Mobarnane, Knockbritt, Fethard, Co Tipperary – accommodation
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. 300. “Hussey de Burgh/IFR) A three storey five bay house of early to mid-C18 appearance to which has been added a two storey five bay early C19 front with an eaved roof and a one bay breakfront centre. The new front has a doorway with Doric columns, sidelights and. segmented fanlight, leading into a hall with a cantilevered staircase. In the earlier part of the house there is a staircase of sturdy C18 joinery. The home of Mr and Mrs Charles Hazel.”
Section 482 in 2000, Richard V. Craik-White, 052 31962
https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/22206207/mobarnan-house-mobarnan-tipperary-south
Detached country house, comprising five-bay two-storey front block built c.1820, with shallow single-bay breakfront, and five-bay three-storey earlier block to rear, possibly built 1734. Earlier block has medieval tower house within eastern half and possibly late seventeenth-century block within western, and lower single-bay three-storey central pedimented projection with two-storey pitched slate roof addition to front of same, and having L-plan multiple-bay two-storey addition to northwest with pitched artificial slate roof. Later block has skirt slate roof with wide overhanging sheeted eaves, rendered moulded eaves course and eaves plat-band, rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Earlier has hipped slate roof, formerly pitched and steeper, with rendered eaves course, eaves plat-band and rendered chimneystacks with panel detailing. Pebble-dashed walls to both blocks, having quoin plat-bands and cut limestone plinth to later block. north elevation of older block has continuous base batter to lower two storeys. Square-headed window openings throughout, with timber sliding sash windows, six-over-six pane to first floor and nine-over-six pane to ground floor of later block and six-over-six pane to lower floors of earlier block, with three-over-six pane to second floor of same and round-headed six-over-six pane to upper part of pedimented projection, all with tooled cut limestone sills. Segmental-headed doorway to front of later block, with replacement glazed timber door set into cut limestone doorcase and flanked by paned sidelights, all recessed from face of elevation and having advanced fluted Doric columns and plain pilasters supporting entablature bearing wreath motifs, carved cornice and decorative fanlight having render surround, approached by flight of cement rendered steps to entrance. Interior of older block has plaster cornice, lugged and kneed architraves to doors, and staircase to ground floor. Yards to east side of house, accessed through dressed limestone elliptical archway with two-storey outbuildings having pitched slate roofs and rendered walls, some with segmental and round-headed carriage entrances. One group is L-plan and another has building with bell-cote to gable end. Rubble limestone boundary walls with dressed limestone piers and cast-iron gates. Extensive gardens to rear of house.
Appraisal
This country house is a complex structure with three or four distinct phases, medieval, possibly late seventeenth-century, early eighteenth-century and early nineteenth century, charting the progress of domestic architecture over five hundred years. The relatively modest exteriors are enhanced by the widely overhanging eaves and fine, if restrained, carved limestone doorcase to the latest block and the pediment to the eighteenth-century one. The retention of timber sash windows throughout preserves the external architectural quality, and a host of internal features, including cornices, doors and fine staircases, ensures that a rich legacy has been meticulously maintained. The setting is very pleasant, with fine gardens and a lake and a variety of good farm buildings, one of them a watermill that once provided electrical power to the property. The building was a seat of the Jacob family, a member of which was a juror in the trial of Father Nicholas Sheehy in 1766, the jury convicting the priest. Thereafter the house was said to be cursed, with the crows fleeing and never nesting there again.
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=M
Mobarnan was the seat of the Jacob family in the 18th and 19th centuries. Occupied by Samuel Jacob in 1814, M. Jacob in 1837 and by Samuel Jacob at the time of Griffith’s Valuation. He held the property in fee and the buildings were valued at £37+. Later the home of the Tennant family. This house was enlarged in the early 19th century and is still in use as a residence. In the 1970s it was owned by Major Marcus William Keane, formerly of Beech Park, and his wife, Anne R. Armitage of Noan, Co Tipperary.
Quite unlike any typical Hotel, Guesthouse or B&B in Ireland, Mobarnane is a historic 18th Century Georgian Country House formerly owned by the Jacobs and de Burgh families. Located in the heart of the Golden Vale in South Tipperary, just 7 miles from the Rock of Cashel, it is a large rural family home hidden away in its own tranquil parkland setting.
Here you will be personally welcomed on arrival and looked after by your hosts Richard and Sandra Craik-White who provide understated luxury bed and breakfast accommodation with dinner if you would like it.
Irish Historic Houses 