PICTURES: Inside €1.3m Waterford mansion for sale with interior that has to be seen to be believed

Ballyrafter House was built circa 1830, on the commission of the Duke of Devonshire, one of the wealthiest men in England at the time, whose Irish Seat is the nearby Lismore Castle.

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Once a shooting lodge for guests of the Duke of Devonshire, and more recently a country house hotel, Ballyrafter has a long tradition of hospitality, plus all the attributes of a signature family home.

Located on a 14-acre estate, the property enjoys breathtaking views of Lismore Castle and is within a short stroll of the town and the Blackwater river.

Ballyrafter House was built circa 1830, on the commission of the Duke of Devonshire, one of the wealthiest men in England, whose Irish Seat is the nearby Lismore Castle. Initially intended for the Duke’s Steward, it soon became a hunting and fishing lodge for his guests.

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Adjacent to the famous Blackwater River, rich in trout and salmon, and at the foothills of the Knockmealdown Mountains, you can see why the spot was in such high demand.

The story of Ballyrafter goes even further back. The name comes from the Irish Baile an Reachtaír, The Provost’s Land - Ballyrafter, were part of vast church lands, leased in the 1500s by Sir Walter Raleigh, and then sold to Sir Richard Boyle.

The house the Duke built befits this history: a graceful Georgian country house, reached via a winding leafy avenue, the original house, now extended to approx. 894.4 sq m (9,627 sq ft), is surrounded by mature planting, including specimen trees and sweeping lawns.

Most recently, Ballyrafter has been a much-beloved country house hotel, extending its history of hospitality to new generations.

For more information, contact Sherry FitzGerald Reynolds or click here.