Photograph 1 of 32 of Syngefield House, Clonoghill Upper, Birr, Co. Offaly
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Syngefield House, Clonoghill Upper, Birr, Co. Offaly

€500,000

10 Bed~12 Bath~1761 m²

What you'll like:

  • Historic Architectural Character: Dating back to 1760, the original structure retains classically inspired details and grand stone steps that offer tremendous aesthetic appeal for luxury buyers.
  • Substantial Floor Area: Providing approximately 1761 square metres of accommodation, this expansive property allows for grand-scale living or large commercial hospitality projects.
  • Extensive Land Grounds: Set amidst approximately 4.47 acres of mature woodland and parkland, the property guarantees privacy and an idyllic countryside atmosphere.
  • Basement Wellness Facilities: The inclusion of a basement designed for a swimming pool and gym provides a rare foundation for an exclusive private spa or leisure center.
  • Heritage Town Proximity: Located just two kilometres from the heritage town centre of Birr, residents benefit from local amenities and a thriving tourist economy.
  • Commercial Hospitality Potential: Configured with ten ensuite bedrooms and three reception rooms, the layout is well-suited for a boutique hotel or high-end wedding venue.
  • Attractive Asking Price: The listed asking price of five hundred thousand euros offers a low entry cost per square metre for a building of this historic scale.
  • Scenic River Setting: The grounds adjoin neighboring woodland featuring the Camcor River, offering picturesque natural surroundings and popular local walking routes.
  • Original Period Features: Retaining tall limestone gate piers and ashlar stonework, the approach delivers an impressive first impression fitting for a country estate.
  • Multiple Development Options: Beyond a hospitality venture, the property offers versatile potential for conversion into a grand private family home subject to approval.
  • Commercial Kitchen Provision: The presence of spaces designated for a commercial-sized kitchen and pantry significantly aids the setup of a professional hospitality operation.
  • Wine Cellar Space: A dedicated wine cellar located at the basement level adds an authentic touch of luxury suited for high-end guests or connoisseurs.
  • Established Access Avenue: Approached via a sweeping driveway sharing an original avenue, the entrance establishes a suitably dignified and stately arrival sequence.
  • Tourism Industry Synergy: Proximity to established regional attractions like Birr Castle and various regional hotels enhances the commercial viability of a hospitality project.
  • Strong Regional Connectivity: Located within accessible driving distance to major cities like Galway and Limerick, the location attracts travelers from across the region.
  • Historical Planning Precedent: Previous alterations and guest house design permissions from the early 2000s provide a useful historical reference point for future applications.
  • Generous Ceiling Heights: The classical architecture of the 1760s core suggests grand proportions and large windows that will flood interior rooms with natural light.
  • Staff Accommodation Potential: Designated storage and auxiliary rooms throughout the sprawling layout facilitate efficient on-site operational management for a commercial enterprise.
  • Flexible Attic Space: Additional accommodation and storage space located at the attic level provide room for further expansion or customized functional outfitting.
  • Unique Renovation Canvas: For buyers passionate about historic restoration, completing this project allows for total creative control over finishes and interior design specifications.

But keep in mind:

