One for you in Killaloe

With class views of Lough Derg, this former home of a UL president has been put on the market, Trish Dromey reports

Killaloe, Co Clare - €850,000

• Size: 464 sq m (5,000 sq ft)
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 4
• BER: C1

AN option for one of the many who are now aspiring to move into a presidential residence, could be this architecturally striking Killaloe property overlooking Lough Derg.

Built in the style made famous by American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, the 5,000 sq ft house was formerly the home of the president of the University of Limerick. It came to national attention in 2010, when work started on a new €1.1 million presidential residence at the university campus.

Newspapers carried criticism of UL for its extravagance in building a second president’s residence, reporting that this one, which had been bought by the college in 1998, had been mostly vacant since the retirement of the previous president Professor Roger Downer in 2007. Called the Downs, the four storey property at Ballycuggaran, Killaloe has now been put on the market by the university with a guide of €850,000. Harry Brann auctioneers say that in this very sought-after location, this architecturally different, five balconied property is one of a kind.

“The American designer’s influence is very evident in the open plan living area, large master suite, high ceilings, glass windows and rooftop sunroom. You can almost touch the breathtaking views of the 32,000 acre Lough Derg,’’ says auctioneer John Phelan.

Pitching to an international market as well as to Irish buyers, he notes that the property has more than presidential connections since it is within walking distance of Killaloe, which was the home of Brian Boru, Ireland’s most famous high king. Built in to its sloping 2.4 acre site, the property like those designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is integrated into the landscape and has the broad flat roof shapes with overhanging eaves as well as the horizontal bands of windows favoured by him.

Unconventionally laid out, it has accommodation on four levels - a basement, a lower ground floor, a ground floor and a top floor.

The main living space is on the ground floor which is accessed though a door at the side of the house. At the front, overlooking the lake and opening out on to a large balcony, is has highly glazed 600 sq ft living room with a sandstone fireplace. Open plan with it, is a spacious formal dining room of the type required in all presidential residences and which is also carpeted and has a chandelier.

At the other side of the house, is a very large kitchen dining room fitted with maple shaker style units with granite worktops and integrated appliances and which includes a central island unit.

A stairs from the hallway leads down to lower ground floor which has four bedrooms and a bathroom. All the bedrooms are large, but the 800 sq ft master bedroom is the same the size as many apartments and three bed semis. It is one of two en suite bedrooms and also has a walk in wardrobe and access to a large balcony with a water feature.

The top floor has a spacious carpeted living area/study with doors opening on to a roof top balcony. At this level there’s also a glass roofed sunroom with two sets of double doors also leading on to the balcony which runs along the front and side of the house.

Down in the basement there’s an integral garage with electric doors, a huge gym/leisure area and a laundry room The gently sloping site is bounded by a stream and enclosed by a line of trees which guarantees privacy. Mostly given over to lawn, the gardens also have some shrub beds including one with a water feature and are accessed through electric gates.

The Downs is located four and half kilometres from Killaloe and 27 from Limerick. It’s approximately one kilometre from a slipway on Lough Derg and from the University of Limerick Activity Centre.

Mr Phelan says this is undoubtedly the most distinctive property he has ever been tasked with selling. Because of its waterside location in Killaloe, he believes it could sell to an international buyer or equally possibly to a purchaser from Limerick or Shannon.

Verdict: As unique a presidential residence as you will find anywhere in Ireland