New Page 2

Towards An Encyclopaedia of The Historic Houses of Ireland

The Historic Houses and Gardens of Ireland Carlow, Kilkenny

The information on the following pages is merely a listing of houses of architectural importance. Some of them are accessible to the public, but many are not.

If you would like to stay in a historic house go to Adams & Butler at www.irishluxury.com

Co Carlow	Co Kilkenny
Sherwood Park House	Ballaghtobin House
KILGRANEY HOUSE	Ballyfduff House
Huntington Castle	Bayswell House
Lisnavagh	Berryhill House
Leighlinbridge Castle	Blanchville House
Kildavin House	Swiftes Heath
Fenagh House,	Belmore House
Lara House	Shankill Castle
Ballykealy House	Mount Juliet
Corries House	Croan House Dunnamaggan,
Ballintemple House	Uppercourt Manor, Freshford
	KILMURRY HOUSE
	Mount Loftus
	Castle Howell
	Kilfane Glen
	Woodstock House
	Belline House
	Rosnaree
	The Grange, Ballyragget
	Gowran Park

HOME

Fenagh House,Co Carlow

LARA HOUSE, Ballon, Co Carlow is a house of many periods, part believed to date from the eighteenth century or earlier, but predominantly early nineteenth century (c 1810) with late nineteenth century additions. Comprising two storeys, the house is of Granite construction with rendered finish. Inside the rooms provide graceful and well proportioned accommodation benefitting from complete restoration while retaining period charm The location of Larah House is exceptional with wonderful views to the Leinster, Wicklow and Blackstairs mountains, where glimpses of Wales can be seen on a fine day. In the seventies the house became uninhabited and remained so for a number of years only relatively recently benefiting from restoration and extension by interior designer Helene Broderick

Croan House Dunnamaggan, Co Kilkenny

Kilkenny 20 km. Waterford 20 km. Dublin 120 km
A delightful country house, nestling in tranquil Kilkenny countryside, which has undergone complete and sympathetic restoration to include the construction of 5 holiday cottages.
Hall, Cloaks, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Family Room, Kitchen.
4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms.
Three x 3 bedroom, Two x 2 bedroom Cottages equipped and furnished to the highest standard and having Bord Failte's highest 4 star rating.

Uppercourt Manor, Freshford

KILMURRY HOUSE on approx. 8ha (20 acres) is an important and handsome Georgian manor house of two and three storeys in a most picturesque setting near Thomastown. Built for Charles Kendall Bushe, Chief Justice of Ireland and subsequently inhabited by the renowned watercolourist Mildred Anne Butler, this property has a history as colourful as her works, of which many are entitled "..... at Kilmurry". Principal house comprises reception hall, five main reception rooms (the Ballroom being particularly impressive) and three ancillary reception rooms. Seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, kitchen, utilities. Ground floor Guest Annexe, Guest Cottage (two bedrooms). Marvellous formal gardens lead to the most delightful informal gardens which include an ornamental lake and specimen trees and shrubs. An enclosed courtyard provides stabling and separate access to both the Guest Annexe and Cottage.

Kilmurry is a house of many periods, part believed to date from the seventeenth century or earlier, but predominantly eighteenth centurty with early nineteenth century additions. Comprising two and three storeys, a Ballroom occupies the entire two storey west front, with five bays enjoying lake views, the roof parapet adorned with urns. This front is flanked by single storey early nineteenth century classical wings, with Wyatt windows and dies surmounted by sphinxes, the left hand wing forming the entrance front, with a centrepiece of Doric pilasters and half columns.

kif32b~1.jpg (19750 bytes)

These wings were added between 1814 and 1830 by the great advocate and orator, Charles Kendal Bushe, Chief Justice of Ireland, known as 'The Incorruptible'. In 1788, when he came of age, he unwittingly signed a paper making himself responsible for the debts of his fater, a Squarson of extravagant habits; with the result that Kilmurry had to be sold. However, in 1814, when he was at the height of his career, he and his wife came to stay with the other branch of the Bushes in the neighbouring house, Kilfane. Riding over to Kilmurry, he found the place for sale again and the trees marked for felling. To his great sorrow, he did not feel that he could offer to buy it back. However, when he told his wife, she sprung the pleasant surprise that she had saved up all the money which he had given her at various times to buy jewellery and which now amounted to a large enough sum to enable him to buy back his old house.The children of Charles Kendall Bushe sold Kilmurry after his death to Major Henry Butler, of the Mountgaret family, whose daughter was Mildred Anne Butler, the eminent watercolour painter. She lived and worked in Kilmurry for most of her life (1858-1941) and many of her works are entitled '..... at Kilmurry'. In turn Kilmurry was bequeathed to her cousin Mrs. Archer Houblon, the equestrian. The current occupants have been in ownership since 1997. Prints of three of Mildred Anne Butler's watercolours, two featuring Kilmurry, adorn the main hall, the originals being on exhibition in the National Gallery. Kilmurry is a short distance from picturesque Thomastown. In a most picturesque setting, the house and grounds are secluded, quiet and very private, benefitting from adjoining a much larger estate that provides a wonderful backdrop to this splendid family home.