Landlocked Laois beach resort hosts first wedding on At Your Service show
Bride Iveta Melgaile at Pond Beach Resort in Laois with Francis Brennan on At Your Service, which will air on RTÉ One television on Sunday 13 October at 7.30pm
By Carmel Hayes A BEACH in land-locked Laois is the unlikely location for the next episode of At Your Service, as the long-running RTÉ series will feature the show’s first-ever wedding this Sunday.
The famous Brennan brothers, Francis and John, arrived to film at Pond Beach Resort near Rathdowney over the 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-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 looms, it’s hoped that all will end well in the Laois episode at 7.30pm this Sunday 13 October, which can also be viewed on the RTÉ Player.
.
