How Kinsale became a hotspot for the super-rich as billionaires reshape the south coast
Superyacht Scout owned by US billionaire James Berwind in Kinsale. Mr Berwind has bought several properties in Kinsale costing a total of €16m. Picture: Kinsale Deep Sea Angling
Once known as a quiet, seaside town rooted in small-scale marine trade, Kinsale has transformed in the last two decades from a local, lived-in community to a lifestyle location for the world’s mega-rich.
Both at home and abroad, and largely from across the Atlantic, the Cork town known for its colourful shop fronts, creative spirit and its Michelin-recognised food culture has established itself as a leading contender amongst the super-rich looking for a new pad.
Arriving in their droves, the influx of millionaires into the small town has been met with mixed responses. While a surge in spending power bodes well for local businesses, making Kinsale an outlier with its many thriving galleries and creative spaces, rising prices as a result of the 1%’s growing demand have left many long-time residents priced out of living near their family home.
“Kinsale is the classic example of the haves and have-yachts,” says one long-time resident, pointing to the stark contrast between the ultra-rich and the rest of the town.
“With so many members of the 1% coming in, regular people simply cannot afford to live here anymore.”
Kinsale is the most sought-after prime country homes location in Ireland, according to estate agent Savills. In 2024, the town accounted for more than €24m in sales spanning across 11 deals. Thanks to several high-end residential schemes and the aptly-named Millionaires Row, the average price for new-builds in Kinsale now exceeds €700,000.
One buyer contributing to Kinsale’s number one spot on the expensive homes list is US billionaire James Berwind, an heir to the mining dynasty Berwind Corporation, a privately held company headquartered in Pennsylvania.
It is estimated that Berwin has embarked on an extensive spending spree across Kinsale in recent years, buying several properties which, combined, come in at around €16m.
In the summer of 2023, ‘Sprayfield’, a quaint Georgian waterfront bungalow near Kinsale’s Sandycove, was purchased by Mr Berwind and his husband for €4.5m.
The pair are also believed to be the buyers of the nearby ‘Seaspray’, an ultra-modern home in Scilly, Kinsale, which was purchased for €5.5m.
The billionaire has also been linked to the sale of ‘Valley House’ in Sandycove, which was bought for just under €5m at the end of last year, with even more acquisitions believed to be in the works.
Seaspray, the contemporary home purchased by James Berwind and his husband Kevin Clarke in Scilly, Kinsale. It is the second of three homes they have bought in and around the Cork coastal town in 2023 and 2024. Picture: Inhous.com
A recently approved planning bid lodged with Cork County Council gave the green light for extensive renovations at the waterfront site. The grounds, which have been earmarked as a site for a private sanctuary by the billionaire mining heir and ‘animal rights activist’, have also been granted permission to build a new house to replace the demolished one, as well as 12 mini turbines as part of the property’s on-site renewable energy infrastructure.
The plans also include the removal of existing tennis courts, a gallery space, a gym, and leisure facilities, including a lap pool, as well as a new padel and tennis court on the roof.
While the county council signed off on the plans, local residents seem less enthusiastic about their new neighbour's ambitions. One of the many objections submitted against the plans called it an overdevelopment that would create a “serious, irreversible impact on the visual lay of the landscape within the wider countryside.”
Another objector said the rural character and tranquillity of the area would “be irreparably harmed, diminishing its appeal and the quality of life for existing residents.”
“There’s definitely a bit of resentment being felt by long-time residents,” one Kinsale local tells the Irish Examiner.
“Given Ireland is in the depths of a housing crisis, it can be hard to watch people fork out millions for a second or third home. That’s a very hard thing to reconcile with.”
But Mr Berwind is not the only blow-in billionaire stoking problems for local residents, with some of whom, after many failed attempts to stall extensive and far-reaching renovations, feeling increasingly pushed out.
Currently, Ireland’s planning commission is deliberating a case concerning Ballynatray House in Waterford, which was bought along with its surrounding grounds by inventor and vacuum cleaner magnate James Dyson for more than €30m last year.
The British billionaire is currently awaiting a decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála to see whether or not he will be able to land at ease at his new crib, with the help of a helipad on the grounds of Ballynatray. Initially approved by Waterford City and County Council, the plans were appealed by a local resident to the planning commission, with its decision on the case already overdue.
In objections submitted against the development during the initial planning process, neighbours of Ballynatray House voiced worries of “up to 50 helicopter landings a year” which would harm the wildlife, the river and the local population.
One objector called the Blackwater “an unspoiled haven”, which “should be preserved and cherished” and not “spoiled with the weekly noise of a helicopter”.
“It is difficult in today’s world to find such areas, and I feel strongly that for the sake of someone’s convenience, an area of natural beauty and importance will be subjected to unnecessary disturbance,” one objector wrote to the council.
In another submission, an objector described the Blackwater River and its surrounds as a “sensitive area continually under attack” from housing, building, boats, jet-skis, and now helicopters.
They also noted more than a dozen other houses in the area that could accommodate a helipad, adding: “I am sure the applicant wouldn’t be happy if another 12 helicopters flew over Ballynatray each day.”
Whether it’s the bustling town of Kinsale or a quiet escape offering rural tranquillity, the influx of the super-rich is causing a divide across the South of Ireland, with local, long-time residents often bearing the brunt for lavish renovations to homes occupied for a few months of the year.
“There are a lot of people coming into Kinsale with a lot of money and taking what they want,” one long-time resident who has lived there for more than 30 years says.
“These people are not full-time members of the community. They’re not picking litter with the rest of us as part of the Tidy Town Committees.
“These homes, many of which largely detract from Kinsale’s architectural heritage, are also only lived in for two or three months a year. This leaves the town feeling quite empty in the off-season.”
While James Berwind already has the groundwork laid for his private animal sanctuary, a decision is still pending on whether James Dyson gets his helipad.
If approved, it will speak volumes about what the ultra-wealthy can expect upon arrival in Ireland. In the meantime, disenfranchised locals rallying against the landing pads and private zoos of the 1% will await the decision with interest.
A collection of the latest business articles and business analysis from Cork.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
