Enniskerry is currently at the centre of movie action in Co Wicklow, with the filming of Disney’s Disenchanted underway, but it is the village of Ashford that is the county’s very own tinsel town and where the real movie magic happens. And like its Californian equivalent it is full of fanciful properties where you can live out your dreams.
Take Glanmore Castle, a residence that has both literary and rock’n’roll connections. A sizeable two-bedroom home in the property has come to market seeking €550,000 through agents Colliers.
For this, you get to brag that Joey Tempest, the lead singer with 1980s Swedish rock outfit Europe, entertained guests at a party in the drawing room, a lofty space where the ceiling heights are over 4m high, banging out a rendition of their world-wide hit, The Final Countdown on a baby grand piano.
For a time Charlie Burchill, Simple Minds guitarist lived in Glanmore Yard, the converted stable block, with Tom Waits one of many musicians to visit the music studio.
But the BER-exempt house also has a connection to Ireland’s literary heritage. Originally built in 1760 on the Glanmore Estate, Glanmore Castle was once the home of the family of playwright John Millington Synge.
It was his uncle who added the turrets and castellation in 1804, having engaged the architect Francis Johnston, who designed Dublin’s GPO, Townley Hall in Drogheda and Charleville Castle in Co Offaly, considered one of the finest castles in the country.
The house, which operated as a hotel in the 1960s, was divided into five units in 1975 by its then German owners, with two of these knocked into one big space. It was brought to market earlier this year seeking €1.65 million and has recently been sale agreed.
While more modest in size and price, number 4 is still a very large, two-bedroom, extending to 207 sq m / 2300 sq ft and set over three storeys with soaring ceiling heights throughout. It has period charm, is light-filled and is surrounded by mature trees and rolling hills.
The kitchen is at garden level and is where the next owner will likely make some changes. It’s has about 45 sq m of space and a reconfiguration would make better use of it and better connect it to the garden.
The landing at bedroom level is so large that the current owners use it as a light-filled home office. They were considering adding a mezzanine level, which is something the next owner might consider.
The house comes with big front and back gardens and has direct access to the Coillte-run Devil’s Glen forest and its river walk along the Vartry. Ashford is about a 2km walk away and access to the motorway to Dublin is nearby.
If you fancy a horse ride, there’s an equestrian centre across the field. Its surrounding paddocks are filled with horses.
“It was the perfect place to spend lockdown,” say its owners.
