Middleton park house sold for 1m

Middleton Park House in Castletown Geoghan has been purchased by a UK based private equity firm for around €1m.

According to a spokesperson for the popular wedding venue, the new owners intend to invest in the premises over the coming years with the existing management and all staff being retained.

A press release issued by Savills, who brought the property to market in late June, stated that Middleton Park ‘attracted a high number of enquiries due to its unique nature and stunning original features’. A spokesman for Savills revealed to the Westmeath Examiner that the property, which had a guide price of €950,00, sold for in “the region of €1m”.

One of Westmeath’s most impressive ‘big houses’, Middleton Park is the former seat of the Boyd-Rochforts. Set in 26 acres of garden and woodland and with 16 en-suite bedrooms, the property hosted around 80 weddings last year.
The main banqueting hall caters for up to 200 people; in addition guests can enjoy use of the four large reception rooms, bar and a games room.

Middleton Park’s new owners have purchased a building with a rich past. Designed by renowned architect George Papworth and built in the 1820s, it was the home of the Boyd-Rochfort family for over 130 years. One of its former inhabitants, George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort, won a Victoria Cross for bravery fighting for the British army in World War I, while his brother Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort was the British royal family’s horse trainer for almost half a century.

In the mid 80s, the property became international news when its owner, professional gambler Barney Curley, put it up as a prize in a raffle. Television crews from BBC and ITV descended on Castletown-Geoghegan for the raffle, which was carried out by legendary sports broadcaster Micheál O’Hehir and reportedly made Curley over £1m.