Markree Castle gets new owner for first time since 17th century

The Corscadden family has acquired County Sligo’s historic Markree Castle for an undisclosed sum. The hotel will undergo a €5m restoration with a view to re-opening to the public in March 2016.

It’s the first time that the castle has changed hands since it was gifted to the Cooper family by Cromwell in the mid-17th century. The family put the property on the market back in September 2014 for an asking price which was understood to be € 3.1mn.

It has been a 30-bedroom hotel and location for wedding celebrations for the last 25 years and is situated in 225 acres of parkland, home to the castle's resident flock of rare-breed Wensleydale sheep. Charles Cooper will work on the renovation in an advisory capacity.

“We are delighted to add this incredible property to the Corscadden collection of Irish castles,” said Howard Corscadden, adding that the first phase of renovations will concentrate on the public areas and a large number of the hotel’s 30 bedrooms and will be completed before the hotel re-opens in March of next year.

The Corscadeens now own four castle hotel properties: Ballyseede Castle in Co. Kerry, Bellingham Castle in Co. Louth and Cabra Castle in Co. Cavan. Last year the family completed the restoration of Bellingham Castle, which it acquired in 2012 for €900,000.