Legendary Landscapes: 6 Luxurious Country Homes in the Emerald Isle

Ireland’s rich and fascinating history, folklore, and culture is celebrated the world over. The land of saints and scholars, Ireland’s legendary landscape, dramatic coastline, and charming cities and towns make it an attractive choice for luxury home ownership. Country homes, in particular, have been the standout performer in the luxury homes market, reported Sherry FitzGerald, Christie’s International Real Estate’s exclusive affiliate in Ireland. The national market’s activity, the company reported, was “vibrant.”

Roseanne De Vere Hunt, Head of Country Homes at Sherry Fitzgerald, said the country homes market experienced a renaissance since the onset of the pandemic. “Buyers have been enticed by the change in lifestyle these properties allow,” she said. “Flexible working arrangements [such as telecommuting and limited office hours] have facilitated this lifestyle change. Buyers who previously needed to live within an easy commute of the city now have the opportunity to look farther afield in search of better value for money and a better lifestyle.”

Heightened demand and activity, combined with the national lockdown at the start of 2021 (which inhibited new listings) vastly outstripped inventory in 2021. “The imbalance between supply and demand remains the foremost obstacle facing the Irish housing market,” she said.  “The attractiveness of Ireland remains as strong as ever.”

Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, we explore some distinguished Irish properties currently offered for sale by Sherry FitzGerald.

Kilmurry House in Thomastown, County Kilkenny

County Kilkenny is the setting for Kilmurry House, one of the finest country manors in all of Ireland. The Georgian house, executed in timeless Palladian style, was the birthplace and lifelong home of Irish watercolorist Mildred Anne Butler and inspired many of her finest en plein air paintings. The great house itself, set within a private demesne in excess of 90 acres in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, dates from 1690 and remained in the Butler family until 1981. The current owners extended the home to 17,861 square feet with eleven bedrooms and eight bathrooms while retaining the order and symmetry of the original Georgian design. The heart of the house is the vast chef’s kitchen, which flows into a den and out to a courtyard. The flower room, now a games room, opens onto a terrace. The orangery (once Butler’s studio) is another favorite place of the owners, restored to its original 18th-century dimensions. A grand ballroom, grandly proportioned reception rooms, and indoor pool are further highlights. The courtyard cottage and original two-bedroom gate lodge could serve as guest or staff quarters.

Kilmurry’s grounds are a nature lover’s sanctuary offering ultimately peace and privacy in an idyllic rural setting. Beyond the resplendent two-acre walled garden is a serene lake surrounded by mature woodlands—a habitat for red squirrels, hares, hedgehogs, foxes, pheasants, otters, and a pair of nesting eagles. Other delights are the children’s adventure trail and zip line through the woods. The remaining acreage comprises paddocks and wooded pastures for horses and livestock.

The estate is within a 20-minute drive of Kilkenny City, the medieval capital of Ireland, and 1.5 hours from both Dublin City Center and Dublin International Airport. Thomastown, just five minutes away, is a beautiful market town along the River Nore, known for its salmon and trout fisheries. Notable landmarks in the vicinity include Jerpoint Abbey, Kilfane Glen Gardens, and the world-renowned Mount Juliet Golf Course.

Ballindoolin House in Carberry, County Kildare

Ballindoolin House is a Georgian manor house on 625 acres of farmland, woodland, and tillage land near Carberry on the Meath-Offaly border in County Kildare, about an hour’s drive from Dublin. This classically elegant main house has been at the heart of Kildare affairs since it was built in 1822. Its grand proportions, beautiful aspects, generous spaces, and marvelous craftsmanship were returned to their former grandeur by the present owners. They used documents and diaries to ensure the restoration was in keeping with the original plans. The Ballindoolin House papers offer a unique insight into the day-to-day running of a Georgian country house and are today in the care of nearby Maynooth University.

The drawing room features the original wallpaper, fireplace, and chandelier. It opens to a conservatory with a vaulted, curvilinear glass roof and Liscannor stone flagged floor. At the rear of the house is a dual aspect country-style kitchen and breakfast room. Other intriguing features at Ballindoolin House are its extensive cellars, and at ground level, a service staircase.

The grounds include the beautifully restored two-acre walled garden, a shamrock-shaped dovecote, lime kiln, castle ruin, and a nature trail. This historic Irish estate is further complemented by a gate lodge, coach yard, stable yard, a farmyard with hay barn, cider house, and several outbuildings housing a museum, restaurant, and shop.

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Glenmore House in Crossmolina, County Mayo

Glenmore House is surrounded by 165 private acres near Crossmolina in County Mayo. The three-story Georgian main house was built in 1790 with stone quarried from the nearby woodlands. Ireland’s National Inventory of Architectural Heritage described the house as an important component of the domestic built heritage of County Mayo. Glenmore has been beautifully maintained over the centuries, each generation taking care of the house to hand onto the next. Glenmore provides everything in terms of contemporary comforts and yet retains its sense of timelessness. Its classic symmetrical design, so beloved of the Georgians, offers elegant high-ceilinged reception rooms, and accommodates the later addition of a spacious kitchen on the ground floor. The conservatory brings in tranquil garden views. Modern upgrades include en suite bathrooms in the four upstairs bedrooms and a games room on the home’s garden level, which also includes a wine cellar, family room, and en suite bedroom.

