Photograph 1 of 58 of Bunavaunish House, Mile Hill, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo
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Bunavaunish House, Mile Hill, Ballinrobe, Co. MayoF31YX66

€950,000

6 Bed~4 Bath~BER E

What you'll like:

  • Historic architectural pedigree: Built in 1819 as a Church of Ireland glebe house, this property showcases exceptional early nineteenth-century design featuring a symmetrical three-bay facade, diminishing window scales, and authentic period joinery that will appeal strongly to historic home enthusiasts.
  • Substantial floor space: Spanning approximately 3475 square feet across multiple levels, the residence provides generous proportions that easily accommodate six bedrooms and four bathrooms for larger family living.
  • Extensive private grounds: Set within sixteen acres of picturesque pastureland complete with scenic views of Mount Gable, the Partry mountains, and Croagh Patrick, offering unmatched privacy and pastoral charm.
  • Unique wildlife presence: The lands host free-roaming fallow deer that have been farmed on the estate for over three decades, adding an extraordinary and exclusive natural feature to the property.
  • Mature native landscaping: Magnificent beech, lime, alder, and mixed deciduous and evergreen trees adorn the expansive grounds, creating a mature parkland setting with immense visual splendor.
  • Independent gate lodge: Includes a charming stone-built one-bedroom gate lodge featuring a kitchen/living area, Belfast sink, inglenook fireplace, and shower room, offering ideal independent accommodation for guests or rental income.
  • Complete period ensemble: Accompanied by a symmetrically-composed coach house, a walled garden with a small orchard, and a gate lodge, creating a self-contained historic compound of rare quality.
  • Recent roof renewal: The main roof was re-slated with natural slate in 2007, providing peace of mind regarding the structural integrity of this major overhead component.
  • Exceptional interior features: Retains stunning original character including carved timber door surrounds, panelled doors, decorative ceiling roses, coving, and functional sliding sash windows with working shutters.
  • Versatile reception rooms: Features multiple distinct living spaces including a gracious drawing room with marble fireplace, a formal dining room, a cozy family room with fitted stove, and a functional study.
  • Substantial storage options: Equipped with a dedicated pantry and wine cellar featuring a redbrick floor and fitted shelving, catering exceptionally well to culinary enthusiasts and collectors.
  • Picturesque approach: Entered via a welcoming flagstone entrance porch complete with a classic Georgian fanlight, setting an immediate tone of heritage elegance upon arrival.
  • Desirable town proximity: Enjoys a wonderfully private rural setting on the outskirts of Ballinrobe town, ensuring everyday retail, educational, and social amenities remain within very easy reach.
  • Proximity to renowned attractions: Located just a short drive from Cong village, the historic ruins of Cong Abbey, and the world-famous Ashford Castle estate with its championship golf course and luxury spa amenities.
  • World-class angling nearby: Positioned in a premier region for fishing enthusiasts, offering immediate access to exceptional salmon and trout angling on both Lough Corrib and Lough Mask.
  • Strong regional connectivity: Centrally positioned between Castlebar, Westport, and Galway city, while remaining within a convenient forty-five-minute drive of Ireland West Airport Knock.
  • Development potential: An ancillary building to the rear incorporating a three-bay carport may offer interesting possibilities for further residential development subject to obtaining necessary planning permissions.
  • Stable asking price: The recorded asking price has remained firm at €950,000 without reductions since initial tracking began, suggesting confident vendor expectations in line with the property's unique market niche.
  • Established local sports amenities: Ballinrobe offers excellent recreational facilities nearby, including the local racecourse and golf club, enhancing the lifestyle appeal for active residents and families.
  • Excellent road frontage: The estate benefits from significant road frontage on the outskirts of town, ensuring straightforward access and enhancing the prominent estate profile.

