Sandbrook House

Sandbrook House

Sandbrook House

A slow-burning mix of country luxury

Book this home

County Carlow

An inviting and elegant home, this substantial 300 year old Queen Anne style country house, set in twenty five acres of mature parkland, makes the perfect setting to share memorable family gatherings, celebrations or corporate retreats.
Within easy reach of Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford and the sunny south-east, Sandbrook House makes a totally unique escape.

 

Relaxed in character and style

As if the archetypically straight avenue isn’t classical enough, the gleaming white panelled entrance hall with its elaborate mouldings, and a guestbook touting entries from 1929, confirms you’re arriving somewhere slightly baroque and enduringly special.

There are four other lofty reception rooms spanning the core of Sandbrook House, and all of them ooze eclectic charm. In the sitting room, on the left, we find the TV and a contemporary wood-burning stove imbedded in the first of a series of white marble mantles.

Once a music room at the end of the house, the drawing room has a few reminders, including a baby grand piano. A majlis style daybed fills the arched bay window that extends onto a covered barbecue veranda.

AT A GLANCE

  • Sleeps
    Up to 23 guests
    From €9,900 per week
    Or €5,000 for a weekend
  • Bedrooms
    Five double bedrooms
    One ensuite with bath and shower
    Two family quad bedrooms
    One single bedroom
  • Bathrooms
    Four plus shower room
  • Other Rooms
    Entrance Hall
    Drawing room, Sitting room, Library, Dining room
    Kitchen, Catering kitchen
    Laundry, Pantry, guest wc
  • Apartment
    Open plan Living/kitchen/dining room
    Double bedroom plus Twin
    Family bathroom
    Separate stairs
  • Features
    Covered veranda with gas BBQ
    Equine Livery boxes available
  • Contempo
    3 Flat screen TVs, DVD player, WiFi internet
    Sonos sound system ground floor & master suite
    Good Cell phone reception
  • Availability
    Weekly: Saturday to Saturday
    Weekends: Friday to Monday
    Midweek: Monday to Friday

Facilities & Ameneties

Kitchen Appliances

• Aga range, plus
• Multiple appliances and catering equipment
• Multiple laundry appliances

Bedrooms

• Sizes – Five double beds, one King-size and 11 single beds
• 3 Hairdryers

Tech & Entertainment

• Wi-Fi Internet
• 3 Flat-screen TVs
• DVD player
• Sonos sound system across ground floor & master suite

Other

• Huge selection of books
• Children’s high chair
• Livery stables available
• Gas Barbeque
• Croquet lawn
• Chef available

This covered terrace overlooking the croquet lawn, is furnished with a long rustic table, and accessed from both reception rooms, is equally perfect for afternoon tea, barbeques or sundowners.

The décor throughout is an idiosyncratic blend of antique furniture and contemporary art, with a smattering of collected memories from foreign travels.
Rugs from Iran thrown across traditional sisal carpets, while little brass men perch in precarious poses.

There is a comprehensive selection of books to be read, not all of them in the library at the other side of the hall.
Elegant and cosy, with another roaring fire in another classic white marble hearth.
A wireless Sonos sound system allows your favourite music to follow through the ground floor rooms, today’s essential companion when entertaining.

Beyond the library, there is a formal dining room. Resplendent gold walls, full length drapes, a blazing log fire, and a mahogany table surrounded by faux Chippendale chairs, before you even get to the starters…

The large family kitchen abuts on to the house at the rear, with a door onto the huge lawn which reveals uninterrupted views of Mount Leinster. It is country style, with tall windows, a four oven Aga range, and a substantial rustic table in the centre.

For more comprehensive cooking the adjacent catering kitchen has more of everything from freezers to microwaves.
There is also a separate pantry and a busy laundry room contiguous.

Bedrooms

There are five double bedrooms on the first floor each with its own unique character, and each with an idyllic pastoral view. The spacious master suite has a relaxed seating area, and an integral dressing room, with an ensuite embracing both slipper bath and walk-in shower.

Four shared bathrooms plus a shower room are distributed across the landing, and all the bedrooms have wash hand basins.

The dormer floor at the top of the house is given over to family accommodation. There are two large dorm style bedrooms, each with four single beds – ever popular with the younger ones! A single bedroom with ocular view separates them.

