Tramore's Gladonia for €2.5m is akin to a cruise ship on land

Ship-shape sizeable residence is in a league of its own, with swimming pool and tennis court

Gladonia Tramore

Tramore, Co Waterford
€2.5m
Size	671 sq m (7,222sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	8
BER	C1

Named for a ship that went aground nearby in the late 1980s, Gladonia on the Cliff Road in Tramore is a little like a luxury cruise liner in having its own swimming pool, full-sized tennis court, gym and several railed balconies with bay views.

Probably one the most expensive residences to ever come on the market in the seaside town Tramore, it has a guide of €2.5m — recently reduced from €2.9m. Comprehensively equipped for all kinds of leisure activities, it provides an astonishing 671 sq m of accommodation and might quite possibly be one of the largest four-bed houses in the country.

Already under construction when The Gladonia ship was stranded and re-floated in Tramore Bay, the property was almost completely rebuilt in the mid-2000s as a family home by its owners who owned a local business.

It was at that point that the tennis court, the 15 sq m long indoor swimming pool, the sauna, steam room and tennis court were added.

Appropriately redesigned for a property called after a ship, Gladonia has been fitted with three railed balconies and seven bow windows which were created to give those looking through them something of the impression of being out on the sea. The house was also fitted with an elaborate carved mahogany staircase, overhung by an Italian crystal chandelier which might not have looked out of place in the first-class quarters of a last-century ocean liner.

An elongated building offering views across Tramore Bay to the Sandhills and Brownstown Head from its many balconies and bow windows, Gladonia might be mistaken by passers-by for a small hotel.

The interior could be said to have both finish and the facilities of a hotel — having quality hardwood flooring and Italian marble tiles, Spanish bathroom fitting and a bespoke maple kitchen.

Viewers will be struck by the quality of the finish as well as the sheer size of rooms. Extending to over 88 sq m, Gladonia’s open plan kitchen/dining/living room has as much space as many houses. The fitted kitchen includes a U-shaped island unit/breakfast bar designed to resemble the bridge of a ship while the dining room at the front two bow windows overlooking Tramore Bay.

Alongside the kitchen/diner, there’s a formal dining room which opens onto a railed terrace at the front. At the opposite side of the house, there is a spacious lounge with an antique fireplace and two bow windows.

The exceptionally spacious master bedroom suite with its large dressing room and sizable bathroom offers over 86 sq m of space and is the same size as many apartments.

Its huge central bow window has the best views in the house and its dressing room and bathroom each have a front balcony of their own.

Most of the main rooms and living areas in Gladonia have large windows facing Tramore Bay except for two en suite bedrooms which have balconies overlooking the tennis court at the rear. The fourth en suite bedroom is also at the front and has a balcony.

Rooms which are located at the rear of the house include a very large utility as well as the gym, a sauna, a steam room, two shower rooms and a 16.7 metre long, tiled poolroom extending the full length of the house.

On a site of three quarters of an acre, Gladonia has gardens with an electric gated entrance at the front and a tennis court at the rear.

Clodagh McDonald of Lawrence & McDonald auctioneers, joint selling agent with Michael Griffin auctioneer, says this is an exceptionally spacious one-of- a-kind residence in a wonderfully elevated location above Tramore Bay.

“A cliffside residence with stunning sea views, it is attracting interest from overseas buyers,’’ she says, pointing out that no other residential properties in Tramore have this kind of immense space or leisure facilities.

VERDICT:

An extra spacious seafront home with the type of leisure facilities you might expect on a cruise liner or in a boutique hotel.