Landmark sale

LANDSCAPE STUD on 91ac near the village of Kilsheelan in South Tipperary sold at auction last week making ¤1.83m surpassing it guide by ¤480,000, writes Jim O’Brien.

The 18th-century house ( pictured above) was originally part of the Mount Congreve Estate located on the banks of the Suir where it has 1km of fishing rights. The holding is about 6km from Clonmel and 11km from Carrick-on-Suir. Extending to c. 4,500 sq ft the accommodation includes an entrance hall, drawing room, study/family room, dining room, kitchen office, cloakroom, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

In addition there is a guest suite, which includes a bedroom and bathroom.

The compact yard has 14 boxes, a horse walker, a staff flat and a range of ancillary equestrian facilities on c. 91ac. The lands are laid out in limestone paddocks sheltered by a belt of mature trees.

Built in the 1790s by the Congreves, the family planted many specimen trees that are still there to this day. In the late 1970s Phonsie O’Brien and his wife Ann bought the property restoring the house and gardens to their former glory.

Phonsie was a successful amateur rider for his brother the famous Vincent O’Brien and among many successful outings in the saddle he rode the winner of 10 Gloucester hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival.

Galway Plate winners

In 1956 he took out a trainer’s licence and is best remembered for his four consecutive winners of the Galway Plate (a record to this day) and winning the Irish Derby with Chamour.

At auction Paddy Jordan opened proceedings at €1m and it quickly went to €1.65m driven by four bidders, at which stage it was put on the market and sold for €1.83m to an overseas buyer with equestrian interests.