Floor Plans

Self-contained apartment

Annexed to one end of the first floor there is a separate and commodious apartment. It comes with its own open plan living area and kitchen, a double bedroom and a twin, and a family bathroom. It can also be accessed from a dedicated back stairs.

Outside

The house is sits on 25 acres, surrounded by paddocks and mature trees. The sunny south facing croquet lawn is overlooked by an exceptional all-weather veranda.

A number of the original out buildings are undergoing renovation. If you’re a horsey sort, you could bring a couple of animals to Sandbrook – the estate has its own stables and dry arena, and there’s plenty of riding space.

Restrictions

Smoking – No, sorry!
Parties – The owners regret Stag, Hen, or 21st parties are not admissible.
Children – As with all traditional country properties we would urge caution with young children in an unfamiliar environment.
Pets – Well mannered and polite dogs are accepted downstairs only.

Provisional Booking Form

This Home is normally only let by the week, except as follows:
Mid-week bookings run from Tuesday PM till Friday AM – 3  nights
Weekend breaks run from Friday PM till Monday AM – 3 nights
Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday

Easter Week 14th-  19th April 2022 – €9,900
Halloween  26th- 1st October 2022 – €9,900
Christmas 23rd to the 28th Dec 2022 – €9,900
New Years 30th to the 2nd Jan 2023 – €9,900

Important – A refundable breakages deposit of €600  is payable with the rent, this will be refunded within 7 days of depature; provided all is in order.

All Year €9,900 per week Weekend €5,000 Mid-week €4,800

 

Select your Dates

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Please select a date first.

We don't take payment until your enquiry is confirmed.

Your travel arrangements are important, so all provisional bookings are double checked with the owners to ensure that your plans do not conflict with theirs, this can take up to 24 hours, but we haven’t forgotten about you.!

Provisional bookings will be followed up by email, at which point we can answer specific queries you may have, verify your booking and request a deposit to confirm.

Please note that all unconfirmed provisional bookings will expire after 3 days.
If your preferred dates are not available, please click here to review all houses that match your dates.

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Booked
Pending
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We don't take payment until your enquiry is confirmed.

 

Reviews

 

We booked Sandbrook House…

for a special birthday celebration few days and we were blown away by the comfort, spaciousness and ambiance of the house. The interior of the house is both beautiful and practical. Perfect for our whole family – from 3 to 80 years old. It served the purpose so well with lovely reception rooms and cosy but generous kitchen for a family gathering.
We stayed in Winter so the house came into its own with lovely fires in the lounges and dining room. Not to mention the gorgeous Christmas tree in the entrance hall. Jackie the house manager was extremely helpful as was John the recommended chef who provided dinner for us.
All in all, we were so delighted with our choice of venue as were our guests who all want to return. I could go on and on – giant bath tubs, books and board games in the lounge, sonos system throughout the house. Quite simply lovely, relaxing place to spend a few days in the countryside and just an hour from Dublin.

Marjory Cleary, 2018

Click here for reviews on using Sandbrook in Search for Posts

 

Out & About

 
Dotted with mountains and rivers this rural landscape brings more than just golfing, history and horses…

photo Adrian Farwell
Here are some of our favourites…

Try one of the numerous local Festivals:

 

The Locality

 

 
The local village of Ballon has a couple of pubs, a great butcher and filling stations, but you will need to go the 20k to Carlow town for a broader spectrum of goods.

Carlow town was the country’s capital in the 1300’s but it’s probably best known as home of the nation’s 4th most popular Institute of Technology.

Just east of Carlow Town, Browne’s Hill Dolmen is regarded by many as one of the foremost prehistoric monuments in Ireland. Its burial chamber roof is certainly one of the heaviest in Europe at about 100 tons.

photo Kevin Higgins

Carlow Castle is a popular 13th century attraction. An attempt by a doctor in the 1800’s to convert the stone castle into an insane asylum destroyed most of the castle, however the two remaining towers demonstrate what an impressive construction it had been.

The vibrant medieval city of Kilkenny is a short drive, with its fine cathedral, and thirteenth-century Castle, which was principal residence of the Butler family for over 600 years, and well-known design and craft heritage. The city is renowned as an arts and crafts centre and is well served by restaurants and festivals.

