An 18th-century Irish village, once home to the founder of Ryanair, has hit the market with an asking price of €20 million (£17.5 million).
Lyons Village, a historic estate in Celbridge that spans 20 acres, comes with 47 bedrooms, a library, a billiards room, and a pub.
It also houses a five-star hotel that includes cottages, an award-winning spa and several dining and entertaining venues, which are all part of the sale.
David Byrne from Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty said: “Opportunities to acquire an entire historic estate village are exceptionally rare. The care, vision, and passion invested in its restoration and development have created a truly remarkable property, making this a genuinely unrivalled offering in the Irish market.
“The buyer is likely to be an ultra-high net worth individual who sees this as a truly unique Irish estate, a hospitality destination or, a long-term heritage investment where there is further potential to develop the property to its fullest potential in the future.”
Located in the Kildare countryside, the village is only a 30-minute drive from Dublin’s centre.
The property is accessed via a gated tree-lined avenue, and is complete with gardens, orchards, a lake, and stables.
It was developed in the 18th and 19th centuries as a thriving canal-side milling village and sits beside Lyons Hill, an early medieval royal site, which served as the residence for the Kings of Leinster from around 760AD.
A flour mill that once stood on the property was run by Joseph P. Shackleton, a relative of the famous Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. It was later turned into a roller mill before it burned down.
The 1821 census recorded 79 houses and 102 families at the village. At its peak, ninety barges a day passed through, carrying flour, local merchandise, and stone from the nearby Ardclough quarries to Dublin.
The estate was purchased and restored in 1992 by Ryanair co-founder Tony Ryan, who said: “Places like this have roots that run deep, not only into the cultural strata that informed their design and creation over the centuries, but also into the life of the community that continues to enjoy its landscape.”
His family still own an estate house in the village, which is not included in the sale.
In 2016, Irish financier Barry O’Callaghan bought the property and began operating the boutique countryside retreat Cliff at Lyons.
“Opportunities to acquire a complete historic village are almost unheard of. The Village at Lyons offers a singular chance to steward a piece of Ireland's cultural and architectural heritage whilst shaping its next chapter,” the listing said.
“Whether envisioned as a private estate of extraordinary distinction; a flagship leisure destination, global leadership wellness or creative retreat; or a long-term heritage investment, this remarkable property presents a truly unparalleled offering in the Irish market.”
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