  • Incomplete Construction Status: The property remains partially completed from early 2000s renovation works, requiring massive capital investment to finish the extensive interior and exterior.
  • Protected Structure Restrictions: As a protected historic structure, any renovation work will face strict regulatory oversight, potentially increasing costs and limiting architectural choices.
  • Unclear BER Status: The building is listed as exempt or lacking a formal Building Energy Rating, which could mean poor insulation and high future thermal retrofitting expenses.
  • Shared Access Driveway: The sweeping entrance avenue serves multiple other residences alongside Syngefield House, which might complicate privacy or maintenance responsibilities for the approach.
  • Vast Restoration Liabilities: The sheer scale of seventeen hundred square metres in a derelict state presents significant unforeseen construction risks and budget overrun hazards.
  • Basement Water Risks: The subterranean swimming pool, gym, and plant rooms require thorough engineering inspection to rule out dampness, structural water ingress, or foundational damage.
  • Dormant Planning Permissions: Previous planning permissions date from 2001 to 2003 and have long since expired, meaning a buyer must secure fresh approvals from the local authority.
  • Substantial Heating Demands: Heating a structure of this immense historic volume will likely incur exorbitant energy costs unless modern, efficient renewable systems are integrated.
  • Deteriorated Roughcast Render: The exterior roughcast render and slate roof require professional structural assessment to determine if moisture has penetrated the historic masonry core.
  • Complex Plumbing Overhaul: With twelve bathrooms and a commercial kitchen infrastructure, replacing and certifying all internal piping and drainage will be an expensive undertaking.
  • Security and Vandalism Risks: Being vacant and partially completed for an extended period, the property may have sustained unseen internal damage or theft of metalwork.
  • Restricted Commercial Viability: Depending on local zoning and tourism demand fluctuations in County Offaly, running a profitable boutique hotel or venue carries inherent market risk.
  • High Professional Fees: Restoring a protected landmark necessitates hiring specialized conservation architects, engineers, and heritage-approved artisans, driving up administrative costs.
  • Long Construction Timelines: Bringing a shell of this magnitude up to modern habitable or commercial building standards will likely take years of intensive project management.
  • Insurance Complexities: Securing comprehensive buildings insurance for an incomplete, vacant protected structure can be difficult and prohibitively expensive.
  • Unmapped Structural Deficiencies: Hidden rot, timber pests, or compromised roof timbers may lurk within the older sections, requiring invasive surveys before purchase.
  • Uncertainty Around Services: Buyers must verify whether existing electrical, water, and sewage connections on the rural acreage meet modern commercial capacity requirements.
  • Boundary Clarification Needed: The exact legal boundaries encompassing the four-and-a-half-acre woodland and river adjacencies should be strictly verified via folio maps.
  • Future Compliance Costs: Meeting contemporary fire safety, accessibility, and disability access regulations in a historic building layout can compromise historical interior features.
  • Auction Purchase Pressure: Being offered via an online auction platform limits standard negotiation windows and typically requires non-refundable deposits upon the fall of the hammer.

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 looks somewhat undervalued compared with the available evidence.
  • The asking price appears attractively positioned relative to the scale of the asset, primarily because the property is sold as a partially completed structure requiring substantial capital investment to finish the extensive development.
  • Valuation signals are heavily influenced by the massive floor area of approximately seventeen hundred square meters and over four acres of parkland, offset by the high financial risk of completing a protected historical building.
  • Potential upside is supported by strong commercial tourism potential as a boutique hotel or wedding venue, whereas the primary factor that could undermine the asking price involves unforeseen structural and conservation renovation costs.
  • Relevant market context indicates that while smaller regional homes achieve much lower recorded transaction figures, this unique commercial-scale heritage project commands a specialized pricing strategy aimed at niche developer buyers.

Build Analysis

What we know from similar construction types

  • The property is an original 1760 structure that is a Protected Structure, combined with an early 2000s alteration and extension that remains partially completed.
  • Buyers should investigate the structural integrity, weathering, and potential deterioration of the incomplete works since construction was halted.
  • Given the protected status and past commercial/guest house planning permissions (PD 1198, PD 1229, BR1320), buyers must verify the current planning compliance, status of any expired permissions, and obligations for finishing a protected structure.
  • The extensive scale (approximately 1761 m² across 4.47 acres) includes complex features such as a basement swimming pool, gym, commercial kitchen, and extensive plumbing and electrical needs which require thorough specialist engineering surveys.
  • Shared access via the original avenue serving multiple residences should be investigated regarding rights of way and maintenance responsibilities.

Retrofit Cost*

Possible renovating / insulating expenditure

  • The BER rating is exempt due to the building being a Protected Structure and partially incomplete, meaning a standard BER grading is not applicable.
  • Carrying out a deep retrofit and finishing a 1761 m² historic, incomplete structure with commercial-scale facilities (including a basement pool and extensive accommodation) would require a substantial and highly variable capital investment well in excess of standard residential retrofits, heavily dependent on conservation architecture standards and specialized materials.

Heating cost*

Estimated expense to heat this property every year

  • Heating cost is not currently applicable as the property is a partially completed structure without a functioning heating system or BER rating.
  • Once fully completed and fitted with an appropriate heating system, heating a property of approximately 1761 square metres with 10 bedrooms will incur substantial annual costs, potentially exceeding 6,000 to 10,000 euro per year depending on energy efficiency standards achieved during completion.

Pollution Safe

8/10

Environmental situation to investigate

  • The property is set amidst mature woodland and parkland, well away from heavy industrial zones, major landfills, or known large-scale waste facilities.
  • Any minor legacy industrial considerations typical of older heritage towns should be verified independently by prospective buyers during standard due diligence.