The River Barrow which flows through Carlow town, is the second-longest river in Ireland after the River Shannon.


photo Artur Koziol

A long-distance walking trail known as The Barrow Way which follows the original towpath of the river for 114 kilometres, and would take approximately 4 days to cover on foot, though cycling is permitted. It is one of Ireland’s most scenic long distance trails but remains largely undiscovered.

Click here for more information on Ireland’s Ancient East

As mentioned elsewhere, the region is spoiled for fine golf courses within a short distance of Sandbrook. If you enjoy a spot of leisurely fly fishing, Rathcon Lake is well stocked with top quality rainbow trout. The lake is designed so that 90% of the water is coverable from the bank. Rods and tackle are available for hire.

photo Mount Wolseley Resort

How to get there – Car advised…

By Air: Flights to Dublin, Belfast or Shannon airports.
Dublin Airport – about 1 and a half hours from the house.
Cork Airport – Just under 3 hours from the house.
Shannon Airport – under 2 and half hours from the house.

By Sea: Ferry crossings
Dublin City Port/Holyhead has a fast crossing and about 1 and a half hours from the house.
Rosslare Harbour for Ferries to South Wales is about an hour from the house.

 

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Map

The Gate Lodge at Coolmore

The Gate Lodge at Coolmore

The Gate Lodge at Coolmore

Romantic regency escape for two

Book this home

County Kilkenny

This is a quaint and cosy traditional gate lodge, custodian to the exclusive Coolmore estate, where a bleached white exterior and tastefully renovated interior preserve its unique style.
Surrounded by 250 acres of rolling parkland in the picturesque Nore valley, the cottage lies within easy reach of Dublin, Waterford, and perhaps the best golfing Ireland has to offer.

 

A compact and intimate home

In smaller homes, utilities require clever stowage, and so it is that you unknowingly pass the well concealed laundry facility when you step through the entrance lobby and enter the living room.

Under-floor heating guarantees wall to wall warmth.

A high stool dining bar informally separates the snug seating area, complete with wood burning stove, from the compact oak kitchen.

The double bedroom is as sumptuous as it is simple. A wall of convenient wardrobe space spans the short lobby leading to the pearly white shower room.

Outside

The Gate Lodge is situated at the start of a tree lined avenue that introduces the Coolmore Estate. The immediate garden is lawned and defined by low box hedges. Internal roadways on the estate are mostly roller skate smooth asphalt, but there are some 4kms of beautifully brick-paved walks which are ideal for jogging and cycling.

Otters, badgers, Irish hares and red squirrels, foxes, river birds are among the native wildlife to be spotted along the tranquil valley. Fishing rights extend to a mile of the Nore, single bank, with eight pools noted for salmon, though these are subject to licensing requirements and by arrangement.

Elsewhere you will pass a Stonehenge folly of more recent construction, adjacent to the brick paved heli-pad of the same era.

Dining arrangements include an expansive rear patio along the western flank which is easily accessed from the kitchen – Barbecue Shangri-La.

Facilities

The Lodge has a Weber barbecue, smart TV, excellent mobile coverage, and internet. By arrangement there is use of the tennis court and a mile of fishing rights.

Note that there is a separate Cottage on the demesne that sleeps four, and is listed elsewhere on this Unique Irish Homes website.

Restrictions

Smoking – No, sorry!
Parties – The owners regret Stag, Hen, Wedding or 21st parties are not admissible.

Allergy Warning! Please note that this is a Dog Friendly Home. If you intend bringing a dog, please tell us about him/her when booking.

The main house has a magnificent 3 acre walled garden which the gardener may give you a tour of. There is also an Astroturf tennis court which is available by arrangement.

Provisional Booking Form

This Home is normally only let by the week, except as follows:
Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday

Easter Week 14th-  19th April 2022 – €795
Halloween  26th- 1st October 2022 – €795
Christmas 23rd to the 28th Dec 2022 – €795
New Years 30th to the 2nd Jan 2023 – €795

Christmas, New Year and public holidays are high season  – please apply for rates.

A refundable breakages deposit payable with the rental amount will be refunded within seven days of departure.

All Year €795 per week Weekends and Mid-Week stays €475

Select your Dates

AVAILABLE BOOKED

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Please select a date first.

