IRISH CASTLE, GOOD CONDITION, SEEKS NEW OWNER
Date: 06/08/2003Dear International Living Reader,
County Offaly's Cloghan Castle in the west of Ireland goes on sale this week.
The 155-acre estate on the River Shannon dates back to the 14th century and is one of the longest-inhabited castles in Ireland though not always the safest. (During a siege in 1595, 46 people were thrown off the battlements to their deaths.) For the next 300 years, the castle changed hands through fair means and foul; it's been variously confiscated, attacked, and occupied by kings, queens, and armies, before ending up with the current owner, who spent the last 30 years restoring it.
Because of its historical significance, Cloghan Castle qualifies for special tax exemptions as long as it's open to the public from time to time.
This is a castle in good condition that you could live in--very comfortably--right now and is priced accordingly: 3 million euro ($3.5 million). Contact agent Jackson-Stops, tel. (353) 1-633-3777, for more information.
If you're not quite sure about owning an Irish castle just yet, you can take a trial run and rent one out. Waterford's Lismore Castle, not too far from IL headquarters, is rented out during the summer by the present owner, Lord Hartington. A butler and staff are part of the deal, along with dinner, breakfast, and afternoon tea every day. The castle has seven acres of gardens, with easy access to several thousand acres of woods, farmland, and mountains. If you don't feel like leaving the castle grounds, diversions include billiards, table tennis, and tennis. The rate for one week for up to 12 guests (with a bedroom each) is 3,500 euro ($4,000) per night, which makes it cheaper than some Dublin hotels. For more information, tel. (353) 58-54424.
Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living
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