Writer's house for €1.1m
THE SELLER:Jillian Godsil
What and where
Eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom, three reception Georgian manor house in Shillelagh, Co Wicklow.
Describe the house
Raheengraney House, literally a small sunny fort, sits on a crest of a hill with panoramic views stretching before it towards Mount Leinster. A lovely period house that combines quiet grandeur with family living. Totally renovated eight years ago with mature gardens. High ceilings, ornate coving and elegant windows. The house is built on three levels and children love the mixture of stairs and levels - great for hide and seek!
Originally converted with a guesthouse in mind, there is a mind-blowing industrial kitchen, mews with three bedrooms and more outbuildings for conversion, giving the house and its surroundings great potential.
Why are you moving?
Separation.
What's the best thing about it?
Just walk into the house and you feel at home. We used historic paint throughout the house, from the dramatic blood red paint in the formal hall and stairs, to the picture-gallery red in the back hall. The curtains alternatively puddle, drag or crumple on the original wooden floors depending on the formality of each room. Original features include the fireplaces, shutters and floors.
And the neighbourhood?
The house, also the name of the local townland, is curiously hidden from the road. It can be seen from the picturesque village of Clonegal three miles away and also from the top of Mount Leinster, but it disappears mysteriously from view when close. It may be linked to the jumping church of Clonegal; St Fiach, an ancient and tiny church with a distinctive square bell tower, which first appears on the left when driving towards the village. However, as one gets nearer, the twisty road causes the church to jump over to the right and to its final resting place overlooking the village.
For the new owner of Raheengraney House, there is a pew reserved at the very front of this picturesque church. And if church-going is not your bag, then you can sample instead the fabulous delights of ShaRoe bistro in Clonegal, home to ex-Marlfield House chef, Henry Stone and his lovely Swiss partner, Stephanie. The enterprising couple opened the tiny restaurant two years ago and such is their reputation, that booking for a Saturday night is required at least a month in advance.
Raheengraney House itself is perched on the edge of a little hamlet with a traditional pub and shop combined. Visitors to the house have been known to go for a pint of milk and stop instead for a pint of the black stuff. Only a quarter of a mile away, the friendly pub has a Cheers-like quality and everybody will know your name!
The famous Shillelagh Hunt gathers here for one of its more robust meets but rarely catches a fox - truth be told, the fox is more likely to be found sitting at the bar in Egans drinking a pint! The hunt gathers keen to jump cross country, and pinks and hounds, stirrup cups and interested neighbours gather before the off.
Who'd like your home?
A family who wants the space to enjoy the countryside but who don't want to be totally isolated. Only 70 minutes from Dublin, I personally commute there twice a week. We have Aldi 20 minutes away, Tesco is half an hour away and Dundrum Town Centre is only 70 minutes away if retail therapy calls. This is country living at its very best.
To view
The house is for sale through DNG McCormack Properties on 059 9133800 or McDonnell Properties on 0404 42828.
Want to pitch your house? Email words and pictures to us at property@irish-times.ie
