Island House, Castleconnell, Co Limerick

Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.

p. 159. “(De Burgho, Bt/PB1873) A single storey house with a portico. 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21807009/island-house-cloon-island-cloon-and-commons-castleconnell-co-limerick

Island House, Cloon Island, CLOON AND COMMONS, Castleconnell, County Limerick 

Detached three-bay two-storey over basement villa style house, built c. 1840. Comprising pedimented fluted Doric portico to front (east) elevation and gable-fronted breakfront to rear (west) elevation with flanking full-height conservatories. Hipped slate roof having overhanging eaves with timber brackets, rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Lined-and-ruled rendered walls having render quoins. Square-headed openings to ground floor with painted stone sills and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed openings to basement having bipartite one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Portico comprising fluted Doric style columns supporting rendered entablature with triglyphs and metopes. Square-headed opening having double-leaf half-glazed timber panelled doors. Flight of limestone steps to entrance. Square-headed openings to rear elevation, ground and first floors with render surrounds and double-leaf half-glazed timber panelled doors. Flight of stairs having metal railings to first floor door. Pair of square-profile rendered piers to east with double-leaf cast-iron gates and rubble stone walls terminating in second pair of square-profile piers. 

Appraisal 

This well composed house retains many features that attest to its high quality design and execution. Historically, the house was the seat of Sir Richard de Burgho, Bt. According to Samuel Lewis’s ‘Topographical Dictionary’, the house was erected in 1815 by Sir John Allen de Burgho (Burke). Small in scale, the building is nonetheless highly decorative incorporating an imposing fluted Doric portico, which gives the façade an air of grandeur. Situated on Cloon Island on the River Shannon, the house is plays a significant role in the land and riverscape of Castleconnell. The house has some archaeological significance being adjacent to a medieval chapel, which was possibly founded in 1291 by Reginald de Burgh. 

http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=I 

Lewis refers to a “handsome newly erected cottage on the island” in his description of Castleconnell in 1837. Earlier, in 1786, Wilson refers to Park, situated on an island created by a canal and the river Shannon, as the seat of Sir Richard de Burgho. Island House valued at £17+ was the residence of Sir Richard De Burgho at the time of Griffith’s Valuation. He held the property, which was surrounded by nine acres, in fee. In 1894, Slater refers to “The Island” as the property of Lady de Burgho.  

For sale March 2022: Myhome.ie and Murphy Gubbins Auctioneers & Chartered Surveyors 

€2,250,000  

Island House, Cloon Island, Castleconnell, Limerick 

Eircode: V94 AP5Y 

6 bedroom 4 bathroom 

LOCATION Limerick City is the third largest city in Ireland and is identified as a gateway city in the National Spatial Strategy for the mid-west region. Renowned for the breathtaking beauty of its lush green countryside and its vibrant riverside city, Limerick’s location offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a quality of life where city and country living co-exist harmoniously. A major attraction for people living and working in Limerick is its accessibility to some breathtaking natural beauty spots, from the majestic River Shannon flowing through the city and riverside villages such as Castleconnell to the stunning Lough Gur, with its captivating scenery and folklore, along with a wealth of archaeology and history dating back to Stone Age times. Limerick is also a key gateway city to some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Europe; most notably the Wild Atlantic Way, which includes the world famous Burren and Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare and other stunning Atlantic coastal regions such as the spectacular Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula Castleconnell is a scenic village in on the banks of the River Shannon just 15km outside Limerick City. Castleconnell is located in County Limerick, right on the border with County Clare. The village has a selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants, there is a neighbourhood centre, school, church, train station, Garda station and post office. Castleconnell is home to a number of fine architectural buildings and many activities that centre around its riverside location. The four star Castle Oaks Hotel sits on 26 acres of mature gardens in Castleconnell. The village remains a popular location for anglers fishing on the Shannon and Mulcair rivers and has a long history in angling, once being a popular location for royalty to fish. Castleconnell also has a rich and diverse bird life, particularly for swans that migrate from Iceland in the winter to breed on the river. The village embraces its riverside setting and has an active rowing club in existence since 1983. Castleconnell’s Ahane Hurling Club is the most successful hurling team in Limerick, having won 19 senior county titles between 1931 and 1948. There are a number of beautiful riverside walks on both sides of the river with those on the Clare side being accessed by a footbridge. A short walk will bring you to the Fairy Woods. There is a children’s playground located at the Ferry Car Park. Since the line was reopened in 2009 commuters can travel by train to Limerick City and Nenagh and there is also an intercity service to Dublin Shannon Airport 42km Limerick City Centre 15km Adare Manor 30km University of Limerick 11km Dublin Airport 195km  

