Just a 30-minute drive outside Dublin sits the Village at Lyons, a privately owned village dating back to the 18th century. It recently went on the market for $23,078,698.
The village sits on 20 acres and has 47 bedrooms. Some additional features include a caretaker house, a carriage house, a guest house, a fitness room, and a yoga space. It also has lake, river views and an indoor and outdoor spa.
Part of the village dates back to the 18th century and was left abandoned for many years before the co-founder of Ryanair, Dr. Tony Ryan, bought it in the 1990s and put millions of dollars into restoring it and recreating the original village, David Byrne, Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty’s managing director, told Redfin News.
When Ryan passed away in 2007, the village was sold to a private owner who is now selling it.
“It’s almost like stepping back in time. It’s an architectural wonderland. The attention to detail in every single element of the village front, the windows, the doors, the chimneys, is utterly remarkable. It’s very much evidence of someone who has a phenomenal eye and brought world-class restoration to this project. It’s a really unique Irish estate village. Everywhere you look, there is something new and unique to see. It’s a masterpiece in its own right,” Bryne said.
The village also has two bars, a coffee shop, and a corporate event space that could easily be adapted for other uses, Byrne added.
At the moment, the village is run as a hospitality destination. A stay at the hotel on the village grounds starts at $269 a night.
“It is a magnificent place. You can literally feel the passion that went into restoring it at every turn. It has this unworldly feel about it once you’re through the gates. It’s a truly special place,” Bryne says.
The carrying costs are being kept confidential while the village is on the market,” he added.
“The ideal buyer could be somebody in the hospitality space who sees an opportunity to elevate this village even further and unleash the full potential of this village. It could equally be somebody who just thinks it’s the most wonderful opportunity to own a private estate in Ireland [41 miles] from Dublin,” Byrne said. “We’re kind of looking forward to finding out who the next owner is, in truth. Whoever it is, it will be somebody who appreciates the cultural significance of the village and they would become a steward of the village. What they do with it will be amazing to see.”