We don't take payment until your enquiry is confirmed.

Your travel arrangements are important, so all provisional bookings are double checked with the owners to ensure that your plans do not conflict with theirs, this can take up to 24 hours, but we haven’t forgotten about you.!

Provisional bookings will be followed up by email, at which point we can answer specific queries you may have, verify your booking and request a deposit to confirm.

Please note that all unconfirmed provisional bookings will expire after 3 days.
If your preferred dates are not available, please click here to review all houses that match your dates.

Available
Booked
Pending
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Please select a date first.

We don't take payment until your enquiry is confirmed.

 

Reviews

 

We had a lovely time away…

so relaxing in such beautiful surroundings. The Gate lodge was gorgeous, Charlie enjoyed the garden & lovely walks. The weather wasn’t bad & Hugh was able to barbeque! It was really just what we both needed. Fiona was so helpful. Thank you both so much for all your input.

Mad, July 2020

 

What a unique way to ring in the new year!

I just wanted to let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed our weekend in the Gate Lodge, Coolmore. The cottage is beautifully appointed and cosy. There was a luxurious welcome basket also.

Noreen Keane, January 2017

 

I cannot speak highly enough

of the booking experience and the gate lodge at Coolmore. Everything has been exceptional, and the Coolmore property and estate experience was outstanding. We are so pleased to have discovered your website and hope to be able to use it again. Many thanks for all your help.

Peter, July 2022

10 out of 10!!

From beginning to end you have been wonderful to deal with, and when we unfortunately had to change our dates you were so helpful and accommodating. The staff at the Lodge were brilliant and nothing was too much trouble. We were greeted with a wonderful Welcome Pack – which was much appreciated at 8pm on a rainy Sunday night!!
The sun then shone on us and we had a great week in Kilkenny. We also visited Bassetts in Thomastown for dinner (which was recommended) and had a fabulous evening there too!
One tiny bit of feedback re the Lodge – there was no mirror in the bedroom – which would have helped when needing to dry my hair – but honestly it was no trouble doing it in the Living room!!!
We have told our family and friends how wonderful our trip was, and my parents are seriously thinking of booking the same for next year. Thank you so much.

Emma, Jonny & Frankie-Dog, UK, June 2019

 

Out & About

 

This region has a rich and ancient heritage of Dukes and Earls, Bishops and brewing. There’s so much to taste and see, we just can’t list them all, so here are a few of our favourites…

Here are some of our favourites…

Festivals

 

The Locality

 

 

The Gate Lodge was original constructed in 1850 and served as a home to the gatekeeper and his wife who was the cook in the main house

Thomastown at 5km upstream is the nearest town to Coolmore. There are two large supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and a selection of craft shops to browse.

Photo Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese

At one stage there were 12 water-powered mills, for grain and cloth, working locally. Several mills can still be seen upstream from the bridge in Thomastown. 

Photo Humphrey Bolton

A replica famine ship, the Dunbrody, is now berthed on the quay in New Ross and offers visitors an insight into life as a passenger during the 19th century when emigration to America was at its peek.

Photo Suckindiesel

Dysart Castle, clearly visible around the estate, was the birth place of George Berkeley. George, the eponymous philosopher of Berkeley University California, was active in the first half of the 18th century.

The medieval city of Kilkenny – 25km distant – is often referred to as the Marble City due to its unique black marble mining. It is the smallest city in Ireland.

Photo Sabrina O’Brien

Work on Kilkenny Castle was begun in 1204 and took 9 years to complete. The Castle became the seat to the Butler family, a very powerful dynasty who lived there until 1935.
Lady Margaret Butler who was born there, was the grandmother of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII of England.

The highest air temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3 °C (91.9 °F), at Kilkenny Castle on 26 June 1887.

St Canice’s Cathedral with its Round Tower were founded in the 6th century – Cill Channigh (pr. Kil-kenny) is the Gaelic for the Church of Canice. The Round Tower – one of only two that people can climb in Ireland – is the city’s oldest building, with excellent views for those brave enough to reach the top.

The extensive ruins of Jerpoint Abbey – 6km from the house – is another ecclesiastical site notable for its stone carvings. Built in 1180, it survived till Henry the VIII got hold of it during the period of the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500’s.

