Fairytale of Glenart: Channel your own Disney princess fantasy in a romantic mini castellated gate house in an Irish beauty spot, the Vale of Avoca.
An enchanting miniature Disney Castle on the outskirts of Woodbridge has guarded the eastern entrance to Glenart Castle since it was constructed in 1888.
While the inspiration for Walt Disney’s logo was a 19th-century Bavarian fortress, Neuschwanstein Castle in the Swabian Alps, which stands above the narrow gorge that is part of the Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is an opportunity for you to rewrite that story.
Address: Gate Lodge, Glenart, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Y14 TW82
Asking price: €590,000
Agent: Premium Collection LWK
Situated in an equally picturesque part of the Garden of Ireland, the Vale of Avoca, just across the road from the Avoca River, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom detached residence a romantic setting that will have us all tapping into all our inner princesses.
Whether you want to channel Cinderella, the OG, Ariel, the underwater one from The Little Mermaid, or Elsa, from Frozen, who’s a bit frightened by her own powers, this is a place to harness it all.
The 18th-century Glenart Castle began life as a hunting lodge for the estate of the Earl of Carysfort, William Proby.
Set on 0.35 acres of private mature gardens, fully enclosed by stone and wrought iron railings, the approach takes you underneath the original castle archway.
The property’s entrance is via two large wrought iron gates with large stone pillars on either side.
The front door sets the tone.
The studded solid wood door has strap hinges and opens into a turreted circular entrance porch floored in black and white floor tiles laid out in a checkerboard pattern.
The property boasts many architectural features, such as leaded glass windows, four-panel doors, and timber beams in the bedrooms.
The living cum dining room is dual aspect with the seating set around a wood-burning stove, while the dining table overlooks the gardens.
There’s a guest w.c under the stairs.
Upstairs, there are two double bedrooms.
The principal is a dual-aspect space with sloping ceilings and dormer windows.
A wood-burning stove set into an exposed yellow brick chimney breast is a dreamy touch.
The house extends to 70 square metres and includes a cylindrical-shaped, mosaic-tiled shower, housed in the turret.
The grounds, which are set over several levels, include mature trees and box hedging.
The property last sold in October 2019 for €225,000 and previously in January 2015 for €220,000, according to the property price register.
Back in 1999, The Irish Times listed it as guiding IR €110,000 before its July auction date. It was listed as being derelict inside and set on one acre.
Agents Premium Collection LWK is seeking €559,000 for the stone-built property that is BER-exempt.
While surrounded by mature trees, the location is just a 2.5-kilometre drive to Arklow and a five-kilometre drive to Woodenbridge.
