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Killeens, Ballynonty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, E41 X0T2, Ireland

€3,250,000
Sherry FitzGerald, Country Homes, Farms and Estates
PROPERTY TYPE

Detached

BEDROOMS

7

SIZE

Ask agent

Description

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL RACING YARD AND LANDS WITH EXTENSIVE FACILITIES AND MAIN RESIDENCE, ON APPROXIMATELY 83.77 HA (207 ACRES) IN THE HEART OF SOME OF IRELAND'S FINEST COUNTRY.

SPECIAL FEATURES

83.77 ha (207 acres) approximately of exceptional land in permanent pasture
Excellent free draining limestone soil
main residence with five bedrooms
fibre broadband connection
master suite with private dressing room and en suite
two bedroom staff flat
76 loose boxes in two stable yards
12 furlong grass gallop with ideal gradient for steady climb
extensive grass and all weather gallops, straight and circular
sand arena
all weather turnout arena
two horse walkers
barns, outbuildings, and offices
The potential to expand further by additionally purchasing the adjacent 3 bedroomed residence - Lanespark on c.2.59ha(6.4acres). An ideal managers house or further staff accommodation.

Home to legendary trainer, the late Edward O'Grady, Killeens is steeped in Irish horseracing glory. Family home to two generations of O'Grady trainers, equine legends including Tranquil Sea, Sacundai and Golden Cygnet have found their potential on these renowned gallops to win at Aintree, Cheltenham, Punchestown, Galway and The Curragh.

Surrounded by c.83.77 ha (207 acres) of The Golden Vale's finest grazing, and with extensive facilities, Killeens combines a welcoming country house, with staff accommodation, stabling, barns, gallops and sand arena.

Thoroughbred racehorses matter most at Killeens, and for ninety years, Edward, and his father Willie before him, poured their passion and expertise into the enterprise. There are both grass and all weather fibre sand gallops, the main grass gallop being a mile and half. With their gentle incline, the gallops at Killeens are much envied for building strength and stamina.

Over the years, owners who entrusted their horses to Killeens have included Robert Sangster, the Duke of Bedford, the President of Ireland, and JP McManus, who said "Edward trained my very first Cheltenham Festival winner, Mister Donovan, who won the 2m 5f novice hurdle (now the Neptune Hurdle). It's fair to say if you want to get into the winner's enclosure at Cheltenham, Edward is one of the best trainers around to take you there."

This legacy backdrops Killeens today, and a drive on a misty morning along the estate's tree-lined lanes to watch the day's first string of horses go through their paces at the gallops is to find yourself part of its exceptional story. Human comforts are not forgotten either, as the main residence is a warm and welcoming, quintessential Irish country house. With deep bay windows, five bedrooms, and a rosette-festooned kitchen boasting what is said to be one of the oldest Agas in Ireland - although there is a contemporary cooker too - it is a place for conversation, relaxation, entertaining and memorable celebration.

Lanespark - additional potential.
There is the potential to expand further by purchasing the adjacent Lanespark, adding an additional 3 bedroom house and approximately 2.5ha(6.4acres) to your holdings. Available by separate negotiation with an asking price of �250,000.

The House

While being at the heart of an extraordinarily successful racing yard, the house at Killeens has also always been a warm and welcoming family home. The original house dates from the Georgian era, and its fan-lit entrance is central to a pair of bay windows. Virginia Creeper and Wisteria cover the façade, adding to the charm.

Inside, the generous hallway is laid with wooden parquet flooring, and is flanked by a drawing room and formal dining room to right and left. The drawing room is carpeted and has an open fire, while the dining room has wooden parquet and a wood burner. Both have charming views to the gardens.

The large quarry-tiled kitchen runs across the rear, looking out to the home yard. There is a kitchen island and breakfast area, plenty of storage and counter area, and alongside the requisite white goods, is what is reputed to be one of the oldest Esse stoves in Ireland, still in good working order and adding further heart to this family space.

To the left, in a more recent extension is a bedroom / study, large bay-windowed sitting room, and a bathroom. As there is also access to the rear yard, this gives you obvious flexibility for this area's use. To the right of the kitchen, find a boot room, store and large utility and laundry room.

Up the stairs, which lead, via a return off the hall, there are four bedrooms. The master has a large ensuite and dressing room. These rooms, and the second bedroom, also ensuite, have garden views. Two further bedrooms share a family bathroom. Both are doubles, and look out over the home yard.

The house has a fibre broadband connection and, as is typical of the classic Irish country houses of the period, there is ample space here to configure and style it to your needs. In addition, a two bedroom staff flat leads off the home yard, and includes a kitchen dining room, and two offices. Again, there is space here to suit your future plans.

Gardens and Grounds at Killeens

A tree lined drive via electric gates leads to Killeens House, just under ten minutes from Ireland's motorway network, and yet a world away in terms of privacy and security. The house is surrounded by grounds, with mature trees to screen your holdings from view. There is also a second entrance, with its own tree lined drive to the training yard.

