A planning application for the former Dublin residence of late ex-taoiseach Charles Haughey and his family - the Abbeville estate - has revealed the derelict state of some buildings within one of Ireland's most famous residences.
Japanese hotel chain Toyoko Inn paid €5.5 million for the Kinsealy house in 2013, along with its adjacent outbuildings and 250 acres of land, but no works have commenced and the new owners had not sought permission to revitalise the ailing property until recently.
A submission made to Fingal County Council on May 1st may signal the opening salvo of a comprehensive series of developments across the site, thought to include guesthouses and tourist amenities in line with specifications set out for the use of Abbeville in the Fingal Development Plan.
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The first phase of refurbishment will not affect the main house itself, but focus on dilapidated and, in some cases, hazardous adjoining premises including the stable yard, dairy and barn.
Derelict buildings
As part of the application, planning firm Hughes attached pictures of the derelict buildings which showed fallen plaster, damaged ceilings and broken staircases at the estate.
A survey of the site conducted in March concludes that “little seems to have been done in the way of maintenance for some time”, leading to an “ongoing deterioration of the fabric of outbuildings”.
Formerly home to Mr Haughey’s enviable equine collection, the stable yard buildings are now in a state of disrepair, with damaged exterior renders, dislodged slates, missing gutters and broken windows said to be in “very poor condition”.
Parts of the property retain many signature features associated with celebrated 18th century architect James Gandon, who designed Abbeville.
Fungal attack
But decay has beset parts of the estate, with water-stained walls and ceilings and rotten wall plates caused by fungal attack now evident in the dairy building located between the main house and the stables.
Elegant decorative cornices dangle from the walls in places, and “damaged and unsafe” floorboards restrict movement in the roof of the unused stable yard building.
A destitute-looking barn hidden behind the treeline from the main entrance remains fenced off due to the dangerous condition of its roof, while fallen leaves and dirt litter the floors in other areas.
According to the application, Toyoko Inn’s owners want to do “minor internal and external repairs which would not materially affect the character of the buildings”, and will look to maintain original features where possible, as well as replacing damaged fixtures with replicas of the originals.
It was added that preparation of an overall “masterplan” for the demesne are “at an advanced stage”, with pre-planning discussions set to take place over coming months.
Protected structure
Built in the 1790s in accordance with designs set forth by Gandon, who also worked on the Four Courts, Kings Inn, an extension to the House of Lords and Dublin’s Carlisle Bridge, Abbeville remains a protected structure.
It was home to the Haughey family for almost four decades, and all of the late taoiseach’s children currently own houses on the outskirts of the estate, although eldest son Ciarán recently put his multi-million euro mansion up for sale.
Sold by the family in 2003 to cover legal debts, the property and its lands were originally bought by Manor Park Homes for €45 million.
The company’s owners had intended to turn the estate into a hotel, spa and golf course, but financial difficulties meant such works were never carried out, and the site was eventually sold again.
Toyoko Inn is a family-owned chain which holds about 250 hotels, most of which are in Japan.
It has an address listed in Dublin, and plans to expand into Europe with outlets set to open in Frankfurt and Marseille in future.
