This article is from page 10 of the 2011-08-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
THE Clare home which was once owned by Lady Gregory and where WB Yeats was a regular visitor has been put up for sale.
The 18th-century Mount Vernon is situated close to the dramatic shoreline of the Atlantic Coast, near New Quay, and overlooks the cliffs of Aughinish. It was once the summer home of art collector Hugh Lane and later passed to Lady Augusta Gregory of Coole Park.
The house was originally built for Sir William Peerse of Roxboro, a friend of George Washington and a soldier who served in the US War of Independence.
The three tall cyprus trees in the garden of the house are believed to have been a gift from George Washington and the house itself was named after Washington’s residence in Virginia.
After the property passed to Lady Gregory, it saw as guests many of the artists and writers who were the force behind the Celtic revival. WB Yeats, AE (George Russell) Synge, Sean O’Casey and George Bernard Shaw all stayed and worked at Mount Vernon after it passed from Hugh Lane to his aunt, Lady Gregory.
The house boasts fireplaces designed and painted by pre-Raphelite painter Augustus John, as well as other period items.
The reception rooms feature painted panels from Sir William Gregory’s time as Governer of Ceylon.
The five-bed property is on sale, along with walled gardens and six acres of land.
There are also separate servant or guest quarters.
However, for those interested in buying a slice of history, the details of the asking price have not been disclosed, with prospective buyers advised to contact the auctioneers, Premier Property Ireland, to know more.