This stunning Georgian house is being put up for sale after the owner has made the difficult decision to leave the peace and tranquillity of the Irish countryside and head back to the big city.
Rathmore Park has been the home Jackie Ruddock and her family since they moved in permanently nearly 20 years ago.
“We bought it on a whim” said Jackie. “We were living in Dalkey at the time, and weren’t even looking for a house in the country. We came up the drive past all the lovely calves, walked into the hall and were sold immediately.”
The 680sqm property sits in the middle of 25 acres of beautiful forestry of beech, oak and ash trees.
The River Slaney runs through the grounds and the owners of Rathmore Park hold the fishing rights to a mile-long stretch which is rich with salmon, pike and trout.
The grounds also feature a swimming pool and tennis court which could be restored by the new owners.
The neighbouring field is rented out to a local farmer who uses it for his suckler herd, so there are always cute calves and mothers roaming free.
As well as the main house, there is also a cut-stone coach house and stableyard, converted into a fine three-bedroom, two-bathroom family home with a separate studio apartment
Jackie and her late husband Alan bought the property in the mid-90s and spent a few years restoring it before making it the family home in 1999.
Alan was a journalist and the first editor of the Irish edition of the Sunday Times. He died suddenly in 2010.
Jackie said: “Rathmore Park is essentially Georgian. The original house dates from 1735 – although there is one 4ft-thick wall that we think is Norman – and was extended in 1830 and again in 1860. We added on the sun rooms at either end in 1999.
“There are great party rooms. They have seen a lot of late nights.
“I think it is the perfect family house. There’s plenty of room for everyone to do their own thing without getting under each other’s feet, and the grounds are wonderful for children. The snooker room comes into its own late at night.”
Jackie and her sons made the tough decision to sell Rathmore Park so they could move to Dublin to be closer to their work and family.
The property has an asking price of €1.2m and the sale is being handled by agents Ganly Walters.
Stunning €1.2m Georgian mansion for sale in Co Carlow