The house is fronted by gardens with mature planting, while to the rear is a home yard, with access to a two-bedroomed staff flat, offices, tack rooms and stores. An arch from this yard bring you to a further fully sheltered "secret" garden. Sets of gates secure the gardens and yard, and there are lawns and ample space for growing, entertaining and relaxing.

Equine Facilities at Killeens

The roll call of winners, and Edward O'Grady's Champion Trainer status attest to the quality of the equine facilities at Killeens. The 76 loose boxes range over three yards. In the home yard and main yard adjacent, there are two tack rooms and stores, and all 31 stables here have drinkers.

The rear yard has six blocks, housing 45 further stables. There are a pair of adjoining haybarns, and additional barns and covered vehicle storage areas. Two walkers have a capacity for eight horses each. There is a wash bay and loading block in this yard.

A sand arena and all weather turn out add to your scope. Beyond all this are the gallops. The gallops at Killeens are much envied, with gentle gradients to build stamina and strength. These are reached via private tree lined lanes, running past the lush pastures and comprise:

main mile and half grass gallop
straight all weather /fibre sand gallop of 7 furlongs
straight 7 furlong grass gallop
wide straight 7 furlong grass gallop
up hill 5 furlong grass gallop with training fences
7 furlong all weather / fibre sand circular gallop
3 furlong straight all weather gallop leading to circular gallop.

Killeens is part of Irish horse racing history. It has all the ingredients for a very illustrious next chapter.

County Tipperary is in the part of Ireland known as the Golden Vale. The name comes from the exceptionally good land and lush pastures, which combine to support the making of remarkable racehorses. The Golden Vale is also known for its excellent farms and dairy produce. Killeens itself is central to some of Ireland's best horse country, so much so that the nearby village is named Horse and Jockey.

Local racing yards and stud farms include the celebrated Coolmore and Ballydoyle. The Fethard Equine Hospital is close by, and access to the motorway network is just ten minutes away, although this in no way impacts the tranquillity of Killeens.

The nearby town of Cashel has had significant investment, and the Cashel Palace Hotel is now a landmark destination, with a Michelin Star to its name. Next door, Mikey Ryan's pub is a more casual spot for relaxing. There are excellent schools in the area. Another significant development is taking place in nearby Abbeyleix, with renowned chef Cúán Greene's destination restaurant Ómós opening at the fully restored Millbrook House in 2026.

10 km / 10 minutes to Horse and Jockey
10 minutes to M8 with motorway connections to Dublin and Cork
11 km / 10 minutes to Coolmore Stud
23 km / 20 minutes to Cashel Palace Hotel
31 km / 25 minutes to Ballydoyle
40 km / 45 minutes to Kilkenny City
1.5 hours to Shannon Airport
2 hours to Dublin and Dublin Airport

All distances/times are approximate.

Technical Information:
SERVICES | Mains electricity, group shared water scheme, oil fired central hearing, septic tank & fibre broadband.

SALE METHOD | Private Treaty.

FIXTURES & FITTINGS | All carpets, curtains, fitted lights, Esse & white goods are included in the sale.

TENURE & POSSESSION | The property is offered for sale freehold with vacant possession being given at the closing of sale.

VIEWING | Strictly By Private Appointment.

Killeens, Ballynonty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, E41 X0T2, Ireland

NEAREST AIRPORTS

Distances are straight line measurements
  • Waterford(International)
    37.5 miles
  • Shannon(International)
    53.6 miles
  • Cork(International)
    63.0 miles
  • Galway(International)
    71.9 miles
  • Kerry(International)
    82.2 miles

Advice on buying Irish property

Learn everything you need to know to successfully find and buy a property in Ireland.

About Sherry FitzGerald, Country Homes, Farms and Estates

176 Pembroke Road Ballsbridge Dublin D04 EN80

Looking at the company today and thinking back to its’ origins, it’s interesting to see how, in the 30 or so years since its formation, the business has now grown to become Ireland’s largest, fully diversified property advisory firm servicing the residential and commercial property markets. Sherry FitzGerald was founded in 1982 as a result of the amalgamation of 2 companies – FitzGerald & Partners (founded 1972) and Sherry & Sons (founded in 1949). Back in 1982 we had just one residential office on Merrion Row in Dublin 2 with a second office in Terenure not opening until 1989.

Despite the economic difficulties of the 1980’s, the company recruited for the future by forming a team of young property professionals who shared a common vision of a new type of auctioneering company. From the start, we practiced a strong gender balance philosophy, a philosophy we have continued to practice to this day. We understood the absolute prerequisite to have a strong ethical foundation, combined with a sense of unparalleled customer service. That is why, back then, we introduced a non-negotiable rule of not allowing anyone in the company to buy a second-hand house off our own books, coupled with introducing opening 7 days a week into what had traditionally been a ‘9.30 – 5.30 & closed for lunch’ industry. Our strap line in those early days was ‘the new generation of estate agents’ which subsequently evolved into ‘the agent you’d recommend to a friend’.

