Riverside Georgian estate for €16 million

If a small patch on a gorse-covered hill in Dalkey can turn pillars of society into raging Bull McCabes, imagine the tussle to get hold of a fine country estate on 550 prime acres in Kilkenny, writes Michael Parsons.

THE RECENT high-profile dispute over 0.2 acres on Dalkey's Gorse Hill (which would hardly sustain a goat let alone a dairy cow) reinforces the fundamental importance of owning a "nature reserve" (formerly known as land) in Irish society.

Yet look out beyond the M50 and there's still oodles of green acreage - though getting your hands on some of it is another matter.

Fancy owning 550 riverside acres in the sunny south-east with a stately Georgian house and a romantic ruined castle?

Why even reading those words is enough to bring a lump to the throat, a tear to the eye and a rush of blood to the brain of any true son of Erin's Isle. Or unleash the green-eyed broth of a monster called envy lurking within us all.

Landholdings of this size rarely come up for sale and, when they do, tend to attract considerable interest.

In 2006, the 535-acre Ballincor Estate near the village of Shinrone (also with a large Georgian house and river frontage) sold for about €7.5 million.

But - and no disrespect to the Taoiseach-in-waiting - there's no comparison between land in the soggy, boggy Co Offaly midlands and the lush pastures of the Normanesque south-east now, is there?

The Castle Annaghs Estate is located just outside New Ross (Co Wexford) - but within the boundaries of Co Kilkenny. The entrance is off the N25 main road to Waterford and just 20 miles from the regional airport.

The agent describes it as "one of the finest dairy farms in Leinster", with 550 acres of "top quality agricultural land", two miles of River Barrow frontage, a "magnificent Georgian residence of 10,000sq ft", and the ruins of a 16th century castle.

The estate will be sold by tender and interested parties are invited to submit bids by 5pm on Friday, June 27th. Further details and viewings (strictly by appointment) from P N O'Gorman Ltd of New Ross. The guide price is €16 million.

A planning application to convert the house into a hotel and construct 75 apartments, 30 detached houses and a golf course on the estate was turned down by An Bord Pleanála last year despite having earlier been approved by Kilkenny County Council.

The 10-bedroom house, attributed to renowned Georgian architect John Roberts, was originally built for Edward Murphy - an 18th century merchant prince - who reputedly made his fortune importing wine from Bordeaux and Cadiz through the ports of Waterford and New Ross.

He paid for its construction with gold smuggled into the country concealed in wine barrels - thereby establishing the Irish custom of paying "cash" to builders. Wouldn't you think there'd be a cement statue in his honour somewhere?

An elegant entrance hall is lit by an unusually large fanlight and the ceiling is decorated with plasterwork, possibly by Waterford stuccodore Patrick Osborne, featuring musical instruments, an Irish harp and crown and, in a most unusual juxtaposition, crossed pikes. This symbol may have been included to honour the memory of 1798's Wexford rebel priest, Father John Murphy, who is believed to have stayed at the house before the Battle of Ross.

Well-proportioned reception rooms feature original, Adams-style Kilkenny marble fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows and further elaborate plasterwork adorning the high ceilings.

A granite service stairs links the attic to a basement with vaulted servants' quarters, original wine cellar and silver storeroom.

The very grand main oval staircase is lit by a lovely "Wyatt" window.

The grounds contain the picturesque ruins of a 16th century castle once owned by Butler cousins of the Earls of Ormonde.

An earlier structure on the site is believed to be the location of the most significant marriage in Irish history. Local legend claims that the second Earl of Pembroke, known as Strongbow, married Eva of Leinster here in 1170 under a great oak tree on the banks of the Barrow.

The ceremony took place a day after he had captured Waterford as the Norman invasion rolled in. Their auspicious union gave rise to the saying: "Thus it befell that old Ireland was lost and won in the shade of the old Annaghs tree!"

But man can't live on romance alone. The estate, which is being sold by its German owners who are retiring, is a working farm of significance. Most of the land is in grass - reseeded within the last five years - but there is some maize and barley sowed. Staff accommodation - of more recent construction than the main house - includes a three-bedroom gate lodge, a three-bedroom steward's house and a four-bedroom grooms' house. The sale price also includes 400 cattle - among them 165 Friesian dairy cows.

At a time of rising milk prices, the estate's valuable quota of 165,000 gallons is likely to attract much interest. Oh, and the new owner will also acquire six Aberdeen Angus Bulls. They'll keep all those cows happy and provide the most formidable security.