The Riverdance producers, John McColgan and Moya Doherty, are to sell their lavish country house in Co Meath after securing planning permission to build a large home at the Baily in Howth.
Marcus Magnier of Jackson-Stops and McCabe is quoting a guideline price of over £750,000 for Loughlinstown House, a Regency-style period house on 16 acres at Kilbride, Co Meath, which is to be auctioned on July 14th. It is one of the best presented country houses to come on the market this year.
Mr McColgan and Ms Doherty have made a fortune out of the Riverdance show which is currently running simultaneously in Austria, the US and Canada. The show has already been seen by over eight million people. Almost two years ago, the couple paid close to £1 million for Danes Hollow, a dated bungalow on a site of 4.5 acres with spectacular sea views. They have since got planning permission to demolish the house and replace it with an ultra-modern mansion. Loughlinstown is an early 19th century house hidden away in the Meath countryside about two miles from Fairyhouse and within 14 miles of Dublin city centre. It is the perfect retreat for a busy family. It is a house which has grown and adapted itself to the various needs and desires of successive owners and this gives it variety and interest. Previous owners include Lord Headfort, Sir John Green, a former chairman of Sheffield Steel, Captain Denis Bagally of horse racing fame and fashion designer Ib Jorgensen.
Loughlinstown is roomy without being too large. Essentially, it has three main reception rooms, six bedrooms and a wonderful leisure complex, including a snooker room and an indoor swimming-pool. It has a glorious rural setting among flowing lawns and mature trees. The extensive grounds also include a well-maintained vegetable garden, a two-bedroom cottage and an extensive range of old farm buildings previously used as a piggery.
Loughlinstown has a splendid reception hall with a large central cupola and deep sofas and chairs gathered around a huge open fireplace. There are polished oak floors everywhere, some of them original and others newly installed by the present owners. The drawing room at one end of the house has exceptional appeal with four big windows overlooking the lovely gardens. The room is large enough to accommodate a good number of guests as well as a baby grand piano and lots of comfortable chairs. The deep wine coloured-dining room on the opposite side of the hall is equally impressive.
The main bedroom suite, also at the front of the house, has an enchanting dressing room/bathroom, complete with free-standing antique bath, separate shower and custom-built wardrobes, one of them containing a lavatory. There are four other bedrooms at this level (one is currently used as an office) and another one at the lower level.
The kitchen is one of the highlights of the house. It is exceptionally well laid out with the customary Aga, fitted maple wall and floor units, marble worktops, Miele and Gaggenau electric appliances and a central island to prepare food. There are several smaller rooms in this area, including a utility room, study, shower room and separate toilet. At the back of the house, an elevated wooden deck has been installed for al fresco dining on long summer evenings.
The lower level is largely given over to leisure and recreational facilities which would undoubtedly be enjoyed by many families. Apart from the nine-metre swimming-pool (it has an electronically controlled safety cover), there is also separate changing rooms, a sauna, Jacuzzi, solarium and shower room, as well as the snooker room.
