The Mallaghan family and the Carton Development Partnership have agreed with Irish bad bank Nama to sell the Carton House Resort Hotel in Kildare, Ireland, for €60m (£53m).
Savills and CBRE have been appointed as joint selling agents for the hotel, which sits on a 668-acre estate.
The original Carton demesne, which dates back to the 11th century, features the 18th century Palladian manor house. Work began on the restoration of the manor house and estate in 1999 and the restored house and modern hotel opened in 2006.
As the ancestral home of the FitzGerald family, Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster, Carton House is one of Ireland’s most historically important stately homes. Dating from 1739, it has hosted many important visitors to Ireland, including Queen Victoria, who visited in 1849.
It contains two of the most important surviving 18th-century rooms in Ireland and Britain: the Gold Saloon created by the Lafranchini brothers and the Chinese Bedroom created by Emily, first Duchess of Leinster.
The property also features two 18-hole championship golf courses, designed by two-time Major winner Mark O’Meara and Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie. The course has already hosted many championships including the Irish Open on three occasions, most recently in 2013.
Conor Mallaghan of Carton House said: “Carton’s future is now secure and it is an enduring legacy for the Irish people. It is now time to pass its stewardship to a new owner whom I trust will continue with its recent revival.”
Tom Barrett, head of hotels and leisure at Savills, said: “The Palladian house has a rich history and, combined with its more recent hotel development, will appeal to a wide pool of domestic and international buyers.”
Dave Murray, CBRE Hotels, said: “Carton House represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire an upscale resort comparable to the best Europe has to offer.”
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