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By Joe Barrett

Laois may be the only doubly landlocked county in Ireland, but that hasn’t stopped a local couple from developing a beach resort.

In the past week, planning permission has been approved for a glamping development to include a Pond Beach Resort in Errill.

Iveta Melgaile and Patrick Bowe were approved permission to proceed with their plans to develop the glamping site with a pond beach resort at Clomeen North in Errill.

The development will include three double units, two single units, a spa treatment unit, sauna, barbecue hut, sports activity area, fire pit, outdoor amenity area and parking. According to the couple, the wheelchair-accessible Pond Beach Resort will offer luxury self-contained pond-view rooms. Each of the five units will have their own hot tub, resting area and front yard with a barbecue area.

The resort “will be surrounded with exotic plants and palm trees as well as a white stone beach with double sun-loungers and large day beds for couples”.

The resort “has been positioned in a way that the sun catches the beach all day long from sunrise to sunset and will bloom with water lilies”, they say.

The couple’s planning application went on: “Typical of this setting, visitors will have the pleasure of watching dragonflies playing and listening to spring birds, birds hotels in wooded areas for spring nesting; swans and ducks have shown an interest in the pond and it is hoped that they will integrate … “A large pit will provide local musicians and storytellers for the guests, as well as sports for guests such as basketball; life-size chess pieces, volleyball and mini-golf will also be available.” Also envisaged is a “Celtic house made of wood, with old-style fireplace for winter evenings with storytellers and Irish music”.

Three of the five units will cater for a maximum of six people in two bedrooms, while the remaining two units will have occupancy for two people in each.

Two full and two part-time jobs will be created.

The couple currently operate The Ranch Cabin, a small luxury rental on the site, which they say “has proven very popular with visitors from overseas and locals alike”.

Indeed, reviews left on their Facebook page here, testify to this.