When budget airline mogul Tony Ryan finished his $140M renovation of Lyon Demesne, a 600-acre estate and 1785 Georgian manor house (above), he probably wasn't keen on his rowdy compatriots holding their drunken St. Patrick's Day festivities on the property. Sadly, Ryan passed away in 2007 and his sons put the immaculate mansion up for sale. With no takers at the initial $112M price, the brothers trimmed it down to a slightly more accessible $70M. But, while $42M buys a lot of green beer, we thought we'd find some Irish country houses that don't require a billionaire's budget and could host a shamrock shindig without spoiling too much.
? In the village of Ashford, 40 minutes from downtown Dublin, lies Glanmore Castle, once the home of playwright John Millington Synge. The castle has now been divided into smaller homes and the prominent central tower is now for sale at $1.295M. Combining modern technology with classic details, the castle has solar panels on the roof. Despite the traditional Irish form, the four-bedroom castle loses points for its single bathroom.
? The listing for Rathangan Lodge is short on interior photos, suggesting a full renovation would probably be necessary, but the 1740 stone hunting lodge, built for the Earl of Leinster, boasts 11,000 square feet of interior space, perfect for a massive pre-renovation party. There are 33 rooms in total and four acres of land close to the village of Rathangan Town. $1.2M buys the chance to tackle a Tony Ryan-style renovation.
? For those in need of a more privacy for their St. Patty's soiree, Phillipstown Manor boasts over 1,400 acres, but, much like Rathangan Lodge, requires a complete interior renovation. The stately facade and gorgeous country views should soften the pain of a $2.7M fixer-upper.
· €30m knocked off price of late Ryanair founder's home [Independent]
· Lyon Demesne [Christie's]
· Glanmore Castle [SherryFitz]
· Rathangan Lodge [SherryFitz]
· Phillipstown Manor [SherryFitz]