Diplomacy in County Laois
THE village of Killenard, near Portarlington in Co Laois, is not much talked about, to the extent that it doesn’t even have a Wikipedia entry.
Intriguingly enough, though, what it does have is an honorary Colombian consulate. It’s the residence of Juan Pablo Gutiérrez, and it’s in the middle of a housing estate at Carriglea.
About a kilometre from the consulate is 1 Mount Henry Drive — an easy walk, even while carrying a tray of Ferrero Rocher as a goodwill gesture.
And if you prefer a little less diplomacy in your life, you can play golf instead.
Directly behind the house is the Heritage Golf Resort, an 18-hole course designed by Seve Ballesteros.
Number 1 is the former showhouse in the Heritage development, and is still very much in showhouse condition, with extra features inside including an open-string stairscase, built-in vacuum system and a Jacuzzi bath.
It’s 2,700 sq ft on two floors, with four bedrooms. Three are on the first floor, with one en-suite, and the fourth is downstairs, also with an en-suite shower.
The ground floor also has three reception rooms, two with marble fireplaces.
The third, the dining room, has French doors to the garden and an archway to the kitchen, where there are marble countertops and a built-in wine fridge.
There’s a separate utility as well with a water softener and a door to the garden.
The grounds are landscaped, with lawns, flowerbeds and hedging, as well as a garden shed. Just beyond the back garden is the clubhouse of the Heritage Golf Resort.
Portarlington is about five kilometres away and you can catch a train there to Dublin, or drive to the capital in about an hour via the M7.
The agent is Kate O’Shea (086) 798 1888 and the asking price is €550,000.