THE HISTORY OF ISLAND HOUSE Having tried to learn Greek at school, the owner found it serendipitous to discover that Island House was Grecian revival in architectural style. It is thought that it was built in 1826 and was described in 1837 as “a handsome newly erected cottage on the island. A detached three-bay two-storey over basement villa style house built comprising pedimented fluted Doric portico to front (east) elevation and gable fronted breakfront to rear (west) elevation with more recent construction of flanking full height conservatories”.

The house was originally built as a fishing lodge for a Welsh coal mine owner. By 1866 it was the last residence of Sir Richard Donnellan de Burgo, 4th baronet, who originally owned large tracts of Castleconnell. When he died in 1873 the title became extinct. Island House is located on the nine-acre Cloon Island or in Irish Inis-cluan, the island of the meadow. The island is formed by an anabranch of the River Shannon and is accessed by a stone castellated bridge. Apart from Island House, the ruins of Cloon Church are also located on Cloon Island. This small medieval church is reported to date from the eleventh century but is also believed to have been a Franciscan friary founded by Renald de Burgo in 1291. There are two ancient cross-slabs set into its western wall and a short distance from its door there is a large stone, the centre of which had been hollowed out in the shape of a cross.

When the current owners bought Island House in 1985 from Mrs. Levy, the house was in good condition but was old fashioned in layout, with bedrooms both upstairs and downstairs. Also, because the kitchen was downstairs and the dining room upstairs, there was a dumb waiter for bringing the food up from the kitchen. Accordingly in 1989, they undertook a major building project, designed to transform the house into a home suitable for modern family living.

Features include: Six bedrooms and three bathrooms downstairs; The kitchen and reception rooms are now all upstairs; A wine cellar was constructed underneath a new utility room; A study was created between the valleys of the roof and is accessed by a spiral staircase case made from French wood. The study is particularly suitable for remote working; A two-storey conservatory was built at the rear of the house; An upstairs balcony was constructed at the rear of the house with double stairs to the garden. As well as the building works, they also engaged in an extensive programme of planting flowers, shrubs and trees in the grounds, which already contained a large number of mature deciduous and evergreen trees. A feature is the beech walk along the riverbank. Importantly, they also opened up a beautiful view of the river to the rear of the house. Today Island House combines attractive features from the Regency period, such as cornices, fireplaces, original curved glass and original patterned mahogany internal doors, with the requirements for comfortable modern living. The owners say they particularly enjoy the extensive gardens and river side location. Its island location beside an attractive village makes it quite unique. 

Accommodation 

Island House sits hidden on the edge of Castleconnell Village behind mature trees, stone walls and electric gates. On approach, over the private stone castellated bridge and on the winding tree lined driveway one is instantly transported to a serene escape away from the hustle and bustle of city life, which is ironic considering Cloon Island is only 15km from Limerick City Centre, 10 km to University of Limerick and a stone’s throw from the M7. This home oozes character and charm and although it underwent a significant refurbishment in the late eighties it held on to many of the stunning original features. It evident that this is a family home with warm welcoming tones and elegant décor throughout. The waterside setting is breathtaking and the sound of the flowing river is unmistakable when one steps outside the rear of the house. Mature trees, landscaped gardens and flower beds, set over 9 acres provide a private piece of heaven with all of life’s amenities in reach.