It was from a farm here in New Ross that President John F. Kennedy’s great-grandfather emigrated to America in 1848 on just such a ship.

How to get there – Car advised…

By Air: Flights to Dublin or Shannon airports.
Shannon Airport – approx 2 and half hours from house.
Dublin Airport – approx 2 hours from house.
Cork Airport – approx 2 and a half hours from house.

By Sea: Ferry crossings
Rosslare Port is approx 1 hour from house, with ferries to South Wales
Dublin City Port/Holyhead has a fast crossing and is approx 2 hours from house

 

​

Map

 

The Mill Cottage

The Mill Cottage

The Mill Cottage

Sublime stone home – stunning stately surroundings

Book this home

County Killkenny

Set in a very private demesne, and surrounded by 250 acres of rolling parkland in the picturesque Nore valley, The Mill Cottage is a beautifully renovated Victorian cottage, in a vernacular style of enduring charm.
An extraordinary realm within easy reach of Dublin, Waterford, and perhaps the best golfing Ireland has to offer.

 

Unique home in an exclusive location

The living area is open plan and spans the entire ground floor of this home comfortably sandwiching a six seater dining table between the luxuriously appointed kitchen and the sitting room end.

AT A GLANCE

  • Sleeps
    Up to 4 guests
    From €1,275 per week
  • Bedrooms
    One Double Bedroom – Ensuite
    One twin bedroom
    Family bathroom with shower
  • Other Rooms
    Open Plan
    Living Room
    Dining Area/Kitchen

    Utility Annex

  • Contempo
    Furnished Terrace
    Firewood
    Weber Barbecue
    High Speed Barbecue
    Smart TV’s
    Fishing By Arrangement
    Tennis by Arrangement

  • CHECK HERE

A glazed entrance porch, annexed asymmetrically to the granite stone frontage, directly accesses the kitchen end.

The elegant breakfast bar echoes the pink granite of the counters, and neatly partitions the cuisine.

French doors relinquish the sitting room for the chequered stone gallery that skirts the building, surveys the landscape and invites a barbecue.

There are curious peek-a-boo slot windows in the gable end walls, and a slate-black wood burning stove to bring cosiness to the sitting room of an evening.

Louvered blinds and mellow timber tones feature predominantly.

The sleeping accommodation is found up the open-string stairs, where a passageway divides a chic ensuite master bedroom from a commodious twin.

A separate shower room services the second bedroom. Marble tiling accords a contemporary styling in these rooms.

Note that there is a separate Gate Lodge on the demesne that sleeps two, and is available elsewhere on this Unique Irish Homes website.
 

Facilities

This house is equipped with everything you would expect in a luxury home.
There is a Weber barbecue, double oven, smart TVs, excellent mobile coverage, DVD player, internet, and use of the tennis court, and a mile of fishing rights – by arrangement.
If you have a particular requirement, be sure to tell us…

Outside

The immediate garden features an original crofters’ cottage and granite out buildings preserved and restored as stores.

Internal avenues are mostly roller skate smooth asphalt, and there are some 4kms of beautifully brick-paved walks throughout the estate which are ideal for jogging and cycling.

The main house has a magnificent 3 acre walled garden which the gardener may give you a tour of. There is also an Astroturf tennis court which is available by arrangement.

Otters, badgers, Irish hares and red squirrels, foxes, river birds are among the native wildlife to be spotted along the tranquil valley.
Fishing rights extend to a mile of the Nore, single bank, with eight pools noted for salmon, though these are subject to licensing requirements and by arrangement.

Elsewhere you will pass a Stonehenge folly of more recent construction, adjacent to the brick paved heli-pad of the same era.

Provisional Booking Form

This Home is normally only let by the week, except as follows:
NB: For The Moment the house can only accept weeklong bookings, apologies for the inconvenience.

Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday
Special Rates for Christmas, New Year’s and Public Holidays
The house is available for New Year’s from the 30th December 2021 to 3rd January 2022– €1,275


Holidays’ Dates for 2022 are priced as following.
Easter Week 14th-  19th April 2022 – €1,275
Halloween   27th- 1st October 2022 – €1,275
Christmas  23rd to the 28th Dec 2022 – €1,275
New Years’  30th December 2022 to the 2nd January 2023  -€1,275

A refundable breakages deposit payable with the rental amount will be refunded within seven days of departure.

