Shane Ross family estate back for sale with 43 per cent price cut

The Enniskerry estate owned by the late parents of Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, is back on the market, this time at less than half its original asking price.

Knockmore, a Palladian property with 15 acres of extensive grounds, has been placed for sale by public auction with an advised minimum value (AMV) of €1.6 million, a 57 per cent discount on its launch price last year of €3.75 million.

Despite a rich history, and its celebrated gardens maintained for 50 years by Ruth and John Ross, interest in the Co Wicklow pile has been slack.

Following its inital launch through Lisney in May 2017, the asking price was reduced in spring of this year to €2.4million when joint agent Savills came on board. Clearly the spring selling season didn’t deliver and viewings were limited.

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It will be interesting to see how Knockmore will fare at auction. Though its launch price was over ambitious, the current guide price has clearly been set to generate interest. With views from the 390 sq m (4,190 sq ft) Palladian villa stretching across the Irish Sea, down the Dargle Valley and over to the Sugar Loaf, the setting is beguiling and will appeal to a green-fingered buyer.

Ruth Isabel, known as Ru-Bel, was an accomplished gardener who worked as gardening correspondent for The Irish Times, she and John toiled in their gardens well into their late years, planting a deciduous forest on adjacent lands and regularly welcoming gardening tours from all over the world.

The property will be auctioned at the offices of Lisney, Dun Laoghaire, at 4pm on October 2nd, wih an AMV of €1.6million.