€15m for lavish Wicklow stud farm

In 2000 Californian Rick Barnes purchased what was then a 250-acre dairy farm in Wicklow. Over the next four years heavy investment in the land, the buildings and the infrastructure has turned the property into an exceptional holding. After consideration, however, the trader decided to put Grangecon Stud on the market. The price is €15m, representing the significant investment placed in all aspects of the holding.

From start to finish the spec of the property is simply superb. From the views of the rolling countryside as you approach the stud, to stud-rail fenced land that is a picture in the June sunshine, one can’t help but be impressed by the well-kept nature of the package.

This continues as you approach the residence. The long avenue from the main road to the centre of the property features a small lake and a rhododendron wood. The five-bedroom house stands on almost 13,000 sq ft. Once inside you get a sense of the investment. A restored Tudor residence, it was built in the 16th century but altered after a fire in the 1800s – before Barnes renovated the property in the early 2000s. The seven reception rooms are highly impressive and modern. Open, spacious and full of light, there is a homely feel to it. The house also contains an impressive, modern kitchen, a television room and a full fitted bar with a seated area.

A large office is located in a separate building beside the house, accessible through a cobbled archway. This building also links into a wine cellar and an art gallery, which is currently used as a gym.

In all, the accommodation within the estate extends to almost 17,000 sq ft, with a manager’s house, three lodges and a groom’s apartment augmenting the main house.

The equine facilities

On a whole, the facilities on the stud farm are excellent. There are 56 stables in total, divided between the mares, yearlings and a foaling yard. The mares’ yard consists of a large barn with rubber flooring, comprising of 20 stables. It has an indoor turnout paddock with a teaser hatch, a feed room, veterinary inspection stocks and a staff canteen. Outside there are four turnout paddocks, two being all-weather, a hay barn and two dung steads.

The yearling yard contains three interconnecting barns and provides for 20 stables fitted with rubber flooring. This yard has a feed room, a wash bay with rubber flooring and part-padded walls, a tack room, a storage loft and an indoor turnout paddock. Outside there is a six-bay covered horse walker, a large hay barn and three stables.

The foaling yard contains 11 stables. There are seven large foaling stables with relay television cameras to a monitoring room. There are four further stables, three of which are within the original stable yard. The stable yard comprises a canteen, the stud office, workshop and a staff apartment. A large machinery shed has a vehicle inspection pit.

Finally, the isolation yard has two stables. It is positioned nearby the lodge, at the stud entrance. The land extends almost 250 acres in total. Stud-railed throughout, it is kept in great condition. As well as horses, cattle and sheep are used to maintain the paddocks.

A splendid cavalry of horses have emerged from stableyards in the Grangecon area. It is noted for its rich, fertile lands and equestrianism, especially bloodstock activity – with the trainer Jessica Harrington nearby, as well as David Nagle’s Barronstown Stud. Producing thoroughbred horses to race and sell, Grangecon is well laid out, with good internal roadways accessing 33 post-and-railed paddocks or fields.

The guide on the holding is €15m, offered by private treaty. The sale is jointly handled by Sotherby’s, Coonan Property and Goff’s Property.