A horse lover's paradise: find your stride at Ballylanigan for €1.5m

Yard life is looking good at this gracious Georgian home geared towards horse lovers

Ballylanigan House, Mullinahone, Co Tipperary

Mullinahone, Co Tipperary
€1.5m
Size	375 sq m  (4,036 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4
BER	E2

Any grand aristocratic backstory linked to Ballylanigan House may have been lost in the weeds of time, but, in any event, its recent history is quite intriguing.

It’s been home for the past 20 years to Faith and Peter Ponsonby, key figures in the world of eventing in both Ireland and Britain, and lifelong devotees of all things horsey.

In recognition of their tireless commitment to equestrianism, the couple were jointly presented with a lifetime achievement award in February last year, at a special gathering in Co Kildare, one month before Peter sadly passed away.

A report in the Irish Field said: “Between them, they have worn just about every hat in the game”, from instructor to dressage judge, to Eventing Ireland official, to cross country course builder.

Ballylanigan House was just the ticket for this well-established couple, with its cobbled courtyard and eight stables, sand arena, turnout paddocks, tack room, feed room, traditional brick-and-stone coach house, a converted barn with adjacent lecture room — where the Ponsonbys delivered lectures — and a great deal more too.

Included in that ‘great deal more’ is almost 50 acres (19ha) of prime pastureland, where the Ponsonbys grazed their horses over the years. The paddocks are well sheltered, fully fenced, and benefit from a reliable water supply.

The 375sq m house, which is impressive without being imposing, is a fine Georgian five-bedroom home which dates to the mid-1800s, in grounds of great maturity, including an acre or so of beautifully landscaped gardens, at the top of a tree-lined drive.

Joint agents Roseanne de Vere Hunt, of Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes, and John FitzGerald, of Sherry FitzGerald Pollard FitzGerald, describe it as “a lovely, warm, period house” “very generous, but manageable”.

High ceilings and spacious rooms add an air of grandeur; some are formal (elegant drawing room, hallway, and dining room); others less so (country-style kitchen and adjacent sunroom). Overall, the impression is of a house well lived in, enjoyed by the Ponsonby family and the many guests you’d imagine were regularly welcomed.

As Ballylanigan House is in the heart of horsey country, near Fethard, where there’s an equine hospital and horse museum, and, nearby, Coolmore Stud, you’d have to think a horse-loving family with the finances (€1.5m would be a start) would jump through hoops — or over fences — to buy it.

“We think someone looking for a nice country home with equine facilities will be the buyer. Whether you are into eventing or showjumping, it’s all set up and ready to go,” the agents say. It could appeal to a vet, too, they add, and if a new owner didn’t require c 50 acres, there is always the option to rent it out .

“Plenty of farmers in the area would be delighted to rent it out,” says Ms de Vere Hunt.

Mr FitzGerald said the property would “tick a box for a lot of people”.

Priced at €1.5m, Ballylanigan House is just under 4km from Mullinahone village and about 25 minutes from both Clonmel and Kilkenny.

VERDICT: Expect both Irish and international interest. Enquiries from the UK and the US are on the increase for country homes like this.