February saw Laois Councillors approve the sale of Victorian mansion, Millbrook House.
Two billionaire brothers have purchased a mansion that was in the ownership of Laois County Council.
The sale of Millbrook House, on the former De Vesci Estate in Abbeyleix, was approved by Councillors for €400,000.
The Victorian building, located on 1.7 hectares, will be sold to Comhlacht na Feirme Ltd.
At Monday’s monthly meeting, Councillors confirmed that this company is backed by Billionaire brothers John and Patrick Collison.
The pair, who made their fortune through payments company Stripe, have a significant interest in Abbeyleix.
Last June, John bought the 1,050-acre Abbey Leix Estate – located 1km outside Abbeyleix – for €20 million.
Millbrook House is located next door to the estate and is a huge five-bay two-storey house that was built in 1885 and has not been lived in for many years.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Senior Planner Angela McEvoy explained how it would take three years to restore the house.
Cllr John Joe Fennelly proposed the sale and this was seconded by Cllr James Kelly.
Cllr Fennelly said: “This is very positive news for the Abbeyleix and I want to thank the CEO for his work on this development.
“I think there were around 170 submissions of interest and we really appreciate the work that has been done.”
Cllr John King also welcomed the news and estimated that about €2 million will be spent doing the place up.
He said: “I thank the council for having the vision to do the CPO before it was gone into complete dereliction and gone for all time.
“You could be talking the bones of €2 million. This house is very important for us and for the people who left Laois.”
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