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LOOKING FOR A new venture and a complete change of pace? You might have entertained the idea of buying a castle. This week, we’ve rounded up four castles on the market that are full of history and ready and waiting for you to begin a new chapter.
This historic castle was built by Henry Jackson in 1789. An iron founder and a member of the United Irishmen, he positioned the build on the southwest corner of the then 41 acre site. Today, it sits on one acre, but this doesn’t take away from the outdoor private space and parking for many cars. The social rooms in the house have great views of the Dublin mountains and distant countryside yet the city centre is just 2.5 miles away.
Inside comprises seven bedrooms but there is also a self-contained apartment with access to the garden. A reception room, a living room and an open plan kitchen and dining space for more casual meals complete the ground floor. As you might expect, there are well-kept period features throughout the home including an underground tunnel with a basement and cellar.
A medieval structure in northeast Cork, Blackwater Castle sits near an ancient fort that dates back to the Iron age. With some spaces dating back to the 15th century, Blackwater castle is one of the oldest habitable houses in the country. The house spans an impressive 890 m² and includes nine bedrooms, six reception rooms, a professional kitchen, a dry store and a large utility.
The castle sits on about 60 acres of grounds and woodland and is about a kilometre from a river that runs through the land. Keen fishers will delight in the fact that they will have private fishing rights to the river also. Stand out features include a 12th century round tower, a 15th century tower house and watch towers along with a stone fronted courtyard and a walled garden. All of this and it’s just a short walk to Castletownroche village.
Jenkinstown House is a gothic revival manor that sits on 6.7 acres of private gardens and measures an impressive 619 m². The house is under a ten minute drive from Kilkenny city and while it may only have three bedrooms, living spaces include an auditorium, a castellated tower and a grand banquet hall that’s the square meterage of a small house alone.
Once the home of songwriter Jimmy MacCarthy, he is credited for the main renovations and upgrades which saw the revamp of the auditorium and plenty of modern additions, while the current owners added three shepherds huts on the grounds. The main living quarters are located in the tower and comprise two living rooms, a bright kitchen and three bedrooms, with the main one enjoying an en suite bathroom and the other two sharing the family bathroom.
Heathfield Castle is a five-bed home that spans 325 m² and sits about a twenty minute drive from the village of Adare. The property is also only a drive away from the village of Adare as well as Limerick city. With features like the limekiln that dates to the beginning of the 18th century and spaces that go back to the early 19th century, the home is full of history inside and out. Surrounded by Ballinruane Wood, it’s approached by an elegant avenue.
A marble floor covers the ground floor from the hallway which leads to a living room and then an open plan kitchen and living room. One of the five bedrooms resides on the ground floor with a handy utility on the upper level and closer to the bedrooms which all have en suite bathrooms. The second level is home to an office that leads out onto the pretty roof terrace with its built-in BBQ and a putting green.
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….I do not know why! As with age THE REAL life begins! From 40 on – oh you get so much more aware around yourself, know much more what you want …. As a huge german actor once said: AGE IS A TRIUMPH MARCH INTO FREEDOM!!
@Christine….just curious, who was that actor?
My Mother “Turned heads in her time” now in her 74th year she is still an inspiration to her 4 daughters..13 grandchildren..6 great grandchildren….all hold “Annie” as our Fashion Guru..Love your article, and those who took part in the photos.
Great article.
I love the photos, great article great concept.
I love it, sick of being classed as ‘passed it’, my mother at 86 still rocks, she’s really still in engaged with what’s happening.
Loved the piece,great stories!
Really enjoyed that – thank you.
@ Gis: The actor is O.W. FIscher. A great charming actor who passed loads in life….. i loved him ;-)
lovely article . great photos . i enjoyed the blog
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