Landlocked beach resort hosts its first wedding on TV show
Iveta and Pat on their wedding day with Francis Brennan
A BEACH in land-locked Laois was the unlikely location for the latest episode of ***At Your Service***, as the long-running RTÉ television series featured the show’s first-ever wedding.
The famous Brennan brothers, Francis and John, arrived to film at Pond Beach Resort near Rathdowney this summer, just when a critical deadline was looming for the adventurous owners.
Dairy farmer Pat Bowe and his Latvian partner Iveta Melgaile have endless exotic plans, which all began around a pond in the middle of a field. Their hearts were set on a grand opening for the Pond Diner restaurant and party venue at the idyllic site in Clonmeen, Errill, where they hoped to host their own wedding in August.
The no-nonsense Brennan brothers felt there was far too much going on and wanted the couple to abandon their ambitious plans for a bar, grill and restaurant at the venue, where Pat and Iveta already run beachfront holiday homes, a ranch cabin and much more.
The dream of Pond Beach Resort began in 2020 at the double land-locked site, where Pat’s family have farmed for generations. They were already running the successful Ranch Cabin when Iveta came up with the idea of making a beach at an old pond on the property Billed as ‘a little slice of beachside bliss in Laois’, the ever-expanding retreat contains several beachfront holiday homes, hot tubs and outdoor baths and recreational facilities that include volleyball and basketball, kayaking and paddle-boats.
The Brennan brothers helped Pat and Iveta to develop the design for a new restaurant and party venue called the Pond Diner, which is open from 10am to 7pm, Wednesday to Sunday for light bites and diner-style food. The Pond Diner will also be available to hire for intimate weddings, parties, private groups and special occasions.
Despite frantic last-minute chaos as the big day loomed, all ended well in the feelgood episode on Sunday 13 October, which aired on RTÉ One at 7.30pm and can be viewed on the RTÉ Player.
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