Stradbally East outside Clarinbridge in Co Galway became a popular stretch for trophy homes during the Celtic Tiger, with private helicopter landing pads not uncommon.
Clarin House, which extends to a whopping 668sq m (7,400sq ft), was built by its current owner Sinead Culhane in 2005 and sits on a 7.65 acre site.
It is not often a house comes to the market with such a plethora of recreational facilities to make a sporting family swoon, and here the offerings include a floodlit tennis court, a three-quarter size football pitch – also floodlit – and four stables with post and rail paddocks. Also included is a hot tub with its own television screen, where the family watch sporting events.
Internally there is also a gym, and a recreation room for table tennis.
“It cost us €3 million to construct – as the drainage for the sports facilities had to deal with Irish weather – but my four children were reared in the gardens,” says Culhane, who has placed her home on the market as her children have begun college.
Set behind imposing gates along a bluebell carpeted drive the property, designed by the late Roddy Mannion, is set over three storeys behind a cut-stone façade.
There are a number of reception rooms which include two living rooms, a dining room, two studies and a large kitchen filled with Gaggenau appliances, including specific cooler units for champagne, white and red wines. A large patio lies off the kitchen where the family have entertained on a grand scale over the years.
There are five bedrooms, all en suite, and the master features a breakfast balcony and two dressing rooms.
To the rear of the property lies a guest cottage, which would suit an au pair or family member – Culhane has let it out over the years generating a rental income of €1,000 per month. Mirroring the cottage is a unit with four stables where the family have kept horses.
The extensive grounds are bordered by a 4km walk through a communal deciduous forest: “It’s perfect for running in the evenings to keep fit,” says Culhane
The property, in turn-key condition (though new owners may want to remove some of the wallpaper as it detracts from the finer features) is on the market through Sherry FitzGerald Galway and Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes with an asking price of €2.1 million. It was previously offered in 2012 for €2.3 million.
