KILMURRY HOUSE 

A rare opportunity to acquire an historic 18th Century country house set in the centre of its own parkland and located in the Golden Triangle of County Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford.

Main residence: The accommodation briefly comprises of four reception rooms, nine bedrooms (six ensuite), three further bathrooms, kitchen, orangery, cellar room, a granny flat and a two bedroom apartment.

Courtyard: Two garages, two stables, a hay barn, two apartments, further two stables at the rear of the entrance.

Lands: Lands extend to c. 8.0 hectares (20 acres) including the larger part of a lake of about two acres.

Gardens: Lawns and mature trees surround the house including formal garden and walled gardens.

Location

Kilmurry is about 16 kilometers from Kilkenny City, 4 kilometers from Thomastown which has an array of amenities, with banks, supermarkets, schools, restaurants and all other services. Dublin is about 125 kilometers north along the N9 Dubin-Waterford route and Waterford is about 35 km away. The N9 is currently being upgraded and it is due to open in two years. The M9 will be a motor way from Dublin to Waterford. 

Amenities

Fishing:
This area is a haven for anglers with the River Nore on your doorstep.

Golf:
Mount Juliet, the 1,500 acre estate including its four star hotel and Jack Nicklaus designed championship golf course is two miles away. Gowran Park 18 hole golf course is 10 minutes away.

Hunting and shooting:
A choice of hunting packs are available to the keen horseman including the Kilkenny’s, North Kilkenny’s and the Carlow farmers which are all within easy boxing distance. There are a number of private shoots in the area.

Racing:
Race-goers are well catered for with courses at Gowran Park (10 minutes), Tramore (40 minutes), Tipperary and Clonmel all within an hours drive.

Education:
There are a number of primary schools and play schools in the locality with a mixed secondary education in Grennan College in Thomastown, Kilkenny College and Newtown School in Waterford.

Shopping:
Thomastown is full of shops and provides all the requirements of every day living. Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford are the main shopping centres in the area. 

History

Kilmurry House dates back to 1690 when a Colonel Bushe built a seat on lands granted to him under the Cromwellian settlement. The Bushes lived the genteel life of the day and applied themselves to the land, the law and the church. Although the house left the hands of the Bushe Family for a short while, Charles Kendal Bushe, a solicitor general for Ireland and Lord Chief Justice was able to buy back the estate in 1814. Charles added the two single-storey wings on either side of the principal façade and an extensive wing of service and accommodation to the rear of the house. It is believed that the new wings were the work of the renowned architect Sir Richard Morrison and his son William Vitruvius. Upon Charles death the estate was bought by Major Henry Butler of a branch of the butler family of Kilkenny castle and a grandson of the 11th Viscount Mountagarrett. Major Butler’s daughters inspired by their beautiful surroundings were artistically inclined, with the ornate carved wooden fireplace in the dining room a reminder of their presence and talent. But it was Major Butler’s daughter Mildred Anne Butler who became widely recognized as a prominent water colourist. Much of her work was inspired by the house and romantic grounds of Kilmurry with one of her most famous paintings “The Lilac Phlox” still exhibited today in the National Gallery of Ireland.

Mildred Anne Butler left the house to her cousin Mrs. Archer- Houblon whose horse riding skills were renowned in the equestrian world so much so that she was called upon to bestow her skills to the present Queen of England and also had the honour of accompanying her on many occasions to the Trooping of the Colour. Mrs Archer- Houblon together with her sister, preserved Miss Butler’s legacy until it was sold in 1981.

Description

Kilmurry is a truly splendid Georgian manor house, which has recently been sympathetically renovated and restored. The house is approached from a quiet and picturesque country road, which is completely sheltered by mature trees through stone pillar private gates and along a long tree lined avenue. As you approach Kilmurry House you are immediately struck by the fine proportioned house and the lawned gardens which surround it. The reception rooms and bedrooms which are almost all ensuite are magnificent in size with decorative ceilings, original fireplaces and large sash windows. There are many impressive rooms through out the house, including the inner hall, which has beautiful ornate plaster work, a dome style window and a columned entrance into the living room, the ball room or the long room has fireplaces on both ends and French doors leading to the front lawn. The dining room houses the most unusual wooden fireplace, which was carved by an inhabitant of the house, the fireplace in the library is a very fine Kilkenny marble fireplace. 

Accommodation
(1,245 square meters 13,400 square feet)

Ground Floor:

Entrance Hall- mosaic tiled floor, oval shaped room, door to:-

Main Hall:

Hardwood floor, corniced ceiling, feature dome skylight with decorative cornicing, grey marble fireplace with tiled inset.

Library- hardwood floor, corniced ceiling, three recessed sash windows with shutters, white feature marble decorative fireplace and built in mock book case with secret passage door to ballroom.

Ballroom- hardwood floor, corniced ceiling, five recessed sash windows with shutters, two grey marble fireplaces.

Dining Room- hardwood floor, corniced ceiling, two recessed sash windows with shutters & carved oak fire surround.

Sitting Room- hardwood floor, corniced ceiling, black marble fireplace, double French doors leading to garden.

