The sale of Killaleigh Castle in County Tipperary, Ireland, poses a unique opportunity to acquire a beautiful 16th century property that is bursting with history, but requires masses of work — the castle is unoccupied and in need of complete renovation.
It arrives on the market via Sotheby’s Realty for a healthy €8.5 million (approximately £7.3 million at the time of writing). But it doesn’t stop there.
Set in a parkland estate of 300 acres, the castle’s future owners needn’t worry about where they can make a cup of tea whilst renovation works are in process, as also within the grounds — and included in the sale — is Sopwell Hall: a beautiful 18th century Irish country house.
Killaleigh Castle was built circa 1590 by the Gaelic MacEgan Clan, and although in need of a complete restoration, is largely intact, measuring just under 4,000 square feet and standing behind a walled enclosure.
A Bailiff’s House (measuring 1,480 square feet) and a range of cut-stone outbuildings are also located around the castle, collectively offering 11,268 square feet of internal space.
In 1745, Sopwell Hall was built on the estate resulting in the castle becoming largely unoccupied. Designed by the esteemed architect Francis Bindon, the grand property of early Georgian design sits centrally within the surrounding mature parkland, measuring just shy of 15,000 square feet.
It features 10 bedrooms, five large reception rooms, plus a magnificent reception hall with Doric pilasters. On the first floor, a glazed atrium sits within an impressive domed ceiling that illuminates six scaglioa sienna marble columns below.
If ten bedrooms aren’t enough, a staff flat can be found in the lower ground floor alongside a wine cellar and laundry room, and a studio is situated across a courtyard, near to the house. There are also two gate lodges and a Gardener’s Cottage located a short distance from the castle.
The 300 acre estate is formed of parkland and mature woodland, creating ‘a great sense of privacy and seclusion’, according to the agents. Unsurprisingly, the environment is rife with wildlife, including red squirrels, hares, pine martens, owls and falcons.
Oak, beech, ash and lark trees ensure swathes of colour engulf the estate throughout the year, as well as some rarer specimens, including Spanish chestnut, ancient beech wood and a rare Siberian crab-apple tree.
The castle and the estate can be found in a triangle between the historic towns of Birr, Roscrea and Nenagh. Borrisokane is about five miles away and there is great access with the M7 nearby.
Killaleigh Castle is currently on the market via Sotheby's Realty for €8.5 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agents for further details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
Game, set, match: 12 of the world’s most beautiful tennis courtsFrom Italy to Indonesia, when it comes to hotel amenities, a picturesque tennis court will always trump a 24-hour gym. So, before you book your next holiday, take a look at our pick of the 12 best.
-
Five frankly enormous mansions, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country LifeSometimes bigger really is better.
-
Five frankly enormous mansions, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country Life
Sometimes bigger really is better.
-
Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villaIgnore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
-
Classical style meets fun and flair in a seven-bedroom manor in CornwallAt Polstrong Manor, the current owners have combined period charm and elegant modern interiors to create a flamboyant country home 10-minutes from the beach.
-
Two halves make a sublime four-bedroom home in Kent's North DownsA contemporary extension to a traditional clapboard house brings light and life to Lavington House.
-
The week in property statistics: Service charges reach record highPlus, how first-time buyers prop up the mortgage market, why you need to move north if you want to live by yourself, and house-price growth slows
-
A seven-bedroom oast house for sale in East Sussex, where your dreams can run riotUnlisted, yet full of character, this property in the High Weald National Landscape is an eccentrically furnished family home that screams fun.
-
Character, history and comfort combine in a four-bedroom farmhouse in NorfolkWillow Farm near Southburgh is that rarest of things — a perfect combination of period charm and modern elegance in some of England's best countryside.
-
A Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse that's part of the fabric of Bath's historyWith 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
