A momentous occasion in the history of the Shamrock Lodge Hotel was recalled this week, the visit of the iconic Princess Grace to the popular family run establishment taking place 60 years previously, on June 14, 1961.
The Shamrock Lodge Hotel has long been accustomed to famous faces gracing their doors over the years. However, when the Hollywood icon that is Princess Grace of Monaco visited with her family on June 14 1961, this was something very special.
“All of us in Iona Park gathered when news came through that Princess Grace was heading to ‘The Lodge’. We congregated at Talbot Avenue to see the entourage. It was very exciting at the time. We are very happy to remember her and this great occasion,” Paddy McCaul, hotel proprietor, recalled.
The visit has very sentimental connotations for the people of Athlone and the Shamrock Lodge has embraced this nostalgia with the naming of ‘The Princess Grace Honeymoon Suite’ and their ‘Princess Grace Wedding Package’.
Photos of the Princess adorn the hotel’s lobby and hallways as a mark of remembrance of the visit. It is noted that Princess Grace appeared to love the brown bread that came with her tea and praised it to the staff of the hotel. The children played on a swinging garden seat in the rose garden while the adults relaxed.
Quoting from ‘Athlone Down Memory Lane’ Facebook page, many have added their memories of the historic occasion
•Martin Cunniffe – I remember it well. I got a good view of her. A little bit of Hollywood tinsel sparkle comes to a grey Athlone at the time.
•Gabrielle McFadden – That’s around the time my parents got married and had their reception in the Lodge, they had to change the wedding date because of Princess Graces visit, their 60th anniversary would have been 15th June!
•Joan Larkin – My mother, Rita Sarsfield Behan, worked in the Shamrock Lodge at that time and was working on the day of Princess Grace’s arrival. It was very exciting for her along with her work colleagues, Mary Shine RIP, Bridie Lynch RIP and Beatrice Galvin.’
•Pamela Connor – Our mam, Mary Mc Manus was the cook at the time in the Shamrock Lodge, she cooked the lunch for them on that day, she always thought fondly of Grace Kelly, and said she was stunning in person.
Princess Grace and her family will forever be fondly remembered at the Shamrock Lodge and by the people of Athlone. A true icon, a Hollywood starlet and a very special visitor to ‘The Lodge’.
