Homes with a wealth of income potential

A house that doubles as a source of income sounds ideal. EMMA CULLINANand ALANNA GALLAGHERfind properties that allow you to cash in

CO KILDARE AMV €3M

A STUD FARM in the heart of equestrian Ireland has come up for sale – the first of its kind in a long while.

Castlefarm Stud is near Narraghmore village in Co Kildare, about eight miles from Newbridge, and will be auctioned on December 8th through Jordan Town and Country Estate Agents with an AMV of €3 million.

The owner bought it as a tillage farm in 2002 and worked hard to build it up to a stud farm.

“It had no grass, hedges or roads,” he says. “I initially walked away because it just looked as if there was too much to do but, after it didn’t sell at auction, I went back and thought it was fundamentally a good farm. We absolutely built it from scratch.”

He began by putting in underground drainage and a 2km road network. He ploughed the fields and sowed grass, planted 5,000 trees and used 1,000 reams of paper to configure the paddocks, 10km of fencing and three yards.

“I knew people in Kildangan Stud, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, and the Coolmore Stud and drove around them a lot to get ideas.”

After that, the owner turned his attention to building a high-spec, well-insulated four-bedroom house with high-performance, low U-value windows. The roof is in natural slate with copper gutters and wooden facias. It does still need to be fitted out, though, with a kitchen and bathrooms.

The owner is involved in other businesses that are taking up too much time so he has decided to sell. “This was a nice dream but a stud farm like this is too much work to be just a hobby.”

He thinks that the location will attract buyers from home and abroad because it is at the heart of the Irish thoroughbred industry and is near major Irish studs (including the Irish National Stud, Kildangan Stud, Giltown Stud, Castlemartin Stud and Barronstown Stud) and has good grazing that is high in limestone.

The area has also registered on the equestrian map now that Sea the Stars, a multi-race-winning horse, has retired nearby – and is set to attract many a mare. Castlefarm Stud has been used as a bed and breakfast for mares visiting from abroad.

The property extends to about 100 acres (39.84 hectares) and includes 20 paddocks with post and rail fencing, a foaling yard with 14 loose boxes, a mare’s yard with American barn and 10 boxes, and a yearling yard with American barn and six stables. There is also a three-bedroom gate lodge and separate apartment.

Castlefarm Stud, Narraghmore, Co Kildare

Newly-built stud on 100 acres

Agent: Jordan Town and Country Estate Agents

CO CLARE: €775,000

CLOONTY HOUSE is an eight-bed house 400 metres from the shores of Lough Derg, and a mile outside Mountshannon. It has 557sq m (6,000sq ft) of space and 4.7 acres of grounds.

In the main house the eight bedrooms are all en suite with a kitchen, dining, reading and games rooms, lounge and sunroom. There's also a stable block with five loose boxes and recent planning for change of use to a kennels.

This property would be ideal as a holiday home for dog lovers and their dogs to holiday together. Every dog berth already has its own dog run. There's a golf green and practice bunker. The property is for €775,000 through agent Sherry FitzGerald McMahon in Ennis.

CO CARLOW: €625,000

SHERWOOD, KILDAVIN, Co Carlow is a three-bed farmhouse with a one-bed annexe with en suite attached, four miles from the tourist town of Bunclody. The 1.5-acre site also has converted stone outbuildings used as furniture showrooms. The owner lives in the one-bed annexe and has previously rented out the three-bedroom house for €750 per month.

The furniture showroom is a 929sq m (10,000sq ft) commercial premises. This is in two separate spaces: a granite building of 650sq m (7,000sq ft); and a second building of 279sq m (3,000sq ft). The space would make an attractive tea rooms or café with gift shop attached. The property is on the market at €625,000 through agent DNG O'Connor and O'Connor in Bunclody.


CO CLARE: €625,000

SET ON 10 acres, Oak House is a seven-room guest house on the shores of Lough Derg. It comes with 80 metres of shoreline and its own beach, jetty and boathouse. There are also outbuildings; a stable yard with stables; a covered garage; a fish filleting shed; and storage for fishing equipment and tackle. There are two sitting rooms, a big kitchen and guest diningroom.

Included in the sale are five lake boats. The property needs upgrading but has the potential to become a wonderful fishing lodge. The guest house gets its name from the extraordinary oak tree just outside the front door which is thought to be one of the oldest and largest oaks in Ireland. Oak House is for sale through agent RTA Business Brokers, Dublin for €625,000.