With the pandemic continuing to encourage buyers away from cities and into the countryside, buyers looking for vast swathes of green space to thrive in would be hard pushed to find a more idyllic setting than Mount Juliet Estate in Co Kilkenny.
If you’re looking to put down rural roots while still maintaining easy access to Dublin, one of the finest private residences on the estate, No 2 The Walton’s, has come on the market, and might just fit the bill.
This expansive five-bedroom residence has matured beautifully since its completion in 2002. Its Palladian-style facade overlooks the 12th fairway of the estate’s Jack Nicklaus-designed championship golf course, with a sunny southwest aspect.
“No 2 The Walton’s commands one of the most enviable positions within the estate – with the river Nore running behind it, the fairways to the front, fine private gardens and grounds and beside all the amenities too,” says Ken MacDonald of Hooke & MacDonald, the estate agent for the house.
The two-storey house has 535sq m (5,760sq ft) of luxurious living space, with high ceilings, rich joinery and classic Georgian-style finishes throughout, all of which give the home a distinctive period feel befitting of its historic setting.
But beneath the surface there are also numerous modern systems and smart technology keeping items ticking over – including internal built-in vacuum points, integrated audio systems in most rooms, dedicated internet service, underfloor heating, hydrotherapy baths and showers, excellent sound and heat insulation throughout, and day and night electricity systems. With a centralised media switcher box to control it all, there’s nothing olde worlde about how this house functions.
[Discover the brochure for No 2 the Walton's]
Outstanding accommodation
On the ground floor, a stunning entrance hall opens up onto two large reception rooms. The elegant bay-windowed living room to the right leads onto a more informal family room and both rooms interconnect with a third reception-cum-dining room to the rear. To the left of the hallway is a large bay-windowed games room-cum-TV room worthy of a Hollywood Hills resident, perfect for hosting snooker tournaments, card games around the fire, or screening nights in with friends and family.
The light-filled kitchen and very clearly thought-out utility hub makes up the rest of the ground floor. The bespoke kitchen gives a nod to Georgian style and features black granite worktops, with a large central island seating six. There’s room for more around the dining table too, making it a great spot for hosting friends or family at weekend brunch.
The utility area, designed with organisation in mind, consists of four separate sections: a mud room including two showers – extremely handy if you have dogs – a wc, a good-size utility space with washing machine and dryer plus lots of practical storage, and a room that contains the in-house vacuum system and electricity supply board. There is an additional wc cloakroom in the hallway underneath the stairs too.
Upstairs is split into two levels. The upper level hosts a charming gallery room opening up onto an outdoor balcony, which is bathed in sunshine from early afternoon to late evening time. This little oasis, which feels very private from the rest of the house, would make for an ideal artist’s studio, a writer’s haven or an inspiring work-from-home space.
Adjacent to the gallery is the master suite, which takes full advantage of lush views over the fairway. The suite’s capacious walk-in wardrobe with seated dressing area and sizeable en suite take centre stage. Complete with a hydrotherapy bath and a hydrotherapy shower that can fit two people seated, it also has the facility to be used as a steam shower.
Four additional large double bedrooms, all with en suites and three with walk-in wardrobes, sit on the lower level and there is a custom-built panelled study here too, which includes the media server controller for the rest of the house.
Outdoor living
In recent times outdoor living spaces have taken on even greater importance, and the garden amenities mirror the interiors’ strong focus around family gatherings and entertaining. The sunny patio, which wraps around the rear, is the perfect spot to enjoy a tipple before partaking in a few games of tennis on the house’s private tennis court – the only private court on the estate. This was constructed by leading tennis court provider Casey Courts, which also maintains the court on an annual basis.
There’s a separate double garage, with plenty of room for bikes, riding equipment, golf carts and sporting equipment, which reflects the charming country lifestyle a house like this can so easily lend itself to.
The new owners can also enjoy the perks, without any of the maintenance, that come with living on Mount Juliet’s 530 acres of expansive pastures and gardens, which are in exceptional condition having benefitted from ongoing substantial investment.
Historically the estate has also been lovingly maintained and cultivated by seven generations of earls and countesses, since the Earl of Carrick first built the Manor House and developed the grounds back in 1747 and named his legacy after his wife, Juliet.
The jewel in the estate’s crown is the 18th-century Manor House, voted the AA Irish Hotel of the Year 2020. It boasts the Michelin starred Lady Helen Restaurant, and for more casual dining The Hound restaurant and the newly redeveloped golf clubhouse, where there’s also a golf shop and Jack’s Bar.
The estate is in fantastic condition and is the ideal setting for the Irish Open Golf tournament, which takes place in the first week of July.
A global golfers’ destination, the estate is home to the world renowned 72 par, Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole golf course. For horse lovers, there is an impressive equestrian centre, or you can try your hand at archery or salmon and trout fishing on the river Nore. If you prefer to expend energy indoors, there’s a gym and health club with a 15-metre heated swimming pool and a spa with treatment suites.
Video supplied by Hooke & MacDonald
Nearby is Thomastown train station on the Dublin-Waterford line, making the commute to Dublin super easy. Or if you wish to drive it’s approximately just over one hour to the capital.
Meanwhile, the always-bustling Kilkenny town is less than 20 minutes’ drive away, and once restrictions lift its lively food and arts scene plus countless pubs and festivals is sure to keep the social calendar full of diversity.
“There has been a big increase in sales in the past year in Mount Juliet, partly because so many people are moving to the countryside but also people who would normally buy in Spain and Portugal have opted to buy in Ireland. There’s a vibrant residential community in the estate which makes it very attractive for incoming new buyers, whether they are golfers or not,” says MacDonald.
“We’ve even had recent inquiries from residents of other golf resorts overseas about Mount Juliet as it really is a world-class, unique resort, so we are delighted to be appointed to sell this property. It’s definitely very special.”
[ To find out more about the property, visit www.hmd.ieOpens in new window ]