A 300-YEAR-OLD manor house in Ballymahon with 17 en-suite bedrooms, a private jetty, bar, equestrian stables, wine cellar and Victorian glasshouse has come on the market with a guide price of €1.3 million.
Located on the banks of the River Inny, Newcastle House in Ballymahon, Co Longford, sits on 50 acres of mature parkland and is surrounded by 900 acres of forest. The residence, which is carrying a price tag lower than that of many four-bed semis in the capital at the height of the boom, is understood to be generating strong interest from overseas.
Steeped in history, Newcastle House was formerly the residence of the King-Harman family and was at one point the largest estate in the region, encompassing more than 30,000 acres. It remained in the family until 1949 when it was acquired by the Holy Rosary Sisters before being sold on to a private owner.
Over the past decade, the house has been restored by current owners, Joe and Suzanne Donovan. The couple bought the property in 2000 and used it for weddings, private functions and events while carefully returning it to its former glory.
Their labour of love has resulted in impressive and comfortable reception rooms with large open fires where you can enjoy a book from the library or a drink from the olde-worlde bar. The 17 bedrooms are superbly decorated with period furnishings and offer splendid views of the grounds. Outside, further accommodation is available in some of the outbuildings surrounding the courtyard, while in the walled garden the Victorian glasshouse has also been fully restored.
The property is located 10 minutes from Glasson Golf and Country Club, which boasts one of Ireland’s championship courses. It is surrounded by 14 miles of woodland walks, and offers angling and canoeing on one of the country’s best white-water rivers.
Auctioneer Jackie White of Raymond White Auctioneering in Ballymahon said the house has attracted a huge amount of interest. “We have had over 5,000 hits online and that’s only in 10 days,” she said.