Togher House, Monasterevin, Co.Kildare,

Mains electric

Mains water

Oil and gas fired central heating systems

Burglar alarm

Telephone (2 lines)

Mains drainage

On about 9.6 acres / 3.88 hectares.  Togher House is situated amidst beautifully mature trees within private grounds in the centre of Monasterevin town, an attractive historic town on the scenic River Barrow and the Grand Canal. The town dates back to the 6^th century when St. Eimhin's (Evin) monastery was founded there and is perhaps best known for having been the home of Count John McCormack, the famous tenor and Gerard Manley Hopkins, the eminent poet who each have strong links to the town. Count John McCormack resided at Togher House for a period of time from 1925.

Also historically important in the town are the 1826 drawbridge, the Aqueduct, Bell Harbour on the waterways near the town and the former Cassidy Distillery building. The prosperous Cassidy family distilling a quarter of a million gallons of whiskey a year in the town at their height when James Cassidy built Togher House on his marriage in 1854, leaving his sisters to reside in Monasterevin House, the original family home.

Monasterevin is a pleasant town to live in and offers facilities typical of a thriving provincial town with a supermarket, 3 primary schools and a secondary school. While Clongowes Wood (Clane) and Newbridge College offer private schooling if preferred. The Kildare Village shopping centre is 10 km / 6.2 km away and the bustling shopping towns of Naas, Newbridge and Portlaoise are within easy distance, also offering good restaurants in addition to those offered in Kildare town and the nearby The Killenard Heritage Golf & Spa Resort. This 5 star resort is host to 3 restaurants, a Championship 18 hole golf course, leisure centre and hotel.

For racing enthusiasts The Curragh Racecourse is only 16 km / 9.9 miles away, while Punchestown, Naas, Gowran, Fairyhouse and Leopardstown are all easily accessible. There are good equestrian facilities locally for every standard of competence. With both the River Barrow and Grand Canal running though the town good angling and boating is afforded and great walking along a 'Canal Way' which stretches all the way from Rathangan to Bagenalstown.

TOGHER HOUSE

Togher House is a most attractive period mansion house in the Italian neo-classical style with stucco architraves and rusticated quoins on the exterior. The interior features generously proportioned rooms with high ceilings and fine tall windows giving good natural light, with the magnificent ballroom extending the entire depth of the south-side of the house and featuring some marvellous plaster work to the ceiling, two matching marble chimney pieces, two large matching bay windows and double French doors opening to the south garden. Indeed, the principal accommodation features strong ceiling plasterwork and fine marble chimneypieces throughout. Perhaps prompting Count John McCormack to describe Togher House as "the gem of them all", quite a compliment given that he lived in quite a number of houses throughout his life including nearby Moore Abbey.

Enjoying such a primary position in the town with the benefit of being set within 9.6 acres Togher House makes a superb private home with magnificent reception rooms for entertaining and enough land to accommodation horses or ponies. Togher House is extremely accessible by road (M7) and train with frequent services from nearby Portarlington and Kildare, offering the Arrow frequent service, not to mention a service from the train station in Monasterevin.

Given that the property is located in an area zoned for residential development in the Kildare Development Plan development options could be considered, obviously subject to any necessary permission(s).

Ground Floor Porch (N,S & W) with Victorian chequered tiled floor and glazed double doors leading into the reception hall Reception

Hall (N & W) with decorative ceiling cornice and roses, carved timber staircase to first floor, polished timber flooring. Leads to all principal reception rooms.

Separate Clock room with whb and WC

Library (W) with decorative ceiling cornice and rose, fine marble chimneypiece, twin recessed fitted bookcases, arched recess, polished timber flooring and a concealed or secret door into the office.

Ballroom (S,E & W) a magnificent large room spanning the entire depth of the south side of the house with twin matching marble chimneypieces, decorative ceiling cornice and roses, two large matching bow windows, double French doors to south garden, fitted bookcase and polished timber flooring.

Parlour / Study (E) with a carved timber chimneypiece, fitted recessed bookcase, ceiling cornice, double French doors to south garden via a small sunroom.

Dining Room (E) with a Oak panelled timber ceiling, marble chimneypiece with solid fuel stove insert, large bow window with seating.

Kitchen (E) with chequered clay tile floor, range of fitted timber units with integrated Whirlpool eye-level electric oven and separate hop with Belling extractor fan, spot lighting and a Efel oil fired stove set within a brick surround. Connecting door into the adjoining pantry.

Pantry (E) with a range of fitted cupboards, Whirlpool fridge freezer, stainless steel sink with drainer, chequered clay-tiled floor. Door into back hall.

Back Hall (W) with chequered clay tiled floor, interconnecting door into North Wing and door to outside courtyard.

First Floor

Bedroom 1 (W) with ceiling cornice, marble fireplace with solid fuel stove insert, fitted recessed bookcase, fitted cupboard, polished timber floor and interconnecting door into Bedroom 2

Bedroom 2 (W) with ceiling cornice, cast iron fireplace with tiled insert, polished timber floor and interconnecting door into Bedroom 3

Bedroom 3 (S & W) with ceiling cornice, large bow window overlooking south garden, marble fireplace with tiled insert, fitted recessed bookcase, polished timber floor.

Bedroom 4 (S) with ceiling cornice, fitted timber shelving, polished timber floor and interconnecting door into Bedroom 5

Bedroom 5 (S & E) with ceiling cornice, large bow window overlooking south garden, marble chimney fireplace with tiled insert, two fitted cupboards, polished timber floor.

Bedroom 6 (E) with ceiling cornice, cast iron fireplace with tiled insert, polished timber floor.

Bedroom 7 (E) with ceiling cornice, marble fireplace with tiled insert, polished timber floor.

Bathroom (N) with cast iron roll-top bath, pedestal whb and WC with raised cistern

Bedroom 8 (W) with ceiling cornice, cast iron fireplace and polished timber floor

Shower Room (W) with cabinet electric shower, pedestal whb and WC. Separate walk-in hot press with hot water cylinders, fitted shelving and cast iron fireplace.

Bedroom 9 (E) with cast iron fireplace Bathroom (E) with cast iron fireplace

North Wing

Accessed either internally from the ground and first floor or externally from the courtyard the wing comprises some offers useful additional accommodation and could easily be used separate to the main house. The accommodation currently comprises:

Hall (W) with timber staircase to first floor and interconnecting door to main house at ground level and off the first floor landing

Kitchen (N, E & W) formerly the original kitchen with chequered clay tiled floor, fitted timber cupboards and Belfast sink

Pantry (E) with chequered tiled floor

First Floor

Living Room (W) with cast iron fireplace, polished timber floor and folding double doors into adjoining Bedroom A

Bedroom A (N) with polished timber floor

Bedroom B (E) with cast iron fireplace, Velux roof light and polished timber floor

Bedroom C (E) with cast iron fireplace and fitted cupboard

Basement / Cellar There is a cellar under a portion of the house with a number of stores / rooms.

Gardens

The grounds are quite delightful with formal gardens complete with box hedging, a water feature and manicured lawns framing the gravelled forecourt to the front while the rest of the gardens are less formal and benefit from being interspersed with lots of mature trees, some being noted specimens and including Yews, Walnut, Oaks, Lawson Cypress, Scots Pine, Limes and Chestnuts. Useful outbuildings include a workshop and a large garden store, which could be easily converted into stables if necessary. Indeed, some of the grounds could easily be railed off to provide grazing for a horse or pony.