Description
A personal note from the OnceOff Group Founders
“Words and Beautiful images can only try their best to explain how beautifully restored the Castle is. We had an hour to ourselves within the Castle and allowed ourselves to be transported through time as we explored the building, its unique rooms, views and antiques. Then we sat down in the Great Room and talked about the Magic which we had just experienced”
An Authentic Irish Castle:
This authentic Irish castle tower has been the home to international rock and film stars during film making in Ireland, and has had many visitors from all over the world come visit. For those who seek a true and ultimate Irish experience …then this is the place for you.
Upon entering the medieval entrance arch of this Irish Castle tower, almost without exception, people describe their first impression as “if having just stepped from a time machine, an immediate sense of having been transported back in time through turbulent centuries of Irish history. The impact of this rare and authentic castle’s historic appeal and significance is literally instant. Six-feet thick battle-impenetrable walls, winding spiral stone staircase, oak-beamed ceilings and flagstone floors will offer you this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience how they lived back in 1490 when this Castle was built”.
After all, someone can own an amazing villa, ranch or estate anywhere in the world …. but how many can say they own an authentic Castle tower in Ireland? Such buildings are extremely rare nowadays, most have become ruins in fields across the country and are certainly not being built anymore! This is your rare and exciting opportunity to become Lord and Lady of your very own Irish Castle in the West of Ireland.
Carefully furnished with antiques to maintain its authenticity, the current owners are admirably concerned and conscientious about its long term preservation, and to that end have recently completed an ambitious project to conserve it by carrying out significant weatherproofing work to protect it from the relentless elements of Ireland’s west coast and the ravages of time, as well as to install a renewable energy heating system to maintain the very integrity of this special piece of Irish history – a castle of significant Irish heritage, for the enjoyment of generations to come. An ancient castle could not be in better condition as this is now, offering a prime opportunity to buy a castle in turnkey condition.
This authentic Irish Castle is one of the last remaining intact medieval Irish castles, and although it is privately owned, the owners have opened it up to guests from all over the world to enjoy and experience how Ireland’s ruling ancestors lived in the 1400’s. One can stay in a hotel anywhere in the world, but how often can one enjoy staying in a historic Irish Castle all to themselves, where the descendants of the High King of Ireland themselves once resided!
Its secluded though central location in Ireland has made it one of the most sought after venues for medieval Irish castle weddings and events, and for anyone who simply wants this rare, enjoyable and authentic experience.
Built during the Golden Age of castle-building (and therefore among the finest of the celtic castles Ireland had designed and built in the 15th century), it is described by a local historian as being of atypical internal design, virtually unequalled in its original intact external and internal preservation despite the ravages of time and is almost unique among medieval Irish Castles which are still in use just as it was nearly 600 years ago.
• Medieval castle tower
• Four separate bedrooms, antique large four-poster beds (sleeps up to 10 guests)
• Antiques and armour furnishings throughout
• Flag-stone floors and oak-beamed ceilings
• Stone spiral staircase (each rooms comes off at a different level built around this)
• Great Room (large sitting room) with panoramic views for miles
• Fire-stove (burns turf, wood, peat, etc…)
• Two bathrooms and ground floor wc
• Fully fitted oak kitchen (with mod-cons discreetly hidden)
• Dining room with large table and alcoves
• Top of the range eco-heating in each room, may be controlled remotely
• Viewing platform from rooftop (over 100 feet high)
• Private lands and gated entrance
• Close to motorway for easy access to villages/towns/airports/motorway/tourist attractions
History:
The lands on which this Irish Castle was originally built were owned by the O’Brien clan, direct descendants of the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru in the 10th century, whose descendants thus carried the name O’Brien, continuing to rule the Kingdom of Munster until the 12th century.
Brian Boru is perhaps the best known king from the dynasty and was responsible to a significant degree for carving out their fortunes. The family had built a powerbase on the banks of the River Shannon and Brian’s brother Mahon became their first King of Munster, taking the throne from the rival Eóganachta. This influence was greatly extended under Brian who became High King of Ireland, following a series of conflicts with Norse and other Irish tribes, before dying famously at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, exactly 1000 years ago!
