An ancient castle located in the countryside of Ireland is for sale by its owner, asking £1.32 million (US$1.62 million).
Turin Castle, sitting on 13 acres of pasture land with spectacular views of the Connemara mountains, is currently operated as a luxury rental and event venue, said Brendan Farrell, who has owned the property with his wife, Marnie, for about 10 years and began starting to try to sell it last month.
But the castle’s history tracks back almost 800 years. It was built by the Anglo-Norman de Burgh family who invaded Ireland in the 13th century. The de Burghs, or House of Burke, were related to William the Conqueror and consequently the English Royal family, which married into the Irish aristocracy, according to Mr. Farrell.
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The castle has been meticulously restored and updated, incorporating luxury en-suite bathrooms, as well as heating, safety and lighting features for modern conveniences.
However, many architectural heritage of the castle has been well preserved. It still has arrow slit windows from its towered fortress days. Inside, a spiral staircase connects all the five floors.
The ground floor, formerly a storeroom, boasts a cruciform opening used by an arbalestier or crossbowman and archer’s platform recesses now utilized as novel sleeping areas. There are two en-suite bedrooms on the first floor. The smaller of the two contains a deep recess where close quarter weapons were stored. The larger room is vaulted, which gives it a magical grotto-like effect.
The second floor contains a fully equipped kitchen, a minstrels’ gallery and the great hall, which seats 25 guests and features a 20-foot barrel-vaulted ceiling and a limestone inglenook fireplace, according to Mr. Farrell.
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The third floor is the former private chapel, featuring vaulted ceiling and Romanesque windows. The fourth floor once housed the private apartment of the lord and lady. There is a sitting room and a bathroom with a freestanding bathtub, which has views over the stone-walled fields to the mountains of Connemara.
"A most unusual feature in the sitting room is the hidden entrance to an oubliette or dungeon. Behind the false bookcase accessed down a ladder, is a secret room where captives were once held," Mr. Farrell said.
The final set of the staircase, which has 80 steps in total, leads to the battlements. It boasts mountain views and panoramic starry vistas.
Located at Cartron, Kilmaine in County Mayo, the castle is close to mountains, lakes and rivers, offering world class angling and game bird hunting as well as historical sites.
"We have many fond memories including family parties with live traditional music. We have hosted small intimate weddings in the chapel/ceremony room located in the grounds," Mr. Farrell said.
They are selling the castle because they want to consolidate their business interests, according to Mr. Farrell.
Write to Fang Block at fang.block@dowjones.com