Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

Landing on the helipad at Horse Island, the new owner and his visitors will enjoy the 64-hectare (157-acre) island in Roaringwater Bay, in the western part of Cork, which has seven houses (the main residence has six bedrooms), a gym, and a tennis court, along with a "shipwreck playhouse". Electricity, water, and sewage-independent, the island is the epitome of private in current days of social distancing.

Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

“The owner fell in love with the scenery,” said Thomas Balashev, Founder and CEO of Montague Real Estate. “He specifically wanted an island in the British Isles with the kind of scenery Horse Island has to offer. He hadn’t visited the island prior to the purchase but had seen all the scenery and amenities via video.” The island has roads that travel throughout the land and three private beaches.

Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

Throughout the 19th century, the island was characterized by its copper mine and small population. Years after it had been deserted, the German tycoon Gert Kölbel bought and renovated Horse Island in the 1980s.

Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

In Victorian times, Horse Island had a copper mine and a peak population of 137 people before becoming uninhabited, the mine and village left in ruins. Gert Kölbel, a German fitness expert-turned tycoon, bought and renovated the site in the 1980s. It went through renovation once again starting in 2007 and reintroduced to the market in 2018.

Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

The island's sale is the latest of high-profile purchases in recent months as the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine measure took place.

Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

"Horse Island is a unique trophy asset; sourcing the land and getting the sale over the line during COVID-19 has been a challenge, so naturally we are delighted with this result," added Balashev.

The post Montague Real Estate Brokers Sale Of Private Island Off Ireland appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Ballinacurra House is a special country retreat with exceptional levels of comfort and service but in a homely environment. Make our house – your home – and together we will create those everlasting memories by planning an event that is completely personal and bespoke.

Ballinacurra House is an elegant Georgian Mansion built around 1770. It consists of the main Manor House, the Stone Cottage and the Coach House – all providing a total of 22 ensuite bedrooms. They are all individually themed to reflect the eclectic nature of the House and its past owners – but have been fully renovated so you don’t miss out on any of your modern luxuries like power showers, flat screen TVs and free WiFi.

We never rent out the individual houses to different groups – we believe the privacy begins when you enter the front gates and the entire property is yours exclusively.

The renaissance style Ballroom seats around 50 people for stylish sit-down dining or up to 130 people in our Garden Room – or the two inter-connected rooms can seat up to 180 people.

The beautiful south-facing aspect includes an outdoor entertainment patio and croquet lawn can also be used for alfresco dining only limited by your imagination – barbecues, buffets, garden parties or picnics.

Address: Kinsale Cork, Cork, Ireland

Price: $9,900,000

For more more information, please contact Ernie Carswell at 310-345-7500 or ernie@carswellandassociates.com.

Ernie Carswell is the exclusive real estate company representing the Sunset Strip/West Hollywood real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

Photos courtesy of Ernie Carswell

The post An Elegant Georgian Mansion In Ireland appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

According to Guinness, who is a financial analyst by profession, the main block of the 1,400-square-meter home was built in 1730, while additional wings were added in 1782. The 1,400-square-meter Furness House boasts some 30 rooms, including 15 bedrooms and seven bathrooms, while the 13.5 hectare grounds include an obelisk, the ruins of an historic medieval church, an 800-year-old yew tree and a croquet lawn.

In his exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, Guinness commented; "Heating is probably the most expensive item in the house. My favorite piece of furniture is in the drawing room—a long 1790s table fronted with Gothic-style fretwork. The top slab is a single piece of mahogany, three feet wide, which would be impossible to find today. It's not out of this world, just very well made. Another thing I love in this house: a tapestry made in Brussels in about 1620. A lot of decorative tapestries are of men on horseback chasing little furry animals; the one we've got has soldiers returning home from the wars. We just had it cleaned. These colors are earth colors, not artificial—they all come from nature. That blue more than likely came from lapis lazuli dug out of the Sinai. We put a new backing on it, made of proper linen, and at the top there's Velcro."

It's clear that estate living suits Guinness, who became accustomed to the particularities  lived with his parents at a place called Leixlip Castle. "I remember thinking at the age of 5, "Why don't other people live in castles? They're nice." Growing up there certainly made it a lot easier living in this house: I'm used to everything being about three rooms away."

Source and photos courtesy The Wall Street Journal.

The post Inside A Guinness Heir’s Irish Estate appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.