About Laurel Villa
Guest House, Magherafelt
This beautiful Magherafelt hotel standard accommodation has 5 individually styled bedrooms, all
en suite. From the wood-panelled dining room to the art nouveau detail
in the bedrooms, it oozes quality and style ... yet at a price to
suit most pockets! You'll get
a 5 star welcome that will have you wanting to return time and time again.
Check
Our Rates
It has the charm and ambience of an earlier age combined with
the comforts and amenities found in modern hotels or in a boutique hotel. Check out the photos
and then come and experience it for yourself. Laurel Villa is a place of accommodation where you can come as a stranger and leave as a friend!
Our Facilities: We have all the usual facilities one would
expect from a top-class establishment ... and a few extra ones thrown
in for good measure, including a unique Seamus
Heaney Exhibition and a Reading Room for genealogists
and local historians. We also have facilities for meetings
and training sessions which will suit small groups who value personal
service coupled with a more private setting. It is the ideal place for a Magherafelt holiday or a short break.
Our Food: At Laurel Villa we use only the finest produce,
locally sourced and as fresh as the wind that blows off the nearby
Slieve Gallen. We are a member of Good Food Ireland 2007, a guidebook
which is regarded as a beacon for all lovers of good food and quality
accommodation. A range of cooked breakfasts is available, including
the traditional Ulster Fry that we are famed for. All meals are
cooked to order and in a way which will appeal to the health-conscious
as well as satisfying the taste buds. Another of our specialties
is Gerardine's fresh fruit salad. A small herb garden produces fresh
garnishes and seasoning throughout the year and visitors are often
greeted by the smell of freshly baked traditional wheaten bread
as it wafts its way from the kitchen through the house.
There are a number of fine restaurants in Magherafelt Town and
we would especially recommend Sean and Helen Owens’ Gardiners
Restaurant. We will be happy to book a table for you at
this or indeed any restaurant of your choice. On special occasions we can provide dinner here on the premises at Laurel Villa for parties of eight to ten guests.
Our History: If you like to stay in places that are that
little bit different then you've found the right spot. This Victorian
house, built about 1870, has real character and a chequered history. Of the surviving nineteenth century buildings in Magherafelt, this is one of the most recognisable and interesting. It has featured in
the European Heritage Open Days scheme and has been described by
local historian Ivor Hawe as one of the landmark buildings of Magherafelt.
The house is believed to have been built by William John Derby
a local linen merchant and to have been occupied in it’s early years
by people from the medical profession. One of them was the famous
Dr. Mitchell Hunter a former surgeon to the Durham Light Infantry
who became a family doctor in this town. He was a familiar figure as he did his
rounds by pony and trap. His grand-daughter from Australia has
been a guest - view her comments on our Recommendations
Page. Dr. Hunter also acted as Deputy Medical Officer of
Magherafelt Workhouse.
Laurel Villa Bridal Party January 1918

Back L-R: Rev. McCammon, Mrs. McCammon, John Shiels, Mrs. Shiels, Rev. Hanson, Mrs. Hanson, Master Charlie Hunter
Front L-R: Mrs. Martin, Rev. Martin, Gertrude Hunter, Rev. James Graham(groom), Frances Hunter(bride), Mrs. Hunter, Dr. Mitchell Hunter
(Photo courtesy of Annie Lennox )
Excerpt from Mid-Ulster Mail, Saturday January 19 1918:
Interesting Magherafelt Wedding
A very interesting wedding took place in Union Road Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, 9th inst., the contracting parties being Rev. James Graham, B.A. Co. Monaghan, to Frances Mary, eldest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Hunter, Laurel Villa, Magherafelt. The bride entered the church leaning on her father's arm, who gave her away. She looked lovely in a beautiful dress of ivory georgetta, over satin, veil and wreath of orange blossoms, her only ornament being aquamarine and pearl pendant, the gift of the bridegroom. She carried a magnificent sheaf of madonna lillies. Miss Gertrude Hunter, the bride's sister, acted as bridesmaid. She looked charming in a dress of white georgetta, over silk, with little touches of pink and a pretty velure hat. She wore a pearl pendant, the bridegroom's gift, and carried a bouquet of pink carnations and asparagus fern. The bridegroom was attended by Rev. David Maybin, B.A., Cookstown. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. W.J.Hanson, assisted by Rev. Robert McCammon. A great number were present in the church to witness the happy event; the bridal party leaving the church amidst the happy congratulations of many friends and showers of confetti. They drove to Laurel Villa, the residence of the bride's father, where they were photographed, and after luncheon the happy couple left by carriage for Cookstown, en route mail train to Kingston, where the honeymoon was spent. The bride's going away costume was of tweed, with lovely velure hat and set of silver fox fur, the gift of the bride's mother.
Another former occupant of Laurel Villa was Monsignor John Ward
P.P. of Magherafelt who used it as a Parochial House for a time.
It was he who founded St.
Mary's Grammar School in 1927 It has gone on to establish
a superb reputation in academic and sporting circles. It's most recent musical production - Oliver - took place at The Grand Opera House in Belfast in November 2007.
Laurel Villa has also been at times both a dental surgery and
a veterinary surgery. Countless items are dotted around the house
which preserve the memory of these former residents, including a
collection of old medicine bottles from Dr. Hunter's time.
The house as it stands today though owes much to the work of the
Mary Kielt, Eugene’s late mother, who purchased it
in 1961. Along with her family, including her daughter the late Dymphna, she transformed it into the guesthouse that has over the years become
synonymous with Magherafelt. For all its rich and lengthy history
it has that warm and homely feel that is so often lacking in stately
homes and modern hotels. When you first come you will feel as if
you've known it all your life.
Our Location: We are superbly located in the centre of Magherafelt
which itself lies at the heart of Northern Ireland. Rarely does
one come across accommodation of such quality and value-for-money
in such a convenient location.
Our Reputation: Our reputation as a place of hospitality
is widespread. Like the Bruideans or Guesthouses of Ancient Ireland
that were centres of Hospitality in bygone days, this Magherafelt guesthouse is renowned across Northern Ireland and beyond. We have a solid reputation for customer service, quality, professionalism and integrity.
Laurel Villa Events: Look out for special Magherafelt events
at Laurel Villa. One of the most popular recent events was An Evening
with Cathal O’Searcaigh. This Donegal-born poet thrilled the audience
with a bi-lingual reading of his poems and showed just why he is
regarded as one of Ireland’s best writers.
Another successful poetry reading featured poet Iggy Mc.Govern,
prize-winning author of The King of Suberbia. In October 2007 there was a double bill featuring established Irish poet Joan Newmann and up-and-coming Australian poet Ray Liversidge. This event proved a huge success. Special offers are
available for guests who wish to attend one of our unique events.For information on events and special offers go to our Events & Special Offers page. If you wish to be among the first to be informed of forthcoming events, special offers and news about Laureln Villa, Magherafelt and South Derry then go to our Subscribe to Newsletter page.
Our Commitment: We are committed to carrying on the fine tradition
of hospitality that Laurel Villa has built up over the years. So contact us today. We know you won't be disapointed!
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