In 1992 we were the first organisation in the history of the State, outside the Department of the Environment, to provide coherent house price information to the general public and subsequently launched our Dublin house price index in 1996. Today we employ 4 economists and, through all the challenges of the greatest property crash in Europe, we kept our commitment to research and transparent information by not only retaining this function, but by further resourcing it. Our national property index, launched in 1999, is a benchmark in terms of accurate reporting of house price trends. Every 3 months, over the last 15 years, this national index has been published without fear or favour.

In 1998 we opened our first office outside Dublin in Galway. In the same year we launched one of Ireland’s first property websites – www.sherryfitz.ie.

1998 also saw us consolidate our growing commercial presence by forming a joint venture company with the global property advisory firm DTZ Holdings – DTZ Sherry FitzGerald. Today DTZ Sherry FitzGerald is Ireland’s most successful and only nationwide commercial property advisor with offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and an associated office in Belfast.

In 1999 we launched Ireland’s first ever national property franchise organisation. Today there are 66 Sherry FitzGerald franchise offices, providing property advice in every corner of Ireland.

In the same year the Group acquired the Ross McParland New Homes business which was subsequently rebranded Sherry FitzGerald New Homes.

The new century kicked off with the acquisition of Cork’s leading residential estate agency, Burton Crowley O’Flynn, later rebranded Sherry FitzGerald and now occupying a flagship office, housing both our Commercial and Residential business on Lapps Quay in the heart of Cork city.

The year 2000 also saw the launch of Mortgage Insight, later rebranded Sherry FitzGerald Financial Services, providing independent mortgage and financial advice.

In 2000 our Chief Executive, Mark FitzGerald, came up with the idea of launching a national property portal and led the process of putting together the team, the partners and the investors that made it happen, with the subsequent successful launch of MyHome.ie in 2001. MyHome.ie quickly became Ireland’s largest and most innovative property website and, 5 years after its launch, was acquired by the Irish Times.

Meanwhile, DTZ Sherry FitzGerald was growing rapidly. In 2004 the company acquired the niche commercial practice of CS Tierney O’Neill as well as further strengthening the Cork commercial business by acquiring the former Collier Jackson Stops office.

In 2005 Sherry FitzGerald successfully diversified into the U.K. market with the acquisition of the 150 year old, central and West London estate agency of Marsh & Parsons. In the following year, Marsh & Parsons acquired another London estate agency, Vanstons, which was rebranded Marsh & Parsons, and in the subsequent 5 years we grew this network to 14 London offices employing over 200 people. In 2011 we successfully sold the Marsh & Parsons business leaving the business debt free.

The timing of the Marsh & Parsons acquisition also helped to protect the Sherry FitzGerald parent business during the depths of the property crash, enabling us to keep all our own offices open and 200 people directly employed. This made us the largest Irish property business to emerge from the crash.

In 2006 we launched two community initiatives supported by the Sherry FitzGerald Foundation. Firstly, the "Your Home Away From Home" which saw us underwrite the purchase of 5 Fontenoy Street, Phibsboro for Temple Street Children´s Hospital to use as parents’ accommodation for two families 365 days a year. We subsequently arranged two successful 10km Walkathons to raise funds for the project. Secondly, we were instrumental in the establishment of Amawele - a new national charity which now twins 85 schools in Ireland with schools in the Eastern and West Cape of South Africa.

In 2008 we were chosen by Christie’s International Real Estate to be their exclusive affiliate in Ireland. This partnership gives sellers of prestige homes in Ireland access to international markets. Likewise we can also offer the owners of luxury property abroad access to local expertise when they come to sell, via the global Christie’s International Real Estate network.

In 2013, we acquired our two residential franchise offices in Galway and Limerick and opened our first Blackrock office in 2014. Since its foundation in August 1982, the Sherry FitzGerald Group has grown from a small fledgling company in one location to a nationwide, diversified business operating in 88 different locations. Currently we employ 315 people directly in our 22 owned offices across a diversified residential and commercial property business (18 residential, 4 commercial), alongside our franchise business with an additional 69 offices throughout Ireland, separately employing over 200 people. Sherry FitzGerald Group remains an Irish privately owned business and committed to leading the marketplace as we have done over the last 32 years.

Notes

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This is a property advertisement provided and maintained by Sherry FitzGerald, Country Homes, Farms and Estates (reference 138851_CHF250077) and does not constitute property particulars. Whilst we require advertisers to act with best practice and provide accurate information, we can only publish advertisements in good faith and have not verified any claims or statements or inspected any of the properties, locations or opportunities promoted. Rightmove does not own or control and is not responsible for the properties, opportunities, website content, products or services provided or promoted by third parties and makes no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, completeness, legality, performance or suitability of any of the foregoing. We therefore accept no liability arising from any reliance made by any reader or person to whom this information is made available to. You must perform your own research and seek independent professional advice before making any decision to purchase or invest in overseas property.

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