Roll out the Barrow

ROLLING out and along and down to the River Barrow at a wide river bend in picturesque Graiguenamanagh in Kilkenny is Brandondale House, a house with a history linked to Crowmell, and a future linked to development potential.

The large riverside period property, with eel weirs above and below its boundaries, has about 10 of its 30-plus acres zoned for residential development, which will put developer cats in among the period home birds.

An historic property, it was occupied for a while by the writer Sean O’Faoilean, who wrote the story, The Trout, based on the well under Brandondale House, current owner local man William Barron points out.

The impressive main house, originally a hunting lodge whose courtyard is said to have been used for tax collection by Cromwell, was the family home for several centuries of the Burtchaell family and Lady Anley, but more recently has earned its keep as a guest house on the outskirts of the village.

It has lots of road and river frontage, and mature woodland as well as a courtyard, stone folly, two walled gardens, a two storey cottage and a boathouse.

On the New Ross Road in scenic Graiguenamanagh, the location has an appeal for buyers in Dublin, Waterford and Kilkenny, and further development is set to flow thanks to the riverside setting.

Despite having a signature large weir in its midst, the Barrow around Graiguenamanagh is navigable for small craft thanks to the Tinnahinch lock, and there is access to the open sea as the river meets up with the Nore in New Ross, before finally meeting the Suir in Waterford harbour.

The main residence with four bedrooms has been converted for B&B uses, and there are a number of old smaller dwellings and buildings on the grounds which are suitable for conversion.

Auctioneers Philip Walsh and Ann Carton of P N O’Gorman in New Ross say that Brandondale and its idyllic grounds would make an ideal country house hotel and private retreat.

The land is under grass and woodland at present, but last September’s amended draft development plan with zoning changes will alter that, although the river frontage is to be preserved.

The rest of the 32 acres is zoned as amenity and agriculture, and PN O’Gormans may consider selling in lots as the land and house may have different ranges of bidders.

Price region for the entire property is reckoned to be about 2 million, with the bulk of its value held up by the amount of land and development scope.

Graiguenamanagh, about two hours from Dublin, developed upriver of Duiske Abbey, is a 12th century Cistercian foundation established by the Normans.