But keep in mind:

  • Poor energy efficiency rating: The property carries a low BER rating of E, indicating significant energy inefficiency and substantial heat loss that will likely result in high heating costs until major thermal upgrades are completed.
  • Substantial upgrade costs: Due to the period nature and low energy rating, the buyer should budget for considerable capital expenditure to insulate, upgrade heating systems, and modernize plumbing or electrical installations.
  • Historic fabric restrictions: Being an early nineteenth-century period residence, any future modernization or thermal retrofitting works may be subject to strict heritage guidelines, potentially increasing renovation complexity and costs.
  • High structural maintenance burden: Maintaining a sprawling circa 3475-square-foot historic home alongside a gate lodge, coach house, and sixteen acres of land requires a substantial, ongoing commitment of time and financial resources.
  • Stagnant price positioning: The asking price has remained completely unchanged at €950,000 during the recorded observation period, which may indicate limited vendor flexibility or potential overpricing relative to current buyer demand.
  • Unverified exact floor area: The precise internal floor area is not formally specified in standard metric guarantees beyond promotional estimates, meaning the buyer should commission a professional measured survey to verify exact dimensions.
  • Unclassified property designation: Official legal property categorizations are omitted from baseline descriptions, requiring the buyer's legal representative to thoroughly examine land registry folios and zoning statuses.
  • Complex estate management: Managing sixteen acres of pastureland along with established tree populations and historic outbuildings demands ongoing agricultural or horticultural upkeep to prevent overgrowth or decay.
  • Ancillary building regulatory risks: While the rear ancillary building with its three-bay carport hints at development potential, buyers must independently verify whether any historical conversion or expansion plans have valid planning permissions.
  • Gate lodge habitability check: The stone-built gate lodge should be thoroughly inspected for dampness, insulation quality, and compliance with current residential letting standards if intended for occupancy or rental.
  • Sash window maintenance: Traditional timber sash windows, while aesthetically pleasing, require regular specialized maintenance, painting, and draft-proofing to prevent wood rot and maintain energy performance.
  • Historic damp risks in cellars: The presence of a redbrick pantry and wine cellar at lower levels warrants careful inspection for rising damp, ventilation issues, and moisture ingress typical of period subterranean spaces.
  • Solid fuel and oil dependence: The property relies on older heating configurations including an oil-fired range and open fireplaces, which may need replacement with modern, efficient renewable systems to improve the poor energy rating.
  • Wildlife management obligations: The presence of free-roaming fallow deer established on the estate for decades may involve specific legal, fencing, or management responsibilities that the buyer should clarify prior to purchase.
  • Septic tank and drainage verification: As a rural historic property on extensive grounds, the buyer's surveyor must meticulously inspect the private sewage treatment or septic tank arrangements for current environmental compliance.
  • Water supply and well checks: The buyer should independently verify the source, quality, and pressure of the water supply serving both the main residence and the detached gate lodge.
  • Roof and chimney preservation: The multiplicity of rendered chimney stacks with terracotta pots and the expansive roof structures require rigorous periodic inspection by a specialist familiar with historic slate work.
  • Limited local comparable sales: Unique historic estates of this scale rarely change hands, making it challenging for appraisers and buyers to benchmark the €950,000 asking price against direct local market comparables.
  • Commuting and transport reliance: Although centrally positioned between major urban hubs, daily life relies heavily on private car transport given the rural periphery setting outside Ballinrobe.
  • Renovation disruption: Undertaking necessary thermal and aesthetic improvements on a sprawling heritage home will inevitably cause significant disruption, requiring careful project management and temporary accommodation planning.