All Year €1,275 per week Weekends and Mid-Week stays €695

Select your Dates

AVAILABLE BOOKED

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Please select a date first.

We don't take payment until your enquiry is confirmed.

Your travel arrangements are important, so all provisional bookings are double checked with the owners to ensure that your plans do not conflict with theirs, this can take up to 24 hours, but we haven’t forgotten about you.!

Provisional bookings will be followed up by email, at which point we can answer specific queries you may have, verify your booking and request a deposit to confirm.

Please note that all unconfirmed provisional bookings will expire after 3 days.
If your preferred dates are not available, please click here to review all houses that match your dates.

Available
Booked
Partner
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We don't take payment until your enquiry is confirmed.

 

Reviews

 

 

“We had the most wonderful break in stunning surroundings”

with wall to wall sunshine! We loved the cottage and grounds, spent lots of time walking around  the estate, along the river and through the woodland. We loved the privacy and the peaceful setting. It was a total rest for mind and body.

We found lots of places of interest within a short drive and visited Jerpoint Abbey, The Kennedy Homestead, Mount Congreve Gardens and Duncannon. After a few days though we found we were enjoying our surroundings so much that we just wanted to relax and enjoy nature where we were staying (as well as the resident otter, swans, heron, ducks, horses, sheep and goats).

My husband enjoyed having access to his “own” river and could just pop down in the evenings to fish which was a real treat for him. He says it’s a beautiful stretch of the Nore and enjoyed fly fishing but alas didn’t catch anything! 

-Anne M, 2021

 

 

We hope to return before long!!

I cannot say just how much we all enjoyed our recent stay..

-at this beautiful house.

The accommodation was beautiful in itself with so many lovely touches present on our arrival such as a stocked fridge with fresh farm eggs, butter, cheese and milk as well as a chilled bottle of prosecco! A full to the brim fruit basket was such a treat and we were so grateful to find coffee and tea there on our first day.

The bedrooms , bathrooms and seating areas were so well appointed and comfortable and the patio and barbeque area were used every day as the weather was remarkably good for most of our time there.

The estate on which Mill Cottage is situated stole our hearts. We could not believe how lucky we were to have kilometres of beautiful pathways to wander and enjoy and our dogs were as happy as we were! The walled garden was a peaceful and special place and we felt so lucky to have been able to see it and enjoy its many beautiful features.

The river Nore provided a chance to sit and watch it flow through an ever-changing landscape and my husband enjoyed an afternoon of fishing there although there was no fish for dinner that night!

Our hosts at the cottage were a joy to meet and were more than helpful on a number of occasions when we had adventures involving a fire alarm incident on one occasion and a visiting swarm of honey bees on another…

If we can we will be back.

Siofra, Gerard and Gaye – 2020.

 

 

 

 

Just returned from a very pleasant weekend break in the Mill Cottage.

The house was lovely, top class fittings and fixtures, very comfortable. The estate is beautiful, lovely to meet the local characters, especially a very inquisitive goat and 2 friendly horses. The location was perfect, lovely and quiet but just a short drive into Thomastown, which has an excellent SuperValu which is perfect for self-catering. The location was also perfect for exploring the many wonderful sights in the area. The house is very private, not overlooked, with only the estate road passing by the end of the large front garden.
I would highly recommend The Mill Cottage for anyone looking to get away from it all and relax.

Eimear, July 2017

We had a wonderful stay at Mill Cottage

Fiona and Sean gave us a very very warm welcome with lovely fresh products and a visit around the wonderful grounds The house is of a very good standard cosy beds fluffy towels and a great Weber BBQ which we used a lot plus an expresso machine for the coffee addicts. Our two adult sons were happy with the home entertainment smart TV easy to work even for me…
Peaceful relaxing and quiet we enjoyed are return visits after our trips to the local sites Killkenny Castle Dumore Caves The Dunbrody famine ship in New Ross to name but a few….
The estate grounds are wonderful to walk or jog around our four legged friend enjoyed meeting the sheep cows and beautiful friendly horses. A truly wonderful spot highly recommend it we didn’t want to leave.
Thank you Uniqueirishhomes.ie we have found our future Irish vacations in one.

