TIPPERARY: €2.75M:An 18th-century mansion, with five staff houses, outbuildings and 313 acres in lush Tipperary countryside

IT’S AN ILL wind that blows no good, and it certainly looks as if our economic woes are gusting fair for those in the market for castles, large country houses or landed estates.

With two notable estates newly on the market this week, one in Co Tipperary and another in Co Meath, rarely has it been more affordable to buy a chunk of historic Irish property.

Kilcooley Abbey Estate, Thurles, Co Tipperary, comes on the market with more history than most. The very grand, if rather forlorn-looking, great house was built by Sir William Barker in 1790, passed on to his nephew Chambré Brabazon Ponsonby and partly destroyed by fire in about 1840.

It was rebuilt and, in time, it went on to become home to successive generations of the Ponsonbys, and their spouses from the families of the Earl of Bective and Lord Dunsany, until it was sold to the present vendor in 2008.

Then there’s the Abbey, which is just 500 yards from the house. It was founded in 1182 by Donal Mór O’Brien, burnt down in 1445, rebuilt and, later still, lived in as a residence by the Barker family. Today it’s a National Monument, close to the ancient pilgrim route to Cashel and full of interesting carvings.

On offer, with an asking price of €2.75m through Colliers, is the 18th-century mansion, five staff houses (four habitable), outbuildings and 313 acres of the estate’s 1,263 acres; 950 acres are on lease to Coillte, which is obliged to return them “in a proper agricultural state” when the arrangement ends. The 313 acres for sale consist of wood and grasslands, avenues, walks and a five-acre ornamental lake with boathouse.

The Abbey, which is owned by the state, is not included in the sale. Accessed via a right of way, it’s a quiet, immensely atmospheric presence, presenting dramatic views from the west-facing reception rooms and gardens.

Kilcooley Abbey Estate’s €2.75m price tag breaks down to less than €10,000 an acre.

Kilcooley House has a floor area of some 25,000sq ft on two storeys over a garden level. It needs a lot of work, though the structure is solid and such period features as the plasterwork, wood panelling, Victorian carved-oak bookcases and more, are intact.

The front door has granite steps flanked by tall, ionic pilasters.

The house to either side has fine bay windows and the impressive interior proportions make an immediate impact in the vast, galleried and glazed domed entrance hall.

There are seven en suite bedrooms and three interconnecting, ballroom-like reception rooms from where French doors open to granite steps, the west-facing gardens and views of the Abbey.

The main kitchen and staff rooms are in the kitchen wing. The north wing could be used as a self-contained unit with entrance hall. The children’s area has three bedrooms and a nanny’s bedroom.

Kilcooley Abbey Estate, Thurles, Co Tipperary

Sprawling mansion with five houses, outbuildings and a lake on 313 acres

Agent: Colliers