Supermac’s boss secures Renville House for €3.2 million

The magnificent 19th Century Renville House in Oranmore has been purchased by Supermac’s boss and hotelier Pat McDonagh for €3.2 million at auction.

The property, which is set on 135 acres overlooking Galway Bay, had a guide price of €2m and was chased by four bidders.

Bidding quickly rose to €2.7m at the auction in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Galway last week, at which point the property was declared as being ‘on the market’. 

Mr McDonagh then vied with one other bidder, before the hammer came down at €3.2m.

He confirmed to the Connacht Tribune that he was the successful bidder, but was not in a position to discuss his plans for it at the moment.

Renville House is 388 square metres (4,176 sq ft) and was built in circa 1820, comprising an extensive two storey house, formerly known as Renville Lodge and is in need of some modernisation. There are many traditional features remaining, including timber windows with shutters, marble fireplaces and plaster work.

It was purchased in 1960 by the Lydon family from the Blake family, one of the Tribes of Galway.

The ground floor accommodation includes a kitchen and dining room, two bathrooms, library, study, drawing room, laundry room and boot room, while upstairs are five bedrooms and two bathrooms.

It’s approached via a half-mile winding avenue and is set on an elevated setting with farmyard to the rear, Coach House and a derelict Herd’s Cottage. It backs onto Galway Bay with over 800 metres (2,600 ft) sea frontage.

Paddy Jordan of Jordan Auctioneers in Kildare told the Connacht Tribune: “The sale had generated huge interest since the outset of the marketing campaign and it had been one of the finest properties we have sold, particularly in terms of the reaction of viewers when they saw the quality of the land, the setting and its unique charm, there were almost no negative comments, which is very unusual.

“We had been quoting €2m prior to the auction. There was a certain X-factor with the property which was hard to put a number on, and really it depended on people’s individual desire to purchase – it now appears this X-factor was possibly €1.2m over the guide.

“There are three key factors when buying a property – location, location, location and this result certainly bears testament to that,” said Mr Jordan.

The Coach House is located behind the main residence and it is a traditional limestone building converted into living accommodation making it ideal for guests or staff. It comprises a kitchen, living room, bathroom and two bedrooms (one en suite).

The yard is located to the rear of the main residence and coach house and comprises a number of traditional farm buildings including a lovely two storey limestone building which could convert to a guest cottage in addition to six boxes; four span hay shed with lean-to; silage slab; old milking parlour; sheds and cattle crush.

The derelict Herd’s Cottage is located in the middle of the holding and has its own internal gravel drive providing access, but is in a poor state of repair.

The average price of agricultural land in the county last year was €7,443 per acre – this sale equates to around €24,000 per acre.