It wasn’t until the 16th century, unable to be defeated militarily, that the O’Brien clan agreed to surrender and regrant their kingdom to Henry VIII Tudor, joining the nobility of the Kingdom of Ireland and they remained influential. In later times, remarkable figures include writer Standish James O’Grady, who is called “Father of the Celtic Revival” and William Smith O’Brien who played a leading part in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. In diaspora, prominent figures have included Marshal Patrice de Mac-Mahon, President of France, as well as John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, who were both Presidents of the United States.
In the year 1560, a grant was made by Queen Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) to Conor O’Brien (c.1534 – 1581), Earl of Thomond: “To hold in tail male, by service of one knight’s fee”, meaning that the castle would pass onto his male heirs, subject to military service to the Queen.
The Cromwellian War/campaign in Ireland (1649 – 53) attempted to complete the subjugation of the native Irish, and many of their castles were dismantled by the Commonwealth forces to render them defenceless. Very fortunately, this Irish Castle survived those attacks when most similar Irish castles were destroyed, and went on to become a prison for protestant prisoners in the south of Ireland under the ruling of Catholic King James II around 1685.
The Castle was the home of the MacNamaras for many centuries and, after the O’Briens, one of the most powerful families in the Kingdom of Thomond as Lords of Clancullen (a title later divided into East and West families). They were an influential clan in Thomond, building numerous castles across the region indicating their power and influence, including Knappogue Castle. Many MacNamaras migrated to Scotland, and this caused the name to be changed to McNamara.
While on holidays in the West in the 1960’s, a wealthy Texan couple spotted the Castle as a ruin when gazing across fields from their nearby hotel, and were so struck by it that they immediately sought out the owner and bought it from him, a local farmer. They wasted no time in sending over some of the best engineers from Texas to oversee the reinstatement of the historic castle to its former glory, using expert craftsmen and local materials from all over the local counties.
In recent years those engineers and their families have returned from Texas to see the ‘project’ that kept their fathers away from home for up to two years, some of whom are now the owners of First National Bank in Texas and holders of high political office.
Carriage House:
There is a magnificently restored and converted 19th century carriage house property nearby and may be considered for purchase separately or in addition to the Castle.
The house is of particular character with beautiful old stone internal walls, wooden beamed ceilings and is very large size (in excess of 2,500 sq.ft) for a country cottage.
Upstairs are four separate bedrooms, a family bathroom and the master bedroom has an en-suite; downstairs leads to the kitchen which is an adequate country style and has a fire-stove and large patio doors leading to the rear-garden area; the kitchen opens up into an extremely large room that is sectioned off into various areas – a dining area, arches to the glass sun-room, a seating area of several comfy sofas surrounding a fire-stove; all open plan – it can also be used as one very large room/area and then separately, to the very far end of the house separated by its own door, is a tv room and this may convert to a possible fifth bedroom (sofa converts) and en-suite. The house can accommodate up to fifteen guests and is perfect for parties!
Every room has a view of the Castle, and is surrounded by lawns both front and back. There is also a parking area and large storage shed to the rear of the house.
More Information – Price On Application
This Property can also be purchased in 3 seperate Lots.
For more information about this property and to arrange a private viewing please contact:
David Mc Donnell – OnceOff Group Cofounder
Mobile Number: 087 1922 115
International Number: +353 87 1922 115
Email: david.mcdonnell@onceoff.com
Website: www.onceoff.com
Michael Mc Donnell – OnceOff Group Cofounder
Mobile Number: 086 3250 361
International Number: +353 86 3250 361
Email: michael.mcdonnell@onceoff.com
Website: www.onceoff.com
Viewing of all Historic Properties at viewer’s own risk. Please do take care whilst on site. This information is intended to give a fair description of the property only and are in no way guaranteed, nor do they form part of any contract. They are issued on the express condition that all negotiations are conducted through The OnceOff Group. All properties are offered subject to contract and to being unsold. All images are under copyright of their respected owner.
