A whole village in Ireland, complete with five cottages, historic buildings, an artist’s studio, a library, a theatre, restaurants, and spa and yoga facilities, is up for sale with Sotheby’s, to buyers with a spare €20 million to spend.
The Village at Lyons, just 30 minutes by car from the Irish capital, sits on the Grand Canal between Dublin and the River Shannon. The eight-hectare estate stands where an early medieval royal site and a flour mill once lay.
The site fell into disuse and disrepair after a fire at the mill, but was purchased by Tony Ryan, the founder of Ryanair, in 1996, and renovated and restored by craftspeople for an estimated IR£80 million. It is now owned by businessman Barry O’Callaghan, who bought it in 2016, after Ryan’s death. It has been operating as a five-star hotel and wedding venue under the name Cliff Lyons.
It now promises a lucky new owner both grandeur and the good life. Impressive gates give way to a tree-lined approach among established gardens, lakes, orchards, and water fountains, as well as an outdoor Zen lounge and full spa, plus a hot tub and a yoga space.
A home theatre, artist’s studio, a billiards room, and library ensure buyers will get their dose of culture and entertainment, while the sleeping accommodation includes 47 rooms, including in seven self-catering, two-bedroom cottages covered in climbing roses, four larger estate lodges, and four apartments. It should be noted that the 10-bedroomed main house, a Georgian neoclassical gem, is not for sale at this time.
The village decor, however, boasts period features, including vaulted and cathedral ceilings, ornate fireplaces, arched and round windows, portraits, cottage and castle-core fabrics and colours, and modern bathroom and kitchen fixtures and fittings. And for those who prefer to let someone else do the cooking, dining, and hospitality venues, such as the Pantry Coffee Shop, the Orangery, and the high-ceilinged Shackleton Mill, are intact. Aimsir, a two-Michelin-starred on-site eatery, closed in early 2025.
Sotheby’s International Realty highlights the outstanding opportunity the property represents to own a piece of Irish history. In the property listing, the agent says: “Rarely does an opportunity arise to acquire an entire village of such architectural integrity and character. The Village at Lyons represents not simply a property, but a living piece of Irish heritage, where re-crafted centuries-old stone buildings, landscaped courtyards, gardens complete with a feature lake and water mill combine to create a setting of exceptional charm and distinction.”