Dairin, Kieran, Shane, Ross and furry Jess! – August 2016

 

Click here for reviews on using Mill Cottage in Search for Posts

 

Out & About

 

This region has a rich and ancient heritage of Dukes and Earls, Bishops and brewing. There’s so much to taste, see and do, we just can’t list them all, so here are a few of our favourites…

Here are some of our favourites…
Festivals and Events

 

The Locality

 

 

Thomastown at 5km upstream is the nearest town to Coolmore. There are two large supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and a selection of craft shops to browse.

Photo Knockdrinna Farmhouse Cheese

At one stage there were 12 water-powered mills, for grain and cloth, working locally. Several mills can still be seen upstream from the bridge in Thomastown. The Mill Cottage is named after a Coolmore estate manager who coincidentally worked in one of these mills.

Photo Humphrey Bolton

A replica famine ship, the Dunbrody, is now berthed on the quay in New Ross and offers visitors an insight into life as a passenger during the 19th century when emigration to America was at its peek.

Photo Suckindiesel

Dysart Castle, clearly visible around the estate, was the birth place of George Berkeley. George, the eponymous philosopher of Berkeley University California, was active in the first half of the 18th century.

The medieval city of Kilkenny – 25km distant – is often referred to as the Marble City due to its unique black marble mining. It is the smallest city in Ireland.

Photo Sabrina O’Brien

Work on Kilkenny Castle was begun in 1204 and took 9 years to complete. The Castle became the seat to the Butler family, a very powerful dynasty who lived there until 1935.
Lady Margaret Butler who was born there, was the grandmother of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII of England.

The highest air temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3 °C (91.9 °F), at Kilkenny Castle on 26 June 1887.

St Canice’s Cathedral with its Round Tower were founded in the 6th century – Cill Channigh (pr. Kil-kenny) is the Gaelic for the Church of Canice. The Round Tower – one of only two that people can climb in Ireland – is the city’s oldest building, with excellent views for those brave enough to reach the top.

The extensive ruins of Jerpoint Abbey – 6km from the house – is another ecclesiastical site notable for its stone carvings. Built in 1180, it survived till Henry the VIII got hold of it during the period of the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500’s.

It was from a farm here in New Ross that President John F. Kennedy’s great-grandfather emigrated to America in 1848 on just such a ship.

How to get there – Car advised…

By Air: Flights to Dublin or Shannon airports.
Shannon Airport – approx 2 and half hours from house.
Dublin Airport – approx 2 hours from house.
Cork Airport – approx 2 and a half hours from house.

By Sea: Ferry crossings
Rosslare Port is approx 1 hour from house, with ferries to South Wales
Dublin City Port/Holyhead has a fast crossing and is approx 2 hours from house

 

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Map

Bell House

Bell House

Bell House

Ring out the old, ring in the new

Book This Home

County Carlow

The Bell House has been fashioned from the some of the beautifully restored, cut-granite buildings that encompass the courtyard of Lumcloone House. It’s original 19th century architecture informs a rambling, delightful and idiosyncratic home.

Just over an hour from Dublin and only half from Kilkenny, this idyllic home makes a romantic rural escape in Ireland’s Ancient East.

dining-room-french-doors
 

Casual and Curious

The entrance lobby forms a central link of the house.

The main living spaces span one side of an L shaped arrangement, with the informal dining room occupying the central elbow.

Here beneath a lofty pitched ceiling, an archway of French doors open from the gable-end onto a south-facing gravelled terrace; brilliant for al fresco meals.

dining room table

AT A GLANCE

  • Sleeps
    Up to 4 guests
    From €1,280 per week
  • Bedrooms
    Two double bedrooms – 1 ensuite
    1 with kitchenette & large balcony
    Bathroom with shower
  • Other Rooms
    Sitting room, Dining room
    KItchen
    Entrance Hall, Utility room
  • Features
    Wood burning stove, large garden
    Large furnished patio
  • Contempo
    Flat screen TV, fast WiFi internet
    Good Cell phone reception
  • Availability
    High season Weekly only: Saturday to Saturday
    Weekends: Friday to Monday
    Midweek: Monday to Friday
  • Restrictions
    Children over 12 are welcome
  • Small Dog Friendly – please ask

