Country house fetches a record €12m

A RECORD price has been set for an Irish country house.

The only house to make more money was Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park, bought by the State from the Guinness family.

The fully restored period home near Youghal has just three main bedrooms, but the master bedroom is in effect a collection of his and hers suites, including separate dressing rooms, bathrooms, boudoir, steam room, morning room and study, all of which can be sealed off from the main house at the touch of a panic button in case of attack or kidnap attempts.