A vision of tranquility

The gorgeous getaway located on its own private bay, just seven miles outside Kircubbin has been four years in the making and is the dream and vision of Mr Paul Toner. We introduced Strangford Bay Lodge in the last issue, but as the grass has been sewn and the shrubs have been planted, if felt it was now time to take a look for myself. As I passed countless caravans on my way to the holiday mecca of Strangford Bay, I drove along miles of idyllic seafront road before pulling into Strangford Bay Lodge’s newly graveled private driveway.

I’m met by Paul, whose years of hard work, sweat and tears were all made worthwhile the day before my visit when a north Belfast mother brought her daughter down to see ‘the Lodge’ after hearing about it on the grapevine.

Making it all Worthwhile

“Little Meabh has Rett’s syndrome and her mother is her full-time carer,” explained Paul. “The only place where they can get outdoors for a bit of quality family time near them is the Waterworks – a park in North Belfast. I told them they were very welcome here anytime, even for the day, and Meabh was subsequently the first person to use my Changing Places bathroom, which made everything all worthwhile. Meabh’s mum said, ‘I’m so scared I won’t get to stay here because you’re going to be inundated with people wanting to stay once you’re open’.” She’s right because the Lodge is something very special indeed.

Paul’s vision is simple: “I want to create a place where able and disabled people can come together, with no distinguishable differences made for either visitor. There’s no big blue and white toilet marked ‘disabled’ here; everybody uses the same luxurious wet rooms. The space and the surroundings are to be a place where you can come and relax, get away from it all knowing all your bathroom and accommodation requirements will be met discreetly.”

Room With A View

The accommodation at Strangford bay Lodge is top-of-the-range and offers all the luxury and comfort of a hotel, but with a home-from-home ambiance and a view like no other over the bay and miles of rolling countryside behind it. Amidst the stylish decor and chic furniture, the only subtle sign that this room could be used by disabled people is the assistance button and light switch above the bed as all the accessible facilities are discreet. Each wet room is extremely large, with attractive tiling and all the trimmings of an accessible bathroom and Paul’s face is etched with pride as he shows me around the culmination of his hard work over the last four years. The bottom line is, it’s a great asset to have even one wet room in the building, never mind one attached to each bedroom! The panoramic vision is quite breath-taking leaving you with a sense of such peace and tranquility that all your stress and tension just melts away on the refreshing, saltwater air. All ground floor rooms have their own terrace and as I sit looking over the astounding view at peace with the world, it becomes clear why this place means so much to Paul.

Before the project, Paul worked as a forklift driver in a Belfast timber yard. His father passed away in 1997 and Paul lived with his mother who was disabled. “Seeing what she went through on a daily basis formed the backbone for this project,” said Paul.

Nature’s Gift

With horses grazing on the hill, the old mill to the left and the private shore of the lough with ducks and swans, the exterior of the lodge is just as impressive as the interior. Paul has created a landscaped paradise to the rear of the lodge with an enclosed grass play are for the children and plenty of garden; a bricked outdoor barbeque area and a level pathway dotted with outdoor seating and lighting to allow guests to make the most of his pièce de resistánce – his natural surroundings. “We will have a ‘get ON the grass policy here’,” says Paul, “and I’m also putting in a teenager’s escape with computer games and activities; a place where they can have some space from their parents and vice versa.”

Freda’s Dream

With a combination of room options on the ground floor, each room is multi-use and can be what every customer needs it to be. The first floor houses two luxury self-catering apartments including the ‘Freda’s Dream’ apartment, which is particularly special. “Freda was my dear friend and was behind me every step of the way on this project.” Sadly, Freda passed away before she could see the finished lodge in all its glory. In a touching tribute to Freda, her three friends were the first to stay in the apartment dedicated to her.

Changing Places

If you haven’t heard about The Changing Places’ bathroom, it was a concept from Mencap that would give disabled people more dignity. The bathroom must be a large sized room with a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench, a tracking hoist system, or mobile hoist; adequate space in the changing area for the disabled person and up to two carers and a centrally placed toilet with room either side for the carers. Paul ensured he met all these requirements and his Changing Places toilet is adjacent to the large breakfast and TV room which again shows off exquisite views of Paul’s private Lough. This Changing Places toilet is the sixth in Northern Ireland but the first privately owned one, possibly in the whole of Ireland. Paul’s Changing Places shower bed is a trolley, as opposed to a fixed table after a friend suggested to Paul that this would be a much more effective and practice for carers.

‘Clinic-Free’

Paul hopes to officially open his doors in the very near future. “We’re 95 per cent complete and the place is fully kitted out. The shrubs and grass have been planted, pathways have been laid and all the rooms have been furnished. The combination of super-king, twin and singe beds were all custom-made to be discretely accessible at 6 ft 6 inches instead of the normal 6 foot 3 inches and a 24 inch top height. I want to keep a ‘clinic-free’ atmosphere here. This is what Strangford Bay Lodge is all about.” Despite Paul’s plans for a lift to the first floor, the budget simply would not stretch to allow for both the changing places toilet and a lift, However, space has been left for the lift to be installed in the near future.

Friends For Life

So many people have been touched by Paul’s vision for Strangford Bay Lodge and his reasons behind building it that they have got behind him 100 per cent and their support has seen him through the darkest of days. Some have not been quite so supportive, but Paul doesn’t dwell on this instead pouring his energy into doing what he set out to. Strangford MP Jim Shannon has been behind Paul from the very beginning. “Jim was an MLA back then and worked hard on my behalf. There were a lot of issues to overcome and he fought my corner all the way. He believed in this project and my genuine reasons behind doing it. Disability has affected his own family so he had faith in me. I’m very proud to have Jim on my team, because without him, there’s no doubt this wouldn’t have happened. When he said he would do something, he did it.”

Although the Lodge will be Paul’s business and livelihood, he sees it as much more than that. “It’s not a business venture in the normal sense, I want to bridge the gaps between what’s available and what’s not available out there right now.”

Gerry O’Neill from Willowgrove Respite Centre in Banbridge was also touched by Paul’s genuine desire to help. The centre offers respite care for children but pointed out that the families are so often forgotten. “Gerry urged me to go all out with the self-catering apartments,” explains Paul. “This way, families could come and stay too.” Paul’s faith was crumbling at this point but it was Gerry’s and Freda’s faith in him that kept him going.

Fun In Store

Good news travels fast and Nigel Hampton from ENABLE NI also heard about the lodge and came to see it. ENABLE works with adults with learning disabilities, enabling them to participate in the community and giving respite to their carers. “Nigel said they he would love to come and stay here with his group. They even lent us a number of bunk-beds and profiling beds for when they do come to stay which I have in storage.” The storage facility Paul speaks of is no ordinary shed either; it’s a 100-year-old white washed stone cottage and will be the next stage of Paul’s dream. He hopes to refurbish it so guests can enjoy arts and crafts in its quaint surroundings. “It’s a painter’s paradise,” exclaims Paul.