  • CHECK HERE

terrace
kitchen

A chequer-board of stone tiles announce a well-appointed and stylish kitchen annexed onto the opposing end of the dining room.

the kitchen
Facilities & Ameneties

Kitchen Appliances

• Neff electric oven with 4 ring hob
• Tall fridge-freezer
• Dishwasher
• Toaster
• Nespresso coffee machine

Utility Appliances

• Washing machine
• Spin dryer
• Iron

Bedrooms

• Sizes – Two King-size convertible Zip & Link
• 2 Hairdryers

Tech & Entertainment

• Wi-Fi Internet throughout
• Flat-screen TV
• Pelaton spin exercise bike

Other

• Selection of books
• Boardgames
• Gas Central heating
• Charnwood Woodburning Stove
• Firepit & logs
• BBQ

Stepping down behind the kitchen, is a bright and spacious sitting room.

sitting room

Delightful features of this room include the recessed Charnwood stove – seasoned wood supplied – and deep-set windows overlooking the beautiful cut granite courtyard of the main house.

sitting room stairs

details

stairway

window detail

bedroom stairs

Directly above, and accessed by a sensual sweep of cantilevered stone stairs, is one of two generous double bedrooms. It’s coved ceiling, and quirky little floor-level windows augment the romance.

double bedroom

double bed

This bedroom has a generous and chic ensuite bathroom, which boasts both a glass shower booth and bath.

bathroom ensuite

The second beautiful double bedroom is also in the attic, at the far end of the home, and includes a small study area on the landing as you enter.

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A modest kitchenette has been included in the coving making the room semi-autonomous.

 

second double bedroom

The headliner here though is that this bedroom accesses a large and private decked balcony, with views of the wonderful Carlow countryside across the walled garden.

bedroom balcony

The bedroom is served by a bathroom with dual-head shower off the corridor below.

Here too is a utility room, full of everything you will need.

Outside

The main house and associated buildings are listed and are part of an ongoing restoration project by the owners, with some restricted access.

The property consists of 12 acres with broad views of the Blackstairs and Wicklow mountains – Mount Leinster in the distance – which include an expansive walled garden, currently set as pasture for rescue goats.

Amateur ornithologists will appreciate the mesmerizing starling murmurations in early Spring, abundance of seasonal swallows, and the rookery. Binoculars supplied.

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The Bell House is approached via its own treelined driveway that snakes through a small woodland, and has its own private driveway, parking, and a magnificent sheltered patio area with cushy furniture and a firepit.

garden patio

Built in or around 1824 The Bell House originally accommodated the butler and housekeeper and subsequently housed the captain of a group of British Constabulary officers during the Irish Civil War.

Provisional Booking Form

This Home is normally only let by the week, except as follows:
Mid-week bookings run from Monday PM till Friday AM – 4 nights
Weekend breaks run from Friday PM till Monday AM – 3 nights
Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday

Holidays’ Dates for 2022 are priced as following.
Easter Week 14th-  19th April 2022 – €1,500
Halloween   27th- 1st October 2022 – €1,500
Christmas  23rd to the 28th Dec 2022 – €1,500
New Years’  30th December 2022 to the 2nd January 2023  -€1,500

Christmas and New Year are high season as above, for other Public holidays – please apply for rates.

A refundable breakages deposit payable with the rental amount will be refunded within seven days of departure.

  Per week Weekend Mid-week
October to May €1,280 €700 €700
June to September €1,500 Not Available Not Available

Select your Dates

AVAILABLE BOOKED

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We don't take payment until your enquiry is confirmed.

Your travel arrangements are important, so all provisional bookings are double checked with the owners to ensure that your plans do not conflict with theirs, this can take up to 24 hours, but we haven’t forgotten about you.!

Provisional bookings will be followed up by email, at which point we can answer specific queries you may have, verify your booking and request a deposit to confirm.

Please note that all unconfirmed provisional bookings will expire after 3 days.
If your preferred dates are not available, please click here to review all houses that match your dates.

Restrictions:

Smoking – No, sorry!
Parties – The owners regret Stag, Hen, Wedding or 21st parties are not admissible.
Children – The property is not suitable for toddlers or children under the age of 12.
Pets – small dogs only – please check with us.

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We don't take payment until your enquiry is confirmed.