Sheane House & The Mews
Sheane House is situated on the N80 road from Portlaoise into Mountmellick town about 300 yards past the Statoil petrol filling station, on the left as you approach the town. Detailed directions and map are supplied when you book.
Sheane
House is a listed Georgian period private residence built circa 1830 by the
Sheane family. They were landlords and were involved in many industries in
Mountmellick. In the 19th century when Mountmellick was known as the Manchester
of Ireland because of the vast amount of industry in the town and surrounding
areas. In fact Samuel Sheane laid the foundation stone of the first sugar
beet factory in the United Kingdom which was built in Mountmellick in 1851.
The event was reported in "The Chronicle" newspaper on the 14th
of January 1952.
The
Shane family were also involved in the woollen industry and owned a number
of mills in Mountmellick. Sheane House is one of a pair built by the two Sheane
brothers with purpose built schoolrooms over the stables with access from
the main house. The schoolrooms were for the exclusive education of the Shane
family.
Sheane House is a home of traditional character and has had only five owners since being built and has retained the elegance of a Georgian period house. Entrance to the first floor with dining room, reception room with conservatory overlooking the walled garden. Also on this floor is the kitchen and bathroom with shower.
Upstairs
are three large bedrooms and a further bathroom with shower. The bedrooms
have wash basins with shaver points. The dining room and reception room each
have the original marble fireplaces allowing open turf and log fires. The
kitchen is fully equipped and includes a dishwasher, microwave, deep freezer,
refrigerator, electric fan cooker and a solid fuel cooker. Oil fired central
heating throughout.
Now
available for self-catering is The Mews (originally the schoolrooms). The
Mews has a separate entrance and comprises of two large double bedrooms, a
very large sitting room with solid log or turf room heater, bathroom with
shower and fully equipped kitchen includes deep freezer, refrigerator, microwave,
electric cooker and oil fired Hamco cooker which also heats the radiators
in each room.
The Mews can accommodate four adults and four children quite comfortably. There is also access to the Mews from the main house if required by larger parties.
There
is a hard tennis court directly next door, a squash court in town and river
fishing only 200 yards away. There are further well stocked rivers within
a short drive, only three miles away are the Slieve Blooms Mountains where
there are many nature trails and walking areas alongside mountain rivers and
forestry it is ideal for cycling and trekking.
There
are an abundance of golf clubs with at least five courses only a short drive
away, the nearest 18 hole course is only four miles away. A new international
golf course designed by Seve Ballastoros is only five miles away.
The nearest racecourses are the Curragh, Killbeggan, Gowran Park, Nass and Tipperary.
There
are heritage sites and historic homes to visit such as Emo Court Gardens,
Ballyfin House and Lakes, Ballinakill House, Ballaghmore Castle, Roundwood
House and Heywood Gardens, Timahoe Round Tower, Killeshin Romanesque Doorway,
Aghaboe Abbey, Rock of Dunamaise,
Abbeyleix Heritage House, Fishing and hunting Museum at Attemagh.
There are a variety of entertainments, modern and traditional music in the local pubs and multiplex cinemas are ten minutes drive away.
There is a tourist information centre 200 yards away with excellent restaurant facilities (Visitors Centre, Irishtown, Mountmellick).
Churches
in the town include Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian,
there is also a Masonic Lodge.
The garden is approximately one acre in area with original stone walls on
all sides making it private. Where are 
mature
Yew, Maple, Eucalyptus trees together with apples, pears, plums, etc, lawns,
vegetable garden, patio and barbecue area, tree house and children's swings
and slides.
Rates
Self-catering from €380 - €445per week (rates correct as at December 2001).
Contact Details
Contact: Marylin or Tony Lynch
Ireland: 00 353 (0) 502 24919
England: 00 44 (0) 1926 855 410