Price positioning

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This comparison depends on limited public and listing evidence, which may be incomplete, outdated or not directly comparable. The score is not a percentage, professional valuation or guaranteed estimate. Ask an independent qualified valuer before relying on a property value.
The asking price appears broadly in line, with a slight undervaluation signal.
  • The asking price of nine hundred fifty thousand euros appears appropriately positioned when considering the substantial scale of this historic nineteenth-century residence, its expansive sixteen-acre pastureland setting, and the inclusion of a detached gate lodge and coach house.
  • Valuation signals are driven by the rare architectural pedigree, extensive floor area exceeding three hundred square metres, and high-value regional appeal near Cong, though tempered by a poor energy rating that suggests potential upgrade requirements.
  • Strong support for this valuation relies on unique lifestyle amenities, established historical character, and surrounding scenic grounds, whereas factors that could undermine the price include significant future retrofit costs required to improve energy efficiency.
  • Relevant market dynamics indicate that exceptional period properties with land attract niche high-net-worth buyers seeking privacy and heritage features, separating them from standard suburban residential pricing trends observed across the wider local area.

Build Analysis

What we know from similar construction types

  • The property is a detached, three-bay, two-storey-over-lower ground floor period residence built in 1819 as a Church of Ireland glebe house, extending to approximately 323 sq. m. (3475 sq. ft.).
  • It features a T-shaped plan with original period elements including carved timber door surrounds, panelled doors, contemporary joinery, plasterwork, and six-over-six timber sash windows with shutters.
  • The roof was re-slated with natural slate in 2007, which is a positive indicator for structural maintenance.
  • The property includes a separate one-bedroom gate lodge, a symmetrically-composed coach house, a walled garden with an orchard, and an ancillary building with a carport.
  • Buyers should investigate the structural integrity, damp levels, plumbing, and electrical systems of this historic building, as well as any protected structure or planning restrictions that may apply to modifications or development of the outbuildings.

Retrofit Cost*

Possible renovating / insulating expenditure

  • The property has a BER rating of E, indicating poor energy efficiency typical of older period properties.
  • A deep retrofit for a historic structure of this scale (approx. 323 sq. m.)—including sympathetic insulation methods, upgrading archaic heating systems, and addressing draughts without compromising historical fabric—is estimated to cost between 60,000 and 100,000 euros.
  • Costs could be significantly higher if specialized conservation techniques are required to preserve original architectural features such as timber sash windows.

Heating cost*

Estimated expense to heat this property every year

  • Estimated annual heating cost: 4,000 to 6,000 euro.
  • Explanation: Given the large floor area of approximately 3475 sq. ft., the period architecture, and the poor BER rating of E, the property is likely to have high energy consumption and heat loss, resulting in significantly above-average annual heating expenses.

Pollution Safe

9/10

Environmental situation to investigate

  • The property is situated in a scenic rural and pastureland setting outside Ballinrobe, appearing well removed from heavy industrial sites, major incinerators, or active landfills.
  • Any historical or localized environmental risks should be independently verified by the prospective buyer during standard conveyancing and surveys.

Flood Safe

8/10

Water overflow reports to follow up

  • The elevated rural setting on Mile Hill suggests a generally low apparent likelihood of direct surface flooding, though surrounding low-lying regions near major lakes can experience seasonal high water.
  • Buyers are advised to consult detailed local flood maps and arrange a professional structural survey to confirm site-specific drainage conditions.

Recent Local Sales

Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years

Sales on the same street or estate

No verified results were found for this group in the previous five years.

Recent sales in the wider Ballinrobe area

  • 7 BOWERS LANE, MAIN ST, BALLINROBE

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €195,000.00
  • 81 CILL O SEIGHIN, BALLINROBE, MAYO

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €276,000.00
  • KNOCKNAKILLEW, BALLINROBE, CO MAYO

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €375,000.00
  • APT 6 LOWER FIRST FLOOR, BLOCK A GORT NA GCLOCH, BALLINROBE

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €115,000.00
  • 36 TOWER VIEW, BALLINROBE, MAYO

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €270,000.00

Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR). Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.

Last Sale

A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property

No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.