The front façade features stone steps to the commanding and beautiful Doric Portio leading to a double wooden front door with glass panels. The front foyer provides an elegant space with striking original features including original patterned mahogany doors, magnificent cornicing, dado rail and skirting boards along with 3.3m ceilings.

To the left is the Drawing room, to the right the Dining room, back to the foyer the main hallway is straight ahead, which provides access to the Family Room, Kitchen, Conservatory and Stairway to Garden level accommodation. Each room at ground floor connects to the next which provides a wonderful flow to the elegant living space. The Drawing Room enjoys both front and side garden window aspect through 3 wooden sash windows, this room boasts an original fireplace and of course the feature cornicing, it has carpet flooring and is a comfortable space. A doorway leads to the Family Room, which enjoys dual aspect to the side garden and a doorway to the conservatory bringing extra light and river views to the family room.

A spiral French wood staircase leads to a spacious office/study in the converted attic space. There is a small landing space at the top of the stairs, the office area is beyond bifolding wooden doors, a large sky light in the centre of the ceiling brings plenty of light into the space, there is ample storage units and an independent air conditioning/heating unit. Back to the Family Room, a doorway leads back to the main hallway where there is a quaint WC and access to the kitchen and the conservatory, although referring to this space as a conservatory is doing it an injustice, it is a mix of solid walls and conservatory feature construction spanning two floors providing a half conservatory at this level and two separate ‘quarter’ conservatories at garden level.

At this level the space provides double doors to the rear balcony with impressive twin stairs leading to the garden and boasting incredible views of the river and surrounding landscape. This space has so many wonderful uses and is currently utilised as a breakfast room/family space. The kitchen can be accessed from the sunroom and from the hallway. It is a warm, welcoming space and provides a fully fitted kitchen with solid wood worktops, an island with built in storage units and wine rack, an aga and built in oven and hob. The kitchen enjoys side garden window aspect and like the family room the doorway to the conservatory brings extra light and river views. Accessed via a doorway from the kitchen is the Dining Room, which has wonderful dual aspect to the front and side garden via timber sash windows, the original flooring in this room is striking, as is the original fireplace, in addition to the cornicing which feature throughout, another solid wood original door leads back to the entrance foyer.  

GARDEN LEVEL The feature staircase in the main hallway with striking wooden and metal balustrades provides access to the ample garden level accommodation. The Master Suite is located to the rear of the house with access to a private section of the conservatory, a walk in wardrobe and ensuite with power shower. This is a magnificent room with dual aspect to the side via a large window and to the rear via a wooden door with glass panels to the sunroom, providing river views and direct access to the garden. Opposite the Master Suite there are two interconnecting rooms, the double room, similar to the Master has access to a private section of the conservatory and garden, it is a warm carpeted room with a window overlooking the side of the house and has a shower room, shared with a single room with bunk beds and fitted wardrobe, endearingly referred to as the ‘bunk room. This room also has side window aspect and carpet flooring. The private access to this suite both from the hallway and the garden provides an opportunity to utilise this area as living space somewhat independent of the rest of the house. Located between both of these suites, accessed from the main hallway is the utility room, which has a double wooden doors to the rear garden, fitted storage units at either side and a stairway leading to the wine cellar. At the opposite end of the hallway there is a large games room/playroom which provides access to 3 further bedrooms and the main family bathroom. The games room is a large space with carpet flooring and side garden window aspect. Each of the bedrooms are double rooms with carpet flooring, two of which have built in wardrobes. The bathroom boasts unique cellar features, it was originally the ‘coal hole’ with a hatch from the front of the house. It is now a spacious family bathroom with tiled floor, bath, wc and whb. 

Features 

Exceptional riverside location on 9 acres of manicured lawns, mature trees and shrubs. 6 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms Westerly River views 4 Large Reception Rooms Original features retained throughout C. 510m2 SERVICES Electric Gates with intercom system CCTV Cameras and Alarm Wired Fire Alarm Gas Heating Broadband 

BER Details 

BER: Exempt 

Viewing Details 

Strictly by appointment only with Murphy Gubbins Auctioneers & Chartered Surveyors 

Asking Price 

In excess €2,250,000