Glenmore’s 165-acre grounds are a haven for wildlife, including woodcock and deer. The land is home to a herd of Highland cattle. There’s also ample grazing for horses and 15 stalls in two stable yards adjacent to the house. The property is within easy reach of Crossmolina and the larger towns of Ballina and Castlbar. The coastal heritage town of Westport and Knock Airport are both an hour’s drive.

Sorrento in Dalkey, County Dublin

The seaside village of Dalkey, County Dublin, is Ireland’s answer to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Some eight miles southeast of Dublin city center, the “Dublin Riviera” is a coveted coastal enclave lined with elegant cliffside villas overlooking Dublin Bay and the Irish Sea beyond. Nerano Road is one of Dalkey’s most coveted addresses and the setting for Sorrento, a grand private villa built in 1860 by James Milo Burke. The six-bedroom, three-story residence is unique for its L-shaped design and extensive gardens, hidden behind electric gates and accessed via a gravel driveway. An orangery, at the southeast elevation, provides a glimpse of the sweeping sea views.

The property was sensitively restored, fully refurbished, and wonderfully maintained by the present owners. An abundance of windows (sash, dormer, and bay) frame the breathtaking panorama over Coliemore Harbour, Dalkey Island and Sound, the Kish Lighthouse, and out towards Howth. Appointments include a dream chef’s kitchen with a beautiful Murano skylight, a butler’s kitchen, dining room, formal drawing room, office, and gym.

Beyond the house are level lawns and a patio area with a hot tub. A paved terrace off the orangery has a south-west orientation to capture the sun. Sorrento’s lawns have been raised to create a level playing pitch for family-friendly enjoyment. Mature gardens planted with shrubs around the perimeter ensure utmost privacy. Adding to the charm is the original Victorian greenhouse. Sorrento is less than half a mile from the heart of the village of Dalkey, famed for its medieval castle, Gothic Revival church, cozy pubs, and fine shops and restaurants.

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Oldtown in Grangecon, County Wicklow

This splendid country manor is in the heart of Wicklow horse country. Set back on an elevated site just outside the tiny village of Grangecon on the border of County Kildare, the estate encompasses 62 acres of prime land with beautiful gardens, paddocks, an equestrian barn, and riding arena. Recessed electric gates open to a long, tree-lined avenue. A portico porch entrance leads into a bright, spacious hall with traditional coving and a marble tiled floor. Double doors open to a drawing room with a Georgian fireplace and French doors to a south-facing patio with views over farmland. The 7,000-square-foot Georgian-inspired main residence was built in 2000 by the current owners. The six-bedroom home is luxuriously finished with an emphasis on space and light. The gate lodge offers an additional 1,200 square feet of living space with three bedrooms and a bathroom, a kitchen, living room, and private terrace—and an electric car charging station.

The gardens are mainly in lawn, with flower beds, herbaceous borders, and mature trees close to the boundary of the adjacent Ballynure Estate. A large, south-facing patio offers views over the farm and surrounding counties. There are nine paddocks, mostly post and railed, with piped water. The centerpiece of the stable yard is an American barn with six loose boxes, tack and feed rooms, and a wash bay. A hayshed, horse walker, and all-weather arena round out the equestrian facilities.

Rathmore House in Naas, County Kildare

This stately Tudor-style manor abides within 10 bucolic acres in the small hamlet of Rathmore near Naas in County Kildare. The imposing Tudor facade, with its front-facing gables and decorative timberwork, encloses immaculately maintained living spaces designed around an alfresco terrace for indoor-outdoor living. Rathmore House is set up for the perfect work-life balance. A separate internal courtyard contains two stables and a large indoor swimming pool and leisure complex. The principal reception rooms have a timeless elegance, with wood-burning fireplaces, bay windows, wood floors, and high ceilings. The great room is ideal for formal entertaining. The heart of the home is the chef’s kitchen (with dining room and breakfast area} with top-of-the-line appliances, a dual Aga range, and access to the terrace. Heightening the live-work-play experience is a study, cinema, and luxurious leisure complex with indoor pool, hot tub, double shower, changing rooms, and bar. Seven luxurious bedrooms include an owner’s suite with views of the formal gardens, mature woodlands, and surrounding countryside.

County Kildare is Thoroughbred country and horses are at the heart of Rathmore House: There are two stables and paddocks sheltered by mature trees surrounded by woodland. Closer to the house are formal gardens, graced with box-hedged paths, topiary trees, and a walled garden with a central sculpture. A courtyard offers ample parking to the rear. Alongside is a four-bay garage, ideal for a car collection or repurposed as additional stabling, a workshop, or studio. Rathmore House is just an hour from Dublin, and just minutes from Naas, Newbridge, and Maynooth. The Irish National Stud, Punchestown Racecourse, Naas Racecourse, and the Curragh (home of the Irish Derby) are all close by.