Restored 19th-century farmhouse overlooks Heritage golf course
Rathmiles House, Killenard, Co Laois €675k
The townland of Rathmiles, near Killenard in Co Laois, gets its name from the ringfort in the locality, Rath Mhaoilis, some 60 metres in diameter and apparently one of two enclosures in the townland.
The other, a nameless burial ground, was excavated in 2001 and the bones of possibly 10 people were discovered. That one has now more or less disappeared under the first fairway of the Heritage golf course. Rath Mhaoilis itself, however, is still there, clearly visible on the landscape. The golf course abuts it on one side and on the other is Rathmiles House — an elegant, 19th century farmhouse that’s been completely restored over the past 18 months.
Overlooking the golf course (and the ringfort), it’s on 3.68 acres at the end of a long (130 metre) driveway, and the grounds also include various outbuildings, including a 50ft by 18ft barn with 16ft ceilings and two other smaller stone houses. The main house itself measures 2,082 sq ft on two floors, with four bedrooms on the first floor, two of which have had ensuite showers added. From the landing here, you can step out on to a little balcony at the front of the house, above the porch.
The porch opens to an entrance hall with an open-string stairs to the first floor and steps down to the kitchen and dining room, which has French doors to the side and is fitted with dark blue cabinets. There’s a separate utility room in the same style.
Elsewhere on the ground floor, there are two reception rooms, each with a cast-iron fireplace and one with French doors to the garden.
Unless you want to cut across the golf course, you will have to travel for about a kilometre and a half by road to get to Killenard Village from here.
Rathmiles House is for sale for €675,000 with Kate O’Shea (086) 798 1888.