Castle Leslie in Co. Monaghan, Ireland 1966

Desmond Leslie has set up a nightclub and restaurant on the grounds of the Castle Leslie Estate.

Desmond Leslie describes his varied career which includes a spell in the Royal Air Force (RAF), writing novels, a work on flying saucers, making films and being an electronic music pioneer. He is now a farmer and a nightclub owner.

Upon taking over the running of Castle Leslie three years ago, with his father’s blessing, Desmond Leslie turned the estate manager’s house into a country club complete with discotheque and restaurant. This is the beginning of a bigger project and he plans to renovate 12 rooms, turn the stable court into a holiday lodge and have water skiing and sailing on the lake.

Ultimately Castle Leslie would become a sanctuary for people to get away from it all and unwind. He is confident the club will give a much needed boost to the region as,

This is a depressed area and I’m doing my best to un-depress it with a bit of fun.

Visitors to the club have come from as far away as San Francisco. Among those enjoying the nightlife on this occasion is an English lecturer from Trinity College Dublin and a philosophy and psychology student wearing the latest trends from the King’s Road in London.

This episode of ‘Discovery’ was broadcast on 17 November 1966. The reporter is Bruce Arnold.