Ireland’s real estate market has just listed one of its most expansive country estates in years: a 720-acre property in County Meath, priced at €14.5 million.
An Italianate mansion with 300 years of history
The centerpiece of Rahinstown Estate is Rahinstown House, an Italianate mansion built in the 1870s. The three-story residence retains many of its original features—ornate plasterwork, sash windows, marble fireplaces, and a grand cantilevered staircase.
Ownership of the estate has changed hands only twice in three centuries. The first family, who built the original mansion (later destroyed by fire), held the property for over a hundred years. The current sellers, descendants of the second family, inherited it in 2013. They did not respond to requests for comment.
The main house includes a formal dining room, a drawing room with views of the grounds, a modernized kitchen, an office, a wine cellar, and a library now used as a billiards room. Upstairs, eight bedrooms occupy the second floor, while the top floor—once staff quarters—has eight more, though it needs renovation.
Land, livestock, and legacy
The estate isn’t just the mansion. It also includes two additional homes: a two-bedroom cottage and a three-bedroom bungalow. Traditional farm buildings and equestrian facilities round out the property, which has produced high-quality racehorses for over 50 years.
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County Meath, where Rahinstown sits, is one of Ireland’s premier regions for agriculture and horse breeding. The area hosts leading stud farms and thoroughbred training centers, with several top racecourses nearby. The estate’s amenities reflect that heritage: stables, barns, a wash bay, feed and tack rooms, and spaces for exercising and training horses.
James Butler, a director at Savills Ireland, called it “one of the most exceptional country estates to come to the Irish market in many years.” Opportunities like this, he said, are rare.
The property’s scale and history make it unusual, but its location also plays a role. Just 25 miles northwest of Dublin, Rahinstown offers proximity to the capital while maintaining the privacy and space of a rural estate. That balance might appeal to buyers who want both convenience and seclusion.
Still, €14.5 million is a steep price, even for a property of this size. The market for historic estates has slowed in recent years, with fewer buyers willing to take on the upkeep of aging mansions. Rahinstown’s equestrian facilities could help—horse breeding remains a lucrative industry in Ireland—but the estate’s future will depend on finding the right buyer.
The listing with Savills went live earlier this month. No offers have been reported yet.
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