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Nuns' retreat under offer at
€825,000
25.04.12
by Linda McGrory
IN a hellish property market, it's a blessing of a
return. An exclusive Georgian property bought for an
order of nuns for £250 is now “under offer” at a
guide price of €825,000.
Loreto House, Linsfort, Buncrana, is being sold by
the cash-strapped Loreto order of nuns because they
can't afford to keep it and have nobody left to run
it. The average age of the order is 74. The stunning
property on the shores of Lough Swilly near Buncrana
was bought for a cash sum of £250 from the Irish
Land Commission in 1928.
The trustees who purchased it on behalf of the
sisters included the then Bishop of Derry, Bernard
O'Kane and parish priest of Buncrana, Fr William
Doherty.
It immediately underwent improvements and was used
as a holiday home for one month each summer by the
Loreto nuns of Omagh, Co Tyrone. |
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Blessing of a return: Loreto House,
Linsfort, Buncrana, bought for £250 in 1928, now
under offer at €825,000. |
The property was
reinvented 18 years ago as a peace and
reconciliation centre providing retreats for lay and
religious groups. It was also a venue for
counselling and personal development courses for
youth groups and people who lost their jobs when
major local employers such as Fruit of the Loom
closed. The property recently went on the market
through Schiller and Schiller, Co Sligo. Bjorn
Schiller said the property was currently "under
offer".
"We have had two or three serious offers and various
interested parties but we have one now who is
probably going to take it," he said.
The property comprises nine bedrooms, six of which
are en-suite, sitting room, library, large
conservatory, dining room, large country kitchen,
two bathrooms, laundry room and oratory.
It has a spacious courtyard surrounded by natural
stone outbuildings, a stable block, large car park
and a boathouse. It is set in 6.9 acres, with a
walled garden, small orchard, private beach access,
an outdoor labyrinth and peace garden. "At low tide,
it is possible to walk all the way to Buncrana," say
the selling agents, who pitch it as an ideal
private, spiritual or commercial buy. |
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