FRIENDS OF MAGEE 1866 #5
Welcome back to Friends of Magee 1866, our ongoing series celebrating the people who've crossed our path over the years. Like any meaningful relationship, the strongest connections are the ones nurtured over time, and few embody that better than our next guests.
For instalment #5, we were delighted to sit down with Marcus and Clare of Lough Mardal Lodge, a lakeside eco retreat on the Wild Atlantic Way in South Donegal, where guests can stay in luxury yurts, a cosy shepherd's hut, and unwind in their wood-fired lakeside sauna. We caught up with Marcus and Clare about life on 90 acres of Donegal bogland, building a business together, and why an Irish linen shirt from Magee 1866 has earned a permanent place in their wardrobe.
What does friendship mean to you?
Friendship means compatibility, loyalty, and having people you have fun with and who are there for you when you need them. We had lots of help from our friends and family in creating Lough Mardal Lodge, and we made new friends through building the space itself. It's about being in sync with people who have a similar mindset. Friendship can start in one place and evolve, change and be flexible, and still withstand the journey of life.
Why does Donegal appeal to you?
Initially it was Marcus' family connection, having spent part of his childhood in Donegal where his father grew up, with plenty of cousins still around and a love for this part of the country that's never faded. When Clare was pregnant, we knew straight away we wanted to move away from our "rat race" jobs in the events industry, where there was barely a moment to spare, particularly over summer, and come and live somewhere with a pace of life more in keeping with how we wanted to live, and actually see our children grow up. It really is God's own county. The beauty, the scenery, the people and the community here never make you feel like a blow-in, you get the true feel of an Irish welcome.
Why do you love Irish linen?
Marcus now has the linen shirt in three colours, and it's become his favourite birthday or Christmas gift. It's natural, breathable, and the fact that it's designed in Ireland ties in with his beliefs and principles. It's really comfortable and has great dual purpose, you can wear it somewhere really formal or completely casual, and everywhere in between. Linen shirts lend themselves to being smart but casual, and the quality feels good on the skin.
We also love that Magee is still family run, not a big multinational, and still connected to place. There's a romanticism about the brand and its Irish cultural identity, and its focus on natural fibres supports the Donegal woollen industry too. It has a sustainable ethos, it might cost a little more in the short term, but you'll have it forever.
What are your plans for Autumn and beyond?
We have weddings, yoga and wellness retreats, and winter getaways coming up. The place really transforms in the winter, with cosy vibes by the fire and using the sauna after a cold dip in the lake.
Spread across 90 acres on the shores of Lough Mardal, Lough Mardal Lodge is a lakeshore eco retreat in Donegal offering luxury yurts and shepherd's hut glamping. Guests can expect wide open skies, uninterrupted views over the lake and mountains. At the centre of the site sits The Lodge, a distinctive eco-building filled with natural light, built with warm, natural materials that echo the surrounding landscape and designed with slow living in mind - you may also find Donegal tweed cushions with fabric from the Magee Weaving mill. Each yurt is spaced well apart across the bogland, giving guests a real sense of seclusion and privacy, and is fully insulated and furnished with crisp white linen, sheepskins and Donegal woollen blankets. Off-grid and lit only by lantern and candlelight, they offer a genuine escape from the everyday. Discover more about Lough Mardal Lodge and their yurts, shepherd's huts and lakeside sauna glamping experience in Donegal, and explore the Irish linen shirt collection from Magee 1866.
For more information on Lough Mardal Lodge email: info@loughmardal.ie
Photo credits: James Fennell & Clare Tindal.
Images: Marcus wears men's Benbaun Oat Irish Linen Shirt & Clare wears Stella Navy Irish Linen shirt.