Flood Safe

7/10

Water overflow reports to follow up

  • The description notes that neighbouring woodland adjoins the Camcor River, suggesting potential proximity to a watercourse that warrants careful review against local flood maps.
  • Buyers should consult official OPW flood mapping and commission appropriate site-specific assessments to verify the exact flood risk profile across the 4.47-acre grounds.

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 Birr area

  • CASTLETOWN, FORTAL, BIRR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €350,000.00
  • CLONBRONE, FORTAL, BIRR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €162,000.00
  • 7 LISMOONEY COURT, KINNITY, BIRR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €211,453.70
  • 3 RIVERSIDE HOUSE, BIRR, COUNTY OFFALY

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €200,000.00
  • 14 BALLINCUR, KINNITY, BIRR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €205,000.00

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

  • Solicitor legal fees are estimated between 2,500 and 6,000 euro depending on complexity and conveyancing requirements.
  • Land registration fees typically range from 400 to 800 euro based on property value.
  • Property valuation fees are estimated at approximately 150 to 300 euro.
  • Surveyor fees for a property of this scale and nature can range from 1,500 to 3,500 euro.
  • Annual home insurance for a large partially completed structure is difficult to estimate precisely and should be verified with specialist insurers, but could range from 2,000 to 5,000 euro or more.

Forum Talk

What people are saying about this area

  • Locals and visitors frequently discuss the charm of Birr as a heritage town with well-preserved Georgian architecture and strong tourism appeal.
  • The scenic river walk along the Camcor River bordering the woodland is noted by residents as a popular and tranquil local amenity.
  • Discussions around historic properties in the area often highlight the balance between preserving protected structures and undertaking modern commercial developments.
  • Community interest is generally high regarding properties with significant historical backgrounds, such as eighteenth-century estates situated close to the town centre.

LifeFit Assessment

How well this property may suit your lifestyle

Family

7 areas
  • Young Children

    The expansive 4.47 acres of grounds and woodland setting offer a wonderful, natural playground for young children. However, the property is currently an incomplete structure requiring significant construction work, which poses safety hazards for young kids.

    6/10
  • Teenagers

    The large scale of the property and proximity to Birr town centre provide independence and space for teenagers. On the downside, the incomplete nature of the boutique hotel/guest house conversion means ongoing building works could make living here disruptive.

    5/10
  • Multi-generational Living

    With 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, and a vast floor area of 1761 m², this property offers immense potential for multi-generational living configurations, provided substantial renovation works are completed to make the space habitable.

    8/10
  • Single Buyers

    A 10-bedroom, partially finished heritage property spanning 1761 m² on nearly 4.5 acres is an overwhelming undertaking for a single buyer, requiring massive capital investment and project management.

    2/10
  • Couples

    Couples looking for a grand heritage restoration project or a boutique hospitality business opportunity will find this appealing. However, living on-site while completing a massive renovation is exceedingly challenging.

    4/10
  • Empty Nesters

    Empty nesters seeking a grand countryside home or a project to occupy their retirement will appreciate the idyllic parkland setting. That said, the sheer scale of maintenance and the incomplete build require careful consideration.

    5/10
  • Retirees

    While the peaceful woodland setting near Birr is attractive for retirees, the property is currently in a partially completed state without standard modern comforts, and extensive renovations would be required before it is suitable for ageing in place.

    4/10

Work

3 areas
  • Remote Working

    The sprawling floor area provides ample space to set up multiple home offices or studies, though buyers should verify the availability and speed of local broadband infrastructure.

    7/10
  • Hybrid Commuting

    Birr is centrally located in the midlands, but commuting to major cities like Dublin or Galway regularly is a significant drive, making hybrid work demanding.

    4/10
  • Retired

    The property requires major construction oversight, which is demanding for retirees, though the eventual home could suit retirement if fully modernised and accessible features are installed.

    4/10

Practical

8 areas
  • Ageing in Place

    Spanning multiple floors with a massive footprint and currently in an unfinished state, the property is not currently optimized for ageing in place, though a ground-floor suite could theoretically be adapted.

    3/10
  • Low Maintenance

    A protected 18th-century structure of 1761 m² set on 4.47 acres of woodland, currently in an incomplete state of renovation, requires continuous and intensive maintenance.

    1/10
  • Secure Gated Entry

    The property is approached via a sweeping driveway featuring original, tall dark limestone gate piers with ashlar detailing, providing a grand and secure-feeling entrance.

