Caroline McCartney was persuaded to drop out of catering college when her future husband Raymond McCartney told her that he would buy her a hotel if she married him.

True to his word, he bought the Lough Erne Hotel in Kesh, and the rest was history for the highly regarded hoteliers.

Mrs. McCartney’s peaceful passing on Tuesday, April 16, aged 77, brought a great deal of shock and sadness to the Enniskillen community.

Paying tribute to his mother, on behalf of the family,  Terry McCartney described his beloved mum as a “matriarch” of the family.

“Dad would have been very much the frontman. She was a solid foundation behind him. So whatever he was involved in, Mum was always by his side.

“She was very social, she very much stayed out of the limelight, although she was very much of a shining star in her own right.

Born Caroline Moore in October 1946, Mrs. McCartney grew up with her five sisters in the village of Kesh, she received her education at the Duke of Westminster and later became head girl of the school.

She trained at Rupert Stanley Catering College but left her course to marry Raymond McCartney.

Her son explained: “Whatever mum was Rupert Stanley Catering College he talked her out of leaving that course by saying that he was going to buy our hotel. True to his word, he bought the Lough Erne Hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. McCartney then became a dominant force in Fermanagh tourism, they operated the Lough Erne Hotel, Kesh from 1969 to 1974.

In 1972, Mr. McCartney purchased the Killyhevlin Hotel.

Mr. McCartney said: “When Jayne and I were born, my mum was running the Lough Erne in Kesh and my Dad was running the Killyhevlin."

The family later sold the Killyhevlin Hotel in 1976.

On a family trip to America, a new business opportunity was spotted when Mr. McCartney while travelling in a campervan, learnt about motels.

Following other ventures into business including The Fairview Bar and McCartney’s Bar, the family began planning for what is now Belmore Motel.

Mr. McCartney explained that his mother played a key part in the evolution: “In 1988, Wickham Drive came up for sale and my dad purchased it and started to convert it into the motel. my mum was instrumental in the designing of all of the bedrooms in terms of the interior design she had a real flair and eye for interior design.”

“We opened the new building in 2019 and one of the things I'm very grateful for, is that Mum and I travelled the length of the country, looking at hotel rooms and she helped me design and shape the design of the bedroom in the new building, she was very instrumental in it.

Mrs. McCartney’s loss will be felt especially by her two children, Jayne and Terry as well as her five grandchildren who she adored.

The family are grateful for all of the messages they have received from those who knew Mrs. McCartney.

Mrs. McCartney is survived by her children: Jayne and Terry (Mary), her five grandchildren: Christopher, Meagan, Rosie, Lewis and Ellie and her sisters, Evelyn and Norma Mrs. McCartney was predeceased by her husband Raymond and her sisters: Reenie Hazel and Sandra.

The late Mrs. Caroline McCartney’s funeral will take place tomorrow (Friday, April 19) at Rossorry Parish Church at 2pm. Funeral arrangements will be carried out by Marcus Madill Funeral Directors.

Impartial Reporter: Staff from Belmore Court and Motel form a Guard of Honour as as the remains of the late Mrs. Caroline McCartney pass on their final journey.Staff from Belmore Court and Motel form a Guard of Honour as as the remains of the late Mrs. Caroline McCartney pass on their final journey. (Image: Tim Flaherty)