There are certain properties in Ireland that a comprehensive novel could be written about. If the walls could talk around Castlegrace Estate on 120 acres near Cahir in Tipperary, it would make for quite the story.
When I walked the grounds with agents Michael Daniels of Michael H Daniels Auctioneers and John Shelly of Shelly Purcell Auctioneers, the different stories told of the holding was quite phenomenal.
“In that room there, the Irish Limousin Society was founded in 1979,” they told me. “It resided there until 2012, growing from 10 members to 2,500 during that time.”
When we walked around the corner, a 33-acre apple orchard lay in front of us. The apples are grown for Bulmers. Perfectly in formation, it looks as impressive as it does professional.
As we passed the orchard, we walked towards the remains of a late 13th century Bermingham Castle which resides on the grounds.
“In this area here, Stanley Kubrick filmed Barry Lyndon,” Purcell told me. As a Kubrick fan, I was taken aback. Kubrick’s, the 1970s classic about a likeable young Irishman that morphs into a conniving and manipulative rogue, could not have been filmed in a more picturesque setting and in many ways, the site locator deserves kudos for their selection.
When we reached the flour mill I got an idea of the industrial scale of the operation of the estate back in the early 19th century. It even had its own bank, located beside the mill (which is still standing).
A quite stroll down the road brought us to the farmyard. En route we passed the fields which are in excellent condition and a mix of tillage and grassland. The farmyard is as modern as they come and it extends to some 9,600sqft. In excellent order, it is arranged in four large adjoining sheds with concrete floors together with an outdoor slatted feeding area. It also contains a covered crush facility. The yard area is also very practical in that the fields are all in close proximity to it.
The residence
Across the road from the farmyard is the Castlegrace residence. The house is set in the middle of the property and is surrounded by a lush rural setting overlooking the dramatic Knockmealdown mountains to the south. This large three-storey period residence extends to almost 7,000sqft. It is spacious and has a very traditional feel.
The impressive building includes a reception hall, four reception rooms, seven bedrooms and four bathrooms together with an annex and a wealth of space to the lower ground floor. While the house needs investment, the potential here is very high and structurally the property is perfect.
The land
The land surrounding the house is top Tipperary ground. It is divided into 12 divisions, with 30 acres in tillage and 38 acres in pasture. There is also a 33-acre cider apple orchard which, as mentioned, supplies Bulmers. The balance of the land is in amenities such as gardens and woodland.
The agricultural land has been rented out in recent years to two farmers and has been kept in top-class condition with the provisions such as fencing in great order. The river Tar runs along the southern boundary of the property where the riverside lands form part of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Location
The Castlegrace Estate is located in a quiet rural area some 4km from the village of Clogheen and 11km from Cahir. It is currently owned by the Grubb family and has been for generations. CL
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