Michael and Judy McGinn, the American owners of Mallow Castle in Mallow, Co Cork, are throwing their doors open tomorrow for a monster coffee morning in aid of the People in Need charity. The Tudor-style house and the original 16th-century castle had been home to generations of the Jephson-Norrey family until the McGinns bought it 17 years ago. The retired couple, who spent many years as political lobbyists in Washington, attached to Congress, had been looking for a thatched cottage in Galway when they decided to settle in Ireland. However, they discovered that there were far more castles than cottages available at that time and, having just missed buying Tulira Castle in Galway, found Mallow Castle instead.

The McGinns had planned to sell Mallow a few years ago but withdrew it from the market. They will soon offer six half-acre sites on the River Blackwater, with planning permission for houses, at £125,000 each through Mallow agent Michael Donovan. Meanwhile, the couple are rather apprehensive about their open house coffee morning tomorrow. Last time they had a big public party was 16 years ago when they first moved in. It was to celebrate the 4th of July and they expected 200 or 300 people. Instead, 2,000 showed up on the day. Entry tomorrow is free with contributions welcome to People in Need.