    8/10
  • Minimalist Design

    This is a classical 1760 heritage protected structure with traditional features, stone balustrades, and elaborate architectural details, completely opposite to minimalist design.

    2/10
  • Flexible Floor Plans

    Because the interior build is partially complete, the extensive layout across multiple floors offers a rare blank canvas for a buyer to configure the floor plans to their exact needs.

    9/10
  • Heritage Home

    Originally built in 1760, Syngefield House is an official protected structure set in a historic heritage town, retaining classical architectural features and character.

    10/10
  • Ecological Setup

    The mature woodland, parkland, and river proximity offer great ecological value, but the building itself requires significant energy-efficiency upgrades as its BER status is exempt/not provided and construction is unfinished.

    6/10
  • Outdoor areas

    The property boasts approximately 4.47 acres of private parkland, mature woodland, stone steps, and historic architectural features, complemented by nearby river walks.

    10/10

Interests

9 areas
  • Gardening

    With c. 4.47 acres of parkland and mature woodland, there is vast scope for landscaping, gardening, and outdoor horticultural projects.

    9/10
  • Walking

    The surrounding woodland, private grounds, and the nearby charming river walk along the Camcor River offer exceptional opportunities for walking enthusiasts.

    9/10
  • Gym

    The basement level is uniquely designed to accommodate a swimming pool and gym area with changing facilities, though these facilities require completion and fit-out.

    8/10
  • Cycling

    The surrounding countryside and regional roads around Birr offer pleasant cycling routes, though rural roads can lack dedicated cycling infrastructure.

    7/10
  • Golf

    The midlands location provides reasonable access to regional golf courses, though buyers should verify the exact distance to the nearest clubs.

    6/10
  • Fishing

    Proximity to the Camcor River, as well as the wider region's reputation for fishing around the River Shannon and Lough Derg, makes this a strong location for anglers.

    8/10
  • Horse Riding

    The extensive acreage and rural-adjacent setting provide a fantastic base for equestrian interests, subject to adding stables or paddock fencing.

    8/10
  • Water Sports

    While local rivers and lakes like Lough Derg offer water sports opportunities, the property itself is landlocked, though it features a basement designated for an indoor swimming pool.

    5/10
  • Entertaining

    With three reception rooms, commercial-sized kitchens, a wine cellar, and extensive grounds, the property is inherently structured for grand-scale entertaining or hospitality events once completed.

    10/10

Lifestyle

5 areas
  • Quiet Living

    Set amidst approximately 4.47 acres of mature woodland and parkland with the Camcor River nearby, the property offers an exceptionally quiet and private living environment.

    9/10
  • Rural Living

    The property provides a classic country estate feel with sweeping drives, mature trees, and proximity to river walks, though it is conveniently located just 2km from a heritage town.

    8/10
  • Village Living

    Birr is a charming heritage town with Georgian architecture and good local amenities just 5 minutes away, offering a pleasant blend of town and country community vibes.

    7/10
  • Coastal Living

    The property is located inland in County Offaly and has no proximity to the coast.

    1/10
  • Urban Living

    Located 2km outside the historic town of Birr, this is firmly an estate and rural-adjacent setting rather than an urban environment, though regional hubs like Limerick and Galway are accessible via major roads.

    3/10

Social

6 areas
  • Community Involvement

    Birr has a thriving local economy, active tourism industry, and community events centered around its heritage status, offering good opportunities to integrate locally.

    7/10
  • Café Culture

    Birr town centre features attractive Georgian streetscapes with local cafes and hotels, though it offers a quieter pace compared to major cities.

    6/10
  • Nightlife

    Nightlife is limited to local pubs, hotel bars, and restaurants in Birr, with more extensive nightlife requiring travel to larger urban centers.

    4/10
  • Health/Wellness groups

    The property's basement layout includes a planned swimming pool and gym, pointing toward wellness use, and local town amenities offer standard community health groups.

    6/10
  • Networking Opportunities

    Networking options locally are primarily tied to tourism, hospitality, and local enterprise, rather than corporate or tech networks.

    4/10
  • Tech-Hub Connectivity

    Birr is a heritage market town rather than a tech hub, meaning remote tech professionals will rely heavily on private home internet connections.

    3/10

Listing information

Agent
DNG Country Homes & Estates
Phone
01 491 2600
Published on HouseDelve
7 October 2026
Correction
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Property reference: HD-7F7723HouseDelve · 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.

Syngefield House, Clonoghill Upper, Birr, Co. Offaly — €500,000 · HouseDelve