CLONMANNON House, the focal point of the retirement village at Ashford, Co Wicklow is to be sold at the request of its receiver. Mr John Mair has instructed the sale of the 200 year old Georgian house, along with five one and two bed roomed bungalows and 24 acres of land. The sale is expected to realise at least £400 000.
The rest of the bungalows in the village are either occupied or cannot be sold with clear vacant possession because of "residual legatees interests", according to the agents.
Built in 1780, Clonmannon House was once owned by the oriental art collector, Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. Since the early 1980s, however, it was the focal point of a retirement village, providing residents of the surrounding bungalows with facilities, including a communal drawing room, library and billiards room.
It also housed an infirmary.
But the level of care facilities became the source of a dispute which reached a crisis in 1993, with the elderly residents withholding service payments. The Government intervened, ordering an investigation into the finances of the complex, and subsequently petitioned the High Court to wind up the companies involved.
The three companies were wound up last October, at which time only 16 of the 40 bungalows in the complex were still occupied. The main house had been closed for two years and residents were making their own arrangements for food and medicine.
Although existing planning permission is for a retirement village, the estate agents believe Clonmannon could now attract buyers intending to convert it to a guest house.
The property is for sale by tender with a closing date of March 20th, unless previously sold. The joint agents are McNally Handy & Partners and Collier Jackson Stops.
