Kellistown, Co Carlow 

Jimmy O’Toole, The Carlow Gentry: What will the neighbours say! Published by Jimmy O’Toole, Carlow, Ireland, 1993. Printed by Leinster Leader Ltd, Naas, Kildare. 

Chapter: Doyne of St. Austin’s Abbey. 

p. 89. Only three houses were torched by the IRA , and two of them had more to do with preventing unoccupied houses being used as bases by the Black and Tans, and later by the Free State Army, rather than any vindictiveness against landlords. 

Two of the houses destroyed – St. Austin’s Abbey in Tullow, and Kellistown House – were owned by the Doyne family, while Myshall Lodge was the former seat of the Cornwall-Bradys. The houses in Tullow and Myshall had been unoccupied for several years before the outbrea, of the War of Independence, while Kellistown House was rented by the spinster Pack- Beresford sisters, Annette and Elizabeth. The burning of Kellistown, the only one of the three to be rebuilt, was the result of an attempt by the sisters to alert the RIC about the presence of an IRA unit resting up while on active service. The burned-out shell of St. Austin’s remains, while the ruin of Myshall Lodge was demolished. 

Kellistown House,Kellistown,Co. Carlow,R93 T448 courtesy Sherry Fitzgerald McDermott, sold 02/02/24 €635,000 5 Bed, 3 Bath

This extraordinarily well preserved Georgian residence dates to the mid-1800s and has been continuously occupied since it’s construction, with the exception of a brief period in the 1920s when, destroyed by fire, it was extensively renovated and restored to its original splendour. Formerly a Glebe House, the residence supports a two-storey-over-basement configuration, and is located at the end of a private avenue with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The majority of original features have been carefully preserved, with all maintenance works undertaken in the spirit of its period. The residence is set on c 5.6 acres, and surrounded by farm lands. The holding includes a comprehensive farmyard with a mix of traditional and contemporary farm out-buildings currently supporting a warehouse and distribution enterprise, in addition to a number of individual paddocks. With excellent access to the M9 motorway, Carlow town and all surrounding amenities, Newlands Cross on the edge of Dublin is a mere 55 mins away. Viewings are invited on a strictly appointment basis. 

Accommodation 

Entrance Hall Granite steps to Georgian Hall door with Fan Light above. Carpeted, with internal glass-panelled double reception doors. Return stairs to upper and lower levels. Arched window to rear. Library 5.49m x 4.95m. To front, off hall. Full height windows to front and side. Solid fuel fireplace. Carpets, curtains. Picture rail. Drawing Room 5.49m x 4.95m. To front, off hall. Full height windows to front and side. Solid fuel fireplace. Carpets, curtains. Connecting door to Dining Room. Dining Room 6.7m x 4.65m. To rear, off hall. Twin windows to side lawns. Solid fuel fireplace. Carpets and curtains. Pulley-operated dumb-waiter to kitchen below. Wash Room 1.88m x 1.63m. Carpets. Sink unit. Access to W.C. 

W.C. 1.88m x 1.07m. Lower Hall 8.15m x 2.4m. Carpeted stairs from upper floor. Window to rear odd stair return. External door to side. Terracotta tiled floor. Bedroom 1 5.44m x 4.7m. Basement windows to front and side. Bathroom 2.4m x 1.83m. Off lower hall. Ceramic tiled floor. Toilet, sink and bath. Utility Room 4.7m x 2.92m. Terracotta tiled floor. Basement windows to side. Plumbing for utility machines. Doors to Kitchen, Office and Pantry. Office 3.45m x 2.4m. Off Utility. Pantry 2.3m x 1.6m. Off Utility Kitchen 6.7m x 4.7m. Basement windows to side. Tiled floor. Feature oil-fired Aga cooker. Fully fitted Antique Pine floor and wall units. Pulley-operated Dumb-Waiter to Dining Room above. Upper Floor Landing Carpets. Feature arched window from stair return. W.C. off. Bedroom 2 5.49m x 3.66m. Double room to front. Windows to front and side. Carpets and curtains. Bedroom 3 3.58m x 3.5m. Double room to front. Carpets and curtains. Bedroom 4 5.49m x 4.88m. Double room to front. Windows to front and side. Carpets and curtains. Shower Room 3.15m x 2.36m. Window to side. Shower cubicle. Sink unit. Bedroom 5 4.37m x 4.27m. Double room to rear. Windows to side and rear. Carpets and curtains. 

Features 

Oil fired Central Heating. Sash Windows. Broadband 

BER Details 

BER: F BER No: 105049712 Performance Indicator: 388.39 

Directions 

From Carlow Town, follow the N80 southbound, turning left at Walls Forge for Tullow (R725). Continue c. 1 mile, taking the next right turn for Rathoe (L1025). Proceed c. 4 miles, crossing the new M9 motorway. Proceed c 1km, passing a period home recessed from the road on the left, rounding a series of bends and then passing three new identical homes on the left, again recessed from the road. Turn left immediately after this field onto a private avenue. This property is located at the end of the avenue, on the left.