Buyer fees*

Associated expenses guide

  • Estimated stamp duty: €9,500 — 1% of €950,000.
    ?
    Based on the asking price shown on this page, using standard residential stamp-duty rates. No adjustments are made for VAT, reliefs, mixed-use property or additional land. The final purchase price and your circumstances may change the amount payable.
  • Solicitor legal fees: approximately 1,500 to 3,000 euro plus VAT and outlays.
  • Land registration fees: approximately 600 to 800 euro depending on the property value.
  • Property valuation fees: approximately 150 to 300 euro.
  • Surveyor fees: approximately 1,000 to 2,500 euro depending on the depth of the survey required for a period property.
  • Annual home insurance: approximately 1,200 to 2,500 euro given the age, size, and historical nature of the building.

Forum Talk

What people are saying about this area

  • Local discussions highlight Ballinrobe as a growing market town with strong community amenities, a racecourse, and a popular golf club.
  • Residents frequently mention the regional appeal of nearby Cong, Lough Corrib, and Ashford Castle for tourism, heritage, and outdoor leisure pursuits.
  • Community forums often discuss the historical significance and architectural heritage of period properties throughout south County Mayo.
  • Property observers note strong interest in rural and semi-rural estates offering extensive acreage and privacy within commutable distance to major hubs.

LifeFit Assessment

How well this property may suit your lifestyle

Family

7 areas
  • Young Children

    The substantial 16-acre grounds and rural setting offer plenty of outdoor space for children, though the historic features, open fireplaces, and multiple storeys require careful supervision.

    6/10
  • Teenagers

    The generous accommodation including six bedrooms and the separate one-bedroom gate lodge provides excellent independence and space for growing teenagers.

    7/10
  • Multi-generational Living

    The presence of a self-contained one-bedroom gate lodge alongside the expansive main six-bedroom house creates an ideal setup for multi-generational families living together.

    8/10
  • Single Buyers

    A property of this scale (3475 sq. ft. set on 16 acres) involves significant maintenance and upkeep, which may prove excessive for a single occupant.

    3/10
  • Couples

    Couples looking for a grand countryside estate with historic character will find plenty to love, though heating and maintaining such a large period home is a major commitment.

    6/10
  • Empty Nesters

    The peaceful setting and historic charm appeal to empty nesters, though the sheer size of the main house means much of the space may go underutilised unless hosting visiting family.

    6/10
  • Retirees

    While the single-level gate lodge offers manageable living, the multi-storey main house features stairs and traditional layouts that may require adaptation for long-term ageing in place.

    5/10

Work

3 areas
  • Remote Working

    Spacious study and multiple reception rooms provide excellent home office potential, though buyers should verify local broadband speeds for high-demand remote work.

    7/10
  • Hybrid Commuting

    Centrally located between Castlebar, Westport, and Galway City with a 45-minute drive to Ireland West Airport Knock, though commuting to major hubs like Dublin requires significant travel.

    5/10
  • Retired

    A tranquil and historic estate offering a peaceful retirement setting, with the added benefit of a gate lodge for visiting family or live-in assistance.

    8/10

Practical

8 areas
  • Ageing in Place

    While the main house has multiple storeys and stairs, the self-contained one-bedroom gate lodge provides excellent single-level accommodation options for ageing relatives or caregivers.

    5/10
  • Low Maintenance

    A historic period property extending to over 300 square metres set within 16 grounds requires ongoing specialist maintenance and conservation care.

    2/10
  • Secure Gated Entry

    The property features a distinct gate lodge and private setting with excellent road frontage, though buyers should verify the current status of gated security automation.

    7/10
  • Minimalist Design

    Characterised by rich early nineteenth-century glebe architecture, traditional sash windows, carved timber work, and ornate period details rather than minimalist aesthetics.

    1/10
  • Flexible Floor Plans

    Comprises a large six-bedroom main house, a separate gate lodge, a coach house, and ancillary buildings, offering diverse usage and layout configurations.

    7/10
  • Heritage Home

    An exceptional surviving example of early nineteenth-century glebe architecture built in 1819, retaining rich historical fabric, fireplaces, and joinery.

