Lairakeen House, Banagher, Co Galway for sale July 2025, previously in 2022.

R42DN24

€3,850,000

5 Bed218530 m²

Exceptional residential and amenity estate with a magnificent 19th Century manor home and frontage onto the River Shannon incorporating two islands Lairakeen House is a privately positioned residential estate set along the banks of the River Shannon, extending to about 54 acres. At its heart stands an elegant five-bay period residence, dating back to circa 1870, which has been meticulously restored in recent years. As part of the renovation, a new roof was installed, along with updated electrical systems (including a three-story walk-in elevator), modernized plumbing, and a comprehensive security system, seamlessly blending the home’s timeless character with contemporary reliability and comfort. The house offers beautifully proportioned, well-balanced accommodation that harmoniously combines period features with contemporary living standards. Included within the main residence is a double studio, currently fitted as a full sound recording studio and office, which could easily be converted into a cinema room. A collection of traditional stone outbuildings complements the property, including excellent equestrian facilities. The mature landscaped grounds surrounding the house are thoughtfully planted and impeccably maintained, offering both privacy and a picturesque rural setting. Among the notable features are several Champion Irish Oak trees, which add significant character and heritage to the estate. The estate includes about 46 acres of quality grassland, divided into well-sized paddocks enclosed by a combination of stud railing, mature hedging, and secure wire fencing, ideally suited for equestrian or agricultural use. The estate infrastructure has been maintained to a high standard, and the property has been expertly managed under the direction of the current owners. Lairakeen House offers a rare opportunity to acquire a distinguished period home in a peaceful and scenic riverside location, with extensive accommodation and a range of high-quality amenities.

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/30410904/lairakeen-kilnaborris-co-galway

Detached three-storey house, built c.1870, comprising five-bay central block with entrance breakfront to middle bay accessed by flight of steps to entrance at first floor level, flanked by projecting canted bays presenting three bays to front elevation. South end destroyed by fire and rebuilt c.2002. Five-bay rear elevation with full-height canted stairs projection to middle bay, two bays to north elevation, and three bays to south elevation, further window to south side of canted bay projection. Hipped slate roofs with cement rendered chimneystacks, and hipped slate roofs to canted bays. Rendered walls, with limestone sill course to first floor. Square-headed window openings with limestone sills, render surrounds to lower floors, and having two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with ogee horns, tripartite to top floor of entrance bay. One round-headed window to upper level of rear canted bay and to north side elevation. Rebuilt section has concrete sills. Front entrance comprising slightly pointed elliptical-arch or Tudor-arch door opening with chamfered cut limestone surround, timber panelled door, spoked timber fanlight, sidelights with timber panelled stall risers, and flight of limestone steps having low stone parapets with limestone copings and wrought-iron railings terminated by rendered square-plan piers with caps. Square-headed doorways to ground floor of north and rear elevations. Outbuildings ranged around courtyard to north, having pitched slate roofs, rubble limestone walls, square-headed window and door openings, and elliptical-arched carriage entrances, all with brick surrounds and replacement timber or uPVC fittings. Recent greenhouse. Shuttered concrete boat house with pitched corrugated-iron roof to north bank of River Shannon. Road entrance has rusticated limestone piers, recent gate, and rubble quadrant walls. 

Appraisal 

The broad front elevation, with its canted bays to either end, echoed by a third to the rear, makes this a particularly distinctive country house. Its scale is almost institution-like with a sense of formality and grandeur. The first floor entrance is unusual, and is emphasised by the fine limestone arched doorway and an impressive flight of steps. The horizontal and ground-hugging appearance of the house is counterpointed by the vertical emphasis of the windows and the terminating blocks. The house is part of a group of estate buildings including the outbuildings and coach house immediately to the north, and the boathouse on the banks of the Shannon. 

https://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/lairakeen-house-eyrecourt-galway/4342891

€2,650,000  

Lairakeen House, Eyrecourt, Galway  

7 beds  

6 baths  

12019ft ² 

Country House  

Eircode: R42 DN24  

LAIRAKEEN HOUSE, BANAGHER, COUNTY GALWAY, IRELAND An exquisite late 19th-century country home, privately positioned within glorious parkland, on the banks of the River Shannon, and nearby to Banagher town. Lairakeen House is a superb country home presented in excellent condition and comprising some 8,913 square feet or 828 square metres of accommodation and positioned within some 53 acres or 21.4 hectares. The main house is augmented by a Guest Cottage and a Studio Apartment to present some 12,019 square feet or 1,165 square metres of accommodation in total. Beautifully positioned within well-timbered parkland, against a backdrop of the River Shannon, the setting is picturesque and private. The small town of Banagher is just 2.5 miles or 4 kilometres away. Dublin International and Shannon International airports are each, respectively, within about a 1 hour 40 minute and 1 hour 30 minute driving time. Galway airport is about a 50 minute drive. The grounds are impressive, and quite a feature of the property, with an abundance of ancient indigenous Irish Elm, Beech and Sycamore trees interspersed throughout the parkland meadows, through which a series of clipped pathways meander, to take in a river bank walk and connect to a small island and the formal gardens, positioned to the rear of the house and including an Edwardian vine house resplendent with home-grown figs, apricots and peaches. Lairakeen House was completed circa 1870 as the centrepiece of a large landed estate. All the principal rooms benefit from elevated views over the mature grounds and to the River Shannon itself. Re-building and restoration works were painstakingly carried out in 2002 to sympathetically reinstate the house to restore the composition of the circa 1870 mansion, and to imbue period character and charm, a fire having destroyed a large portion of the house in 1931. The reinstated drawing room and library feature 16th-century mahogany and ebony panelling, while a chimneypiece dating from 1425 depicts the Palestine wars. Owing to the extensive re-building and renovation works the house is now presented in excellent condition and benefits from the installation of current high specification wiring, plumbing and heating systems providing an efficiency of running costs and comfort not often associated with such fine country houses. Usefully a lift or elevator has been installed to augment the delightful oak staircase and giving easy access to all floors. The works included the restoration of the stone courtyard and outbuildings adjacent to the house, which include useful garaging, a studio apartment and a guest cottage. Overall, the effect is extremely aesthetically pleasing and complimentary of the picturesque setting. Lairakeen is now a wonderful well-equipped home with a delightful combination of period character and charm and a specification and layout suited to 21st-century living. Occupied as a private home by the current owner, the previous owner was Roger Whittaker, the singer-songwriter known for his eclectic mix of folk music and popular songs incorporating his baritone singing voice, guitar skills and trademark whistling ability. His best known songs include ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’, ‘Durham Town (The Leavin’)’ and ‘New World in the Morning’. The estate includes a stretch of river frontage extending to some 400 yards. The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland and Britain and is a bustling colourful navigation. A harbour and marina in Banagher provides good boat access to the river, while the boathouse at Lairakeen provides access for small boats and could be upgraded. The grassy meadows along the river bank provide habitat for a large number of waders, swans, wildfowl and other bird life. Riverside mammals include otters, mink and fox. Pike are plentiful in the River Shannon. EIRCODE [Property Specific Code] R42 DN24 GPS LOCATION 53.1976239 (latitude), -8.0406798 (longitude).