Latest news with #AshdownParkHotel
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
'Exceptional' 233-acre Wexford farm guiding at €2.5m
The Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey is the place to be on Friday, September 19, when the auction of a landmark large Wexford holding will take place, with a simultaneous online auction. The property going under the hammer is a 233-acre farm at Ballyrory, approximately 10km north of Gorey along the L6204 that links Gorey with Tinahely. The sale is being handled by Gorey-based auctioneer David Quinn of Quinn Properties. He says there has been plenty of activity already in the run-up to the auction date. 'A number of people have looked at it over last weekend,' says Mr Quinn. Some of the quality lands on the 233-acre farm for auction at Ballyrory, Gorey, Co Wexford. The presence of a derelict house on the property will serve to heighten interest in the farm, which is 4km from Hollyfort village and 7km from Tinahely. 'It is an exceptional farm,' he says, 'all in one block with extensive road frontage… set within picturesque parkland landscape with a large number of mature deciduous trees and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.' The farm will be offered in the following lots: Lot 1 consists of 77 acres, including the derelict house and a collection of outbuildings; Lot 2 includes 74.6 acres. (Guide price for Lots 1 and 2 is €12,000 to €14,000/acre); Lot 3 is 81.3 acres. (Guide price is €6,000 to €7,000/acre); Lot 4 is the entire holding. The outbuildings on the property constitute great potential for the right client. Aerial view of the house and outbuildings of the 233-acre farm for auction, Ballyrory, Gorey, Co Wexford. A stone outbuilding adjoins the farmhouse. There's a workshop, a modern cattle pen and crush, a slatted shed (with rubber mats and 12 pens with wide feeding passage), a five-span round-roof shed with lean-to slatted tank, and numerous derelict stone outbuildings. 'The lands are level in nature,' Mr Quinn says. 'They're of mixed quality… 150 acres of excellent quality land with free-draining soil. "It's currently in grass but certainly suitable for tillage.' A further 80 acres of heavier land suitable for summer grazing is complimented by a 5.5-acre parcel of mature forestry. With an overall price guide of €2,500,000, this will be an auction to track for certain.
Irish Independent
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Meet the Wexford Rose whose dream of making it to Tralee is ‘better than winning the lotto'
The annual global Irish festival has been held in Tralee, Kerry since 1959 and sees contestants from inside and outside of the country, celebrate their Irish heritage with parades, live performances, and community events. The pinnacle of the festival is the selection of the International Rose of Tralee from the pool of 'Roses' who will then serve as an ambassador of the festival and Ireland for the next year. The Wexford selection took place in the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey, which was attended by last year's Wexford Rose representative Brona Hogan. Having put herself forward for the selection in a previous year, Clíona believes her success is a lesson in always striving for what you want even when you experience failure. "I went before, but this year was just about pure determination. I love the festival and we always go down to it and I think its this love that has kept me going. It's like that saying; 'if at first you don't succeed, try again.' There is no harm in trying!' An avid fan of the festival, the former Coláiste an Átha Kilmuckridge student has managed to acquire a number of autographs from various Rose of Tralee winners and contestants, describing them as a 'class to themselves.' And it is her earnest wish that not only can she inspire others like her predecessors, but that a different type of Irish woman could see themselves represented in her. Having grown up on a rural village in Boolavogue, she is heavily involved in the agricultural sector and is currently in her third year of college in SETU Wexford studying towards a Bachelors of Science in Sustainable Farm Management and Agribusiness while completing her six month work placement in John Cullen Grain, Ballymurn. "I hope to represent those with different backgrounds, you know I have an agricultural background and I work with a lot of men and I want to show that you can like 'girly girl' things while working this job. I want to represent these women – I am who I am.' She explained that this festival is the perfect stage for this, as the Rose of Tralee has a long history in putting more emphasis on the substance of the contestants rather than just focusing on appearances like other pageants. "I want to be a role model and show that you don't need to be picture perfect to take part in this. It is not a beauty pageant and they allow us to let our inner selves shine through.' An added benefit to the journey so far is that she has found friends in the group of Wexford contestants who showed nothing but support and unity throughout the judging period. "The girls are fabulous and I am so delighted that I got to meet such a lovely bunch of girls. It is so lovely to have a few friends who are women and I can call actually call them my friends. Everyone was so supportive and we hyped each other before going on stage and that is what you need in this community. I know that sometimes in this situation there can be jealousy, but there was none here,' she added. Staying true to their support, Clíona said she was inundated with texts and calls from the group in the days since she was announced as the winner, with a number of the former contestants already organising transport so they can watch her onstage at the Rose of Tralee. However, when thinking ahead to the big stage, she admitted that she still has not fully come to terms with her new role. "It still doesn't feel real, If you asked me whether I would like to win the lotto or be in the Rose of Tralee it would always be this. It still has not sunk in, but I have received my itinerary and there are a lot of dresses to be gotten. Luckily a lot of people have already reached out about sponsorship.' As part of the festival, each contestant needs sponsorship from a local business to cover the costs including clothes, travel and accommodation, with the business in turn receiving exposure. Clíona is grateful to receive sponsorship from Tommy Williamson Farm and Landscaping Supplies, who has given her priceless support beyond the funding. "It is truly amazing. You could say I am one of the family. He has already told me that no matter what, they will be with me the entire way. And that's half the reason to do this, the amount of support just does not feel real.' Having attended secondary school in Coláiste An Atha in Kilmuckridge, and spending her Friday nights at the Oulart GAA club while completing her six month work placement in John Cullen Grain in Ballymurn, messages of congratulations have arrived from areas all over the county. Her parents, siblings and grandparents are also over the moon for her, and with her grandparents getting older into their years, this accomplishment is being considered a big deal and milestone for the whole family. Overall, Clíona has big aspirations with what she can accomplish while in the spotlight. "I wouldn't say the Rose of Tralee is outdated or anything like that, but it definitely has more meaning for the older generation. I want to bring more attention to it and highlight Irish women in the agriculture industry. I think you grow up with a good work etiquette on a farm,' she explained. "A very 'foot to the yard' attitude,' she laughed. The 2025 Rose of Tralee festival is set to take place from Friday, August 15 to Tuesday, August 19.
