Ryerock, Cloneymeath, Summerhill: €575,000 Bannon Auctioneers
The Duke of Wellington, England's greatest general, notoriously implied he had been born in a stable in Ireland. In fact it was Dangan House, a gracious pile, to which he was referring. Not far from the site of his birthplace lies Ryerock, a 353sq m property constructed in 2007, with five bedrooms and four reception rooms. Ryerock boasts three stables on its 0.6 acre site. The property lies at the end of a sweeping driveway surrounded by paddocks and would suit a family with equine interests.
Old Water Tower, Athboy: €215,000 DNG Royal County
This unusual two-bedroom home started life as a water tower at the Athboy railway station in 1862. Used to hold the water for steam trains, which ran until the 1950s, the property fell into disrepair until it was lovingly restored into a 65sq m home. It is now the only detached part of the restored station and features a small garden with a cedar clad office. Inside, exposed beams and perfectly pointed walls serve as a reminder of the property’s heritage. The tower, which is now a bedroom, has 3.7m ceilings and a circular window allows views to the patio below.
Quarry House, Ross , Oldcastle: €150,000 REA TE Potterton
Quarry House dates from 1850 and was built by the Ahern brothers, who had walked the entire way from Cork to seek their fortune. Owners of the limestone quarry opposite – from which the house takes its name – at the height of their business the pair employed up to 100 workers, who in turn were stonemasons on many of the local churches and as far afield as St Patrick’s College in Cavan. The house sits on 0.6 of an acre and its current owner Philip O’Reilly has restored the semi-derelict three-bedroom property to its original state. The property retains most of its period features and enjoys high ceilings and pitch pine flooring throughout.
