For movers and sheikhers

CONCEIVED and delivered by a low-key Irish developer with sites scattered around Ireland, Rosegreen Studfarm is a bit away from his usual pattern of mixed-use commercial developments.

The Co Tipperary property is adjacent to the renowned Coolmore stud, and also within a trot of the famed Ballydoyle stud, linked worldwide with the name of legendary Vincent O’Brien, the Master of Ballydoyle. John Magnier’s Coolmore dynsasty has some 2,000 acres in and around Fethard, and its Irish horse stud operations bring in income of around €150 million a year. Some estimates of Coolmore’s value put it in the multi-billion euro category.

Sharing soil characteristics with Coolmore, this Rosegreen offering is good limestone land, ideal for tillage, but now, given what’s been built on it, it is most likely to be used for grazing top horses, and perhaps by someone looking to get some of Coolmore’s luck and lucre rubbing off on them.

Rosegreen has a modest enough 58 acres of land, and comes with 20 stables, but the whopper in this case is the house – a sprawling modern, just-built pile of over 16,000 sq ft, with rooms put aside for a casino, private bar, home cinema, cellar/safe room, snooker room and offices – and that’s just in the basement.

Hop up to the next main level and there’s a swimming pool and sauna, formal dining room, kitchen, living room and library, as well as an 850 sq ft entrance hall, with splayed teak staircase.

There’s around 5,000 sq ft at each of the three levels – that’s the floor area of a Celtic Tiger McMansion, on each and every level. There’s scope on the top level for seven bedrooms, all with bathrooms and three also have large dressing rooms. Although the residence lacks any obvious architectural merit, it is large enough for a prince, either Merchant or Middle Eastern, to disport on, the stable complex is well-thought out, and includes a manager’s house – a modest 1,100 sq ft one-bed home.

Estate agent Matt Fallon says “we are targeting the international market, but we expect some interest from the local and Irish market,” and he expects inquiries from the Gulf States and the likes of Saudi princes, the sheikers and movers of the Middle East, many of whom are huge fans and admirers of the Coolmore legend.

As an indication of the targeted buyers, the large sales brochure not only has distances to and from Irish cities, it also gives longitude and latitude bearings for those more further flung.

Cork-based auctioneer Mr Fallon is selling Rosegreen Studfarm by tender, with a closing date of September 25. He doesn’t disclose a guide price.

If you have to ask, you definitely can’t afford it and safe to say, his Rosegreen-tinted vendor is expecting many millions of euros for his troubles.

Horses, for courses.