Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
If you’ve ever been to Ireland, then you know that from Dublin to Galway and everywhere in between, the country’s swaths of green, stone castles, and cozy pubs always tempt you to extend your stay. So, why not have a foothold in Ireland where you can consistently retreat to?
For those with generous budgets and a love of Irish landscapes, St. Patrick’s Day is a ceremonious time to start house-hunting here. Try these two listings on for size first.
Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
Country Manor Bliss in Cork
A 180-acre property is asking €4.5 million (roughly $4.8 million USD) in County Cork, not too far from where you can kiss the Blarney Stone if you dare. Offering exquisite grounds for keeping livestock, horseback riding, gardening, or farming, the estate screams legacy property. Especially as it is centered by a beautifully outfitted and maintained manor dating way back to 1720.
Overlooking Blackwater river valley, Longueville House is a typical Georgian. It shows off satisfying symmetry and has had a few transformations in its time. The home first was enlarged in 1800 and then expanded again in 1862 when the Victorian Turner Conservatory was added. All of these updates, and more recent ones to make way for 21st-century living, contribute to the fabric of the 23,933-square-foot mansion.
While stately rooms with high ceilings and intricate moldings grab the eye, it’s the home’s 12 bedrooms that really steal the show. Dramatic yet delicate, they each have their own personality while feeling cohesively elegant and patterned.
When it comes to the vast landscape, there is much to explore, but an interested buyer could actually gain up to 430 acres for an additional cost. This would add apple orchards, a distillery and cidery, and part of the River Blackwater to the property.
1/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
2/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
3/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
4/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
5/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
6/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
7/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
8/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
9/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
10/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
11/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
12/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
13/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
14/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
15/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
16/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
17/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
18/37Dunmore Bay mansion and Horse Island in County Clare | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
19/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
20/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
21/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
22/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
23/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
24/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
25/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
26/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
27/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
28/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
29/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
30/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
31/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
32/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
33/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
34/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
35/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
36/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
37/37Longueville House in County Cork | Photo: James Fenlon/Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
Living on the Edge: An Estate Right on Dunmore Bay
Why venture to the Cliffs of Moher when you could have your very own west coast stretch of rugged land? Looking like something out of The Banshees of Inisherin, this coastal County Clare property spans 60 acres, including a private beach and Horse Island attached by a thin land bridge. All of this comes at a steep listing price: €9.75 million or approximately $10.4 million USD.
At this property, when you’re not wandering the green grounds, you can stare off into the distance from inside the glass-clad contemporary home. Whether relishing in moments of wellness or throwing a St. Patty’s Day soirée, you can take in the landscape from any vantage point.
The large roof terrace and rooftop reception room may become fast favorites for hosting. Further highlights include a huge indoor pool with walls of glass, a champagne room, a great room facing the sea, and a lavish primary suite. And, who could forget about the James Bond-esque helicopter pad?
You may need to update the interiors with a fresher style, but the four-bedroom home’s layout and site create a prime foundation for any cosmetic changes. David Ashmore of Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.
This article appears in the March 2023 issue of DailyDeeds.