of included a 400th anniversary beer brewed in Northern Ireland with Whitewater Brewery and an in-room spa seaweed treatment with seaweed sourced from The Irish Seaweed Company in Carnlough – showcasing the hotel’s belief that local collaboration enhances the guest experience.
Scott Weatherup, General Manager of Ballygally Castle said: “As a team, we were so proud to mark the castle’s 400th anniversary and look back on the incredible journey our beautiful property has had. The success of the celebrations is a reflection of the dedication of our staff, the loyalty of our guests and the ongoing support of the local community.
The events throughout the year allowed us to honour our history while creating new moments with the people who make Ballygally Castle what it is today. One of my personal favourites was the community sea swim and BBQ which brought together residents and guests, underlying the hotel’s long standing relationship with the local community.”
“As we conclude our 400th anniversary celebrations with the sealing and planting of our time capsule, we are not only reflecting on 400 years of history, but also looking ahead with excitement as we build on the momentum of the past 12 months. We move forward with confidence, rooted in our community and focused on delivering unique, first-class experiences for generations to come – and as I wrote in the letter placed in the time capsule: ‘with pride, gratitude and optimism for centuries ahead’,” Scott concluded.