    10/10
  • Ecological Setup

    Set within 16 acres of pastureland with mature trees and free-roaming fallow deer, though the E energy rating indicates that thermal efficiency improvements may be worth investigating.

    7/10
  • Outdoor areas

    Encompasses 16 acres of picturesque pastureland, a walled garden with an orchard, historic coach house, and magnificent mature trees with mountain backdrops.

    10/10

Interests

9 areas
  • Gardening

    Includes a walled garden with a small orchard, extensive grounds with mature beech, lime, and alder trees, and 16 acres of land for keen gardeners to develop.

    9/10
  • Walking

    The expansive private lands, scenic mountain backdrops, and proximity to rural paths and the wider Mayo countryside offer endless walking opportunities.

    9/10
  • Gym

    There is no dedicated fitness facility on-site, requiring residents to travel into nearby towns for commercial gym access.

    2/10
  • Cycling

    The surrounding country roads provide scenic routes for cycling enthusiasts, though rural traffic speeds and narrow lanes should be kept in mind.

    7/10
  • Golf

    Ballinrobe Golf Club is nearby, and the world-renowned Ashford Castle estate featuring its own championship golf course is just a short drive away.

    9/10
  • Fishing

    The wider region is internationally renowned among anglers for exceptional salmon and trout fishing on the nearby Lough Corrib and Lough Mask.

    10/10
  • Horse Riding

    The expansive pasturelands and rural setting lend themselves well to equestrian pursuits, with local amenities like the Ashford Castle equestrian centre nearby.

    8/10
  • Water Sports

    Proximity to the vast expanses of Lough Corrib and Lough Mask provides fantastic opportunities for boating, cruising, and various water sports.

    8/10
  • Entertaining

    Features grand formal reception rooms, high ceilings, historic architectural details, and extensive grounds, making it exceptionally well-suited for hosting guests.

    9/10

Lifestyle

5 areas
  • Quiet Living

    Set within 16 acres of picturesque pastureland with free-roaming fallow deer and mountain backdrops, the property offers exceptional peace and privacy.

    9/10
  • Rural Living

    Positioned on a large country estate featuring mature trees, pastureland, and a historic coach house and gate lodge, providing the quintessential rural Irish lifestyle.

    10/10
  • Village Living

    Located on the outskirts of Ballinrobe and within a short drive of the celebrated village of Cong, balancing seclusion with nearby community amenities.

    7/10
  • Coastal Living

    Located inland in south County Mayo, far from the coast, though within reach of major lakes like Lough Corrib and Lough Mask.

    3/10
  • Urban Living

    This is a rural historic estate rather than an urban dwelling, situated outside town limits with minimal city-style conveniences immediately at the doorstep.

    2/10

Social

6 areas
  • Community Involvement

    Proximity to Ballinrobe and Cong offers active local community networks, historical societies, and village events to participate in.

    7/10
  • Café Culture

    Local market towns and tourist destinations like Cong provide charming local cafés and hotel dining options, though not on an urban scale.

    6/10
  • Nightlife

    Rural setting with limited immediate nightlife options, constrained to local pubs and hotel amenities in nearby towns.

    3/10
  • Health/Wellness groups

    Access to local wellness amenities and spa facilities at nearby establishments like Ashford Castle, alongside community fitness groups in Ballinrobe.

    5/10
  • Networking Opportunities

    Primarily a residential and rural area, offering limited local professional networking compared to major urban business centres.

    4/10
  • Tech-Hub Connectivity

    Located in a rural setting far from major technology parks or urban innovation hubs.

    2/10

Listing information

Agent
Sherry FitzGerald Hanley
Phone
094 9371479
Published on HouseDelve
21 October 2026
Correction
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Property reference: HD-571E69HouseDelve · Republic of Ireland

Report checks

Sources used: Public marketplace, Property Price Register, and grounded web research where available.

Automated quality checks: Passed

Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.