Kitchen- tiled floor, part tiled walls, fitted pine kitchen unit with marble and pine work surface, pine island with tiled inset, ‘Stanley’ range, ‘Belfast’ sink, door leading to laundry room with boiler room off kitchen.

Orangery- stone tiled floor, two recessed bay windows, decorative corniced ceiling, door leading to garden.

Staircase- hall Wooden floor, corniced ceiling, with original mahogany curved staircase.

Bathroom- wooden floor, wc, whb.

Flower Room- wooden floor, wc, whb.

Back hall/ Back stairs Stone tiled floor, leads around to corridor to main hall, dinning room & kitchen. Door leading to courtyard.

Wine cellar- original wine cellar with stone arches.

First floor return, revert to floor plan

Bedroom 5- carpeted floor, two recessed sash windows, wooden fireplace.
Ensuite bathroom- tiled floor, wc, whb, bath with ‘Mira’ shower.

Bedroom 6- carpeted floor, corniced ceiling, wooden fireplace.
Ensuite bathroom - carpeted floor, wc, whb, shower, door to landing.

Bedroom 7- carpeted floor.
Ensuite bathroom- carpeted floor, part tiled walls, bath, wc, whb.
Study/Office Carpeted floor, fireplace & sash window.

First Floor

Master bedroom- carpeted floor, corniced ceiling, marble fireplace, two recessed sash windows with shutters over looking front lawn and lake.
Ensuite bathroom- wooden floor, part tiled walls, corniced ceiling, recessed sash window, wc, whb, roll top bath, walk in shower, bidet.

Bedroom 2- carpeted floor, corniced ceiling, marble fireplace, two recessed sash windows overlooking front lawn & lake.
Ensuite bathroom- whb, wc, bath with shower.

Bedroom 3- wooden floor, corniced ceiling, wooden fireplace with decorative tiled inset, whb, sash window with shutters.
Ensuite shower room- shower, wc.

Bedroom 4- wooden floor, corniced ceiling, black marble fireplace, whb, recessed sash window with shutters.
Bathroom (wc)- wooden floor, whb, wc, bath, part tiled walls, sash window.
Store room Walk in hot press.

Second Floor

Bedroom 8- wooden floor, corniced ceiling, black marble fireplace, recessed sash window with shutters.
Bathroom- carpeted floor, bath, whb.

Bedroom 9- wooden floor, corniced ceiling, fireplace, recessed sash window with shutters. 

Apartment 2

Own separate entrance via courtyard and also approached by back stairs.

Ground Floor:

Hall Tiled floor, spiral staircase.
Bathroom- wc, whb, shower.
Kitchen/ dinning room- tiled floor, built in wood units, ‘Electrolux’ cooker, sink, integrated fridge and freezer.
Sitting room- Wooden floors, 2 windows.

First Floor:

Bedroom- carpeted floor, wooden fireplace, recessed sash window with shutters.
Bathroom- carpeted floor, wc, whb, bath, built in storage cupboards, sash window with shutters.
Bedroom- carpeted floor, fireplace, recessed sash window with shutters.
Two further rooms

In need of refurbishment.

Granny flat (Apartment 1)

Own separate entrance via courtyard and through ground floor of main house.

Sitting/ kitchen- carpeted floor, part tiled walls, kitchen units, ‘Aga’ cooker.
Bedroom- carpeted floor, whb
Ensuite wc, shower.

Courtyard

The original courtyard is to the rear of the house and is enclosed by the old stone wall. It contains two garages, two stables, a hay barn and the entrance to two apartments. There are also two further stables at the rear of the entrance. 

Lands

Lands extend to c. 8 hectares (20 acres) including the larger part of a lake of about two acres. There are two paddocks of seven acres which are stud fenced and laid out in grass. Three acres are in park land and three acres are in magnificent old woodland. While the formal gardens consist of two acres and the walled gardens are a further two acres. 

Gardens

The house is surrounded by lawns on both sides which are sheltered by mature copper beech and chestnut trees. The formal gardens lead from the orangery and sitting room include flower beds, stone paved terrace, original low stone walls with balled columns and waterfall. There is also a two acre walled garden with the remains of formal gardens, kitchen gardens and the ruin of a gardener’s cottage. There are magnificent specimen trees (oak, beech, lime, ash, lime, cedar of Lebanoon, Scotts Pine, Horanbeam) and ancient woodlands through out the grounds and the land. 

Services

OFCH, mains water, septic tank, phone line, ESB, Sky TV, ISDN.


Title- Freehold. Viewing by appointment only

Directions

From Dublin take the N7/M7 Naas Road branching onto the M9/N9 for Waterford. Pass through Carlow town and Gowran village heading for Thomastown and Waterford. About 5km after Gowran watch for the Long Man Public House on the right hand side. 3/4 mile after this turn left down a tree lined road. After 3/4 mile the road turns sharp right at the gates of Kilmurray.

From Kilkenny take the R693 to Thomastown. In Thomastown take the N9 Dublin road north Thomastown for about 1.5miles. Turn right down the tree-lined road and continue as above.