Smarmore Castle, Ardee, Co. Louth

Smarmore is a fine period house steeped in history and charm, incorporating the Tower, which dates back to circa 1320. The rooms are bright and spacious and are all presented in excellent condition throughout having been very well maintained over the years. The south facing entrance hall is a large bright welcoming room with a fine staircase, which leads to the Elegant Blue Drawing room upstairs. The oldest part, the Tower, is located along the east wing and leads towards the large kitchen and dining area (currently let out as a restaurant)
The main house and castle have been run as an up market Guest House over the past number of years, the castle rooms being very popular with guests.
Outside there are several income possibilities as there are lots of useful stone outbuildings in the adjoining courtyard. These buildings, until early in 2011, were mainly used in conjunction with a Leisure club, which incorporated the 22m x 7m indoor heated swimming pool, steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi and children’s pool. It also included the Gym, toilets and changing rooms, all in good condition. There are also stables and wonderful and peaceful pleasure grounds with fine specimen trees and wooded pathways.
Accommodation: The House and Castle

Entrance Hall 4.25 x 6.67m, Stone flagged floor decorative ceiling rose and cornice
Breakfast room 4.42 x9.39m, parquet floor and black marble Mantlepiece
Dining Room 7.64 x 4.85m, with brick walls, parquet floor and fireplace
Sitting room 5.08 x 5.17m, timber floor, Jotul solid fuel stove and doors to garden and Kitchen
Kitchen 2.15 x 5.25m, tiled floor, fitted cupboards, work top area, cooker, hob and sink unit
Utility room 2.37 x2.30m, with sink unit
Linen cupboard and door to small wine cellar

Upstairs from entrance hall

Main Drawing room – Blue room 8.23 x 5.10m.
The Blue room is located on the first floor of the castle in the section that was built in the mid eighteenth century. This room is a haven for relaxation. It has a high ornate ceiling and is decorated with comfortable period furniture, white marble fireplace and cast iron grate
Guest Cloakroom with WC and washbasin
Office 5.16 x 5.23m Timber framed bookshelves and gray marble fireplace and tiled grate
Door through to small room 3.37 x 2.21m

Upstairs landing 4.30 x4.30m

Master bedroom 4.64 x 4.40m with fireplace, dressing room 1.83 x 2.04m and
Ensuite bathroom 4.48 x 2.38m with bath, shower, WC and wash basin

The Tower/ Castle

Reception room 6.45 x 3.85m a large stone and brick room with open fireplace stone floor and raised window seat- step up into small tower/ turret room about 1.95m in diameter

Guest Rooms

Knights Room 5.23 x 4.11m
The Knight's room is located on the first floor of the tower. This is the oldest part of the building dating back to 1320. This room is decorated in a distinctive medieval style and features a large brass bed. There is a private sitting area in the turret just off the bedroom. Facilities in the room include a telephone, television, and en-suite shower room, 3.62 x 2.21m

Stairs up to

Viscount’s Room 4.85 x 4.37m
The Viscount's room is located in the castle tower, which dates back to 1320. This room has a very distinctive castle style. Its walls are over six feet thick and it has a very high ceiling. The room also has a large four-poster bed and there is a private sitting area in the castle turret just off the bedroom. Facilities in the room include a telephone, television, and en-suite shower room, 2.8x2.8m

1st floor
Corridor leads to

Counts family Suite 3.65 x 5.12m and room 2, 3.41 x 3.48m
The Count's Room is one of the most unusual in the castle. It consists of two areas and is very popular with families staying in the castle. One part of the room can accommodate a double bed (or two singles) while the other can accommodate up to two single beds in comfort. Both parts are linked and share the same shower room. 3.42 x 1.56m each part of the room has a tall window overlooking the front lawn, a high ceiling and decorative fireplace.

Taaffe’s Room 5.49 x 5.14m
The Taaffe’s room is a large bedroom that maintains many of the features of a classic country house. Its name commemorates the Taaffe family who lived in Smarmore Castle for nearly 700 years. Its most striking features include the tall windows with authentic shutters, high ceiling and traditional fireplace. The room is large enough to accommodate either a double bed and single bed or three single beds in comfort with en-suite bathroom 3.6 x 1.74m.

2nd Floor
Sheriff’s room 3.8 x 3.9m
A fine comfortable and relaxing room with Ensuite shower room 3.18 x 1.73m


Earl’s room 6.29 x 5.24m
The Earl's room is the largest in the castle. It is located on the second floor of the part of the castle that was built in 1740. The room is an unusual shape with the ceiling following the contours of the roof. This room can accommodate a double bed and single bed (or three singles) in comfort. It commands views of the front lawn on one side and the courtyard on the other. En-suite bathroom 2.69 x 1.72m.

Basement
Laid out in 6 room divisions and including a WC and access to the outside kitchen courtyard and a service tunnel leading to the stable yard.




The leisure Centre

Within the courtyard area is the Leisure Centre, which was run commercially until the spring of 2011. It comprises a reception area, Gym, Swimming pool, Sauna, Steam room, Jacuzzi and ladies and gents changing rooms as follows

Large reception area 9.53 x 5.17m,
Gym with timber floor 20 x 5.25m
Ladies changing rooms 4.95 x 6.15m
Showers and toilets 5.06 x 5.48m
Gents changing rooms 4.89 x 10.50m including toilets and showers
Swimming Pool complex 32.6 x 12.8m
Swimming Pool 22 x 7m (1.2 to 1.45m deep) including children’s pool (0.45m deep) and access to sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi
Plant room, staff room and boiler room

Courtyard with fine range of lofted stores and archway leading to sheds or stables
3 rooms could be used for professional use e.g.; home office or similar
In the outer yard are 6 Stables and a tack room together with the stone pump house

At the top end of the courtyard beside the main house is an area currently let out as an Italian restaurant on a short lease.
It comprises
Food store 5.16 x 3.6m
Kitchen, all stainless steel, 8.22 x 5.18m fully equipped with tiled floor
Dining room 12.75 x 5.30m
Ladies and Gents toilets

Old coffee shop / gym / function room / self-contained with plumbing for kitchenette and with shower and toilet. This could be used in conjunction with either the leisure centre or the restaurant.

Take the N2 North from Dublin towards Derry. Pass through Villages of Slane and Collon. From Collon proceed for 6.8k and take easy left (not sharp left) and continue for 2km to Ballapousta church. Turn left and Smarmore is on right after 0.5km
From Ardee town proceed south towards Dublin on the N2 for 4.5km (just past the Hunterstown Inn pub or left). Take next right turn and proceed 2km to Ballapousta Church as above.

By appointment with Savills Country division - Pat O'Hagan - (01) 6634358 or 087 256 3884 or email: pat.ohagan@savills.ie