Addresses don’t come much better than Dromoland Castle, Co Clare, one of Ireland’s most luxurious five-star hotels and perennially popular with visitors from all over the world.
The baronial castle was the ancestral home of the O’Brien family, Barons of Inchiquin, and one of the few native Gaelic families with royal blood. The O’Briens are direct descendants of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland in the 11th century, but were forced to relinquish their royalty to Henry VII in the 16th century. Murrough O’Brien, the 57th King of Thomond, then became the First Baron of Inchiquin and first Earl of Thomond.
So what about living in the Dromoland owner’s back yard? Literally.
A rare chance has emerged to acquire a home constructed among a pocket scheme within the castle grounds. And this is a site with heritage in spades.
Although there was a defensive stronghold on the site as far back as 1014, the present Gothic Revival style turreted castle, designed by architect brothers James and George Pain, and constructed of dark blue limestone, dates from 1835. The castle was built by Lord Dromoland, Sir Edward O’Brien, the fourth baronet, at great expense. The cost of cutting and hauling the stone from a nearby quarry was reported to be £80,000, an enormous sum in Georgian times.
The wealth of the Inchiquins dwindled as a consequence of the Land Acts that began in the 1880s, as landlords were forced to sell their tenanted farmlands and lost a major source of income. But the Inchiquins had a reputation as fair and benevolent landlords, and the castle was not targeted for destruction unlike many others in Ireland.
In 1962, Donough O’Brien, the 16th Baron Inchiquin, sold the castle to American industrialist Bernard P. McDonough, who converted it into a hotel. In 1987 it changed hands again and is now owned by a consortium of mainly Irish American investors. Over the years, guests who have stayed at Dromoland have included The Beatles, Nelson Mandela and George W Bush.
The 18th baron, Conor O’Brien, lives at Thomond House nearby and continues to farm and run part of the estate as a sporting and leisure estate.
Dromoland recently underwent a €20m revamp, but the hotel retains a classically baronial ambience, with panelled walls, ancestral portraits and fine antique furniture. Lord Inchiquin’s octagonal study has been repurposed as a cocktail bar.
Soon after the consortium’s purchase of the hotel, planning permission was granted for a gated development of 15 detached houses within the demesne. Access to the Orchard Wood cul-de-sac development is via a meandering electric-gated access road off the main avenue that leads to the castle; the houses occupy a woodland setting surrounded by mature trees and have panoramic views over the castle, lakes and golf course.
Now 30 years old, Number 1 was the original show house for the development. The vendors, a Dutch couple, were the first owners and have enjoyed spending time in Ireland over the years; the other homes in the development are a mix of holiday homes and permanent residences.
The entrance porch leads to a large open-plan living/dining room which has an open fireplace. Off this room are the kitchen and two double bedrooms, both of which are en suite. Double French doors open out into another reception room which the current owners added as an extension a decade ago. This in turn opens out onto the rear patio, from where there are splendid views out over the 8th fairway.
The kitchen is fitted with high gloss wall and base units in ivory, and has granite work surfaces. Integrated appliances include a Siemens induction hob, overhead extractor hood and fan with integrated lighting, fan assisted oven, built-in microwave at eye-level, and fridge freezer. A separate utility room is adjacent. In total, there’s 1,830 sq ft of living space and, as the vendors are not moving to another property, they are willing to include the furniture in the sale.
Outside there’s a detached garage, and a footpath that leads to the castle. In total, the site is approximately half an acre and the title is freehold. The annual maintenance charge is pegged at around €1,500, and ensures that the estate is maintained to five-star standard.
Of course one of the great attractions of buying a home at Orchard Wood is that it comes with access to the 330 acre estate, with its 450-member Woodland Golf Course and Country Club. The parkland course was designed by Ron Kirby and JB Carr and combines ‘gentle hills, ancient trees and unexpected water hazards’ to deliver a demanding and exhilarating course that’s said to be a challenge for both amateurs and professionals.
Residents of Orchard Wood have access to the hotel restaurants, including its fine-dining option, the Earl of Thomond. Executive Head Chef David McCann has a reputation for classical food with a modern twist, and works closely with some of the area’s most well-respected artisan food producers, such as Burren Smokehouse. The hotel also has a less formal restaurant, the Fig Tree; the Country Club is the place to head for a steak.
Other activities on the estate include archery, falconry, tennis and fishing, and there is a spa and leisure centre.
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