The breathtaking Tulira Castle in Ardrahan, County Galway has been sold, it has been confirmed. The castle, which sits on more than 250 acres, is understood to have been bought by an Irish businessman for in the region of €5.8 million.
Celia Lamb, head of country homes, farms and studs with Ganly Walters, described the property as “a national landmark and one of the finest examples of an Irish castle” but would not comment on the identity of the buyer or the final sale price.
The property had been on the market since summer 2013 and had generated significant interest, especially among international buyers.
“The asking price was €6.5 million. We had varied interest from a few groups of Chinese; we had some Europeans; we had some Americans who nearly went for it and we had Irish interest, interest from the UK and we had one prospective buyer come from Australia to view the property. He had been in Australia for 30 years and was Irish,” Ms Lamb explained.
Tulira Castle comprises three main buildings, a medieval tower, courtyard buildings and a Victorian castle. The original structure, a medieval tower, rests on 12th-century foundations.
A castellated house was added to the tower by Edward Martyn. A leading figure in the Irish literary and artistic revival, he commissioned George Ashlin as his architect. A large stone set over the main castle door dates the Victorian addition to 1882.
Edward Martyn’s large collection of papers and documents relating to Tulira have not survived. However, it is known that the Victorian castle stands on the ruins of an earlier house, which was destroyed by fire. The front façade of the castle is in the Gothic Revival style.
The property’s entrance gates were brought from Dunsandle House in 1950. The castle is approached by a three-quarter-mile avenue, lined with 95 lime trees.
The monumental Great Hall, with its 40ft-high timber ceiling, is the centrepiece of the castle.
As well as the seven bedrooms in the castle, there are also additional houses, including a gate lodge, stable house, butlers’ apartment and further staff apartments.
Ganly Walters has previously sold landmark properties in Clare, including Carnelly House, Clarecastle and Tinarana Estate, Killaloe.
According to Ms Lamb, demand for country houses and estates is strong at the moment.
“We are always looking for properties like this because Ireland is an extremely popular destination at the moment for international buyers. Where else would you get these big, beautiful houses on the quantity of land? Nowhere,” she concluded.
By Nicola Corless
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.