Meet David & Chelom

Who are David & Chelom?

David & Chelom are the current owners of Knockderry Castle Castle, grounds and estate.

David and Chelom’s paths crossed for the first time in the hallowed halls of law school back in 1988—a meeting that quickly evolved into a lifelong union when they wed in May 1989. Over the span of 35 years of marriage, their life’s tapestry has been richly woven with the joy of their nine children and a marriage that only gets better with time.

Their journey has been filled with many adventures and pursuits, but none have held a candle to the accomplishment found in their family and the continuous journey of growth and discovery in their marriage.

Now, in a new chapter that seems lifted from the pages of a fairy tale, they are together breathing life back into Knockderry Castle, embarking on a restoration project that promises to be as rewarding as the life they’ve built together.

A man and woman standing outdoors in warm clothing, smiling and looking in the same direction during sunset or sunrise.

What is their dream?

After more than a decade of admiring castles worldwide as a release from our busy lives, we stumbled upon Knockderry in Cove, Scotland. We dreamed of taking a forgotten building and lovingly working to bring it back to its glory. Something about Knockderry just felt right - the castle seemed to call us to turn our dream into reality. The circumstances were perfect, and we knew we couldn’t let this opportunity pass.

There is real satisfaction in seeing the potential of a place and then working to make it come alive. We have done this very thing in small ways in the past, but we both hoped to have the opportunity to take on a bigger project and work with others to patiently and skillfully restore it to its former beauty and majesty.

We love the discoveries of details and hidden aspects that we could not have known before getting into the project. We don't love the setbacks, but we know those are part of the journey. We are excited to see every step of this process.