Excitement as the opportunity to own such a treasure with 211 acres of rolling green pastures is offered to few. Such an opportunity may indeed not present itself again for many decades. The sale of course evokes memories of hunting, dawn meets, crisp St. Stephens's days, elegant parties and most of all pictures of the indomitable owners of Bermingham House, the late Lady Cusack Smith and the current owner her daughter Oonagh Mary Hyland.

Bermingham House, situated just two miles from Tuam, is a classical Georgian country house, which has been sensitively modernised but has remained absolutely faithful to its Georgian heritage. The house was built in 1730 by John de Bermingham Earl of Louth and 15th Baron of Athenry. In the 19th century the estate passed to the Dennis family. Legend says that the house was won by a member of the Dennis family in a bet. John Dennis first master and huntsman founded the County Galway hunt in 1829. When John Dennis died the estate passed to the family of his sister whose descendant Oonagh Mary Hyland now presides over this superb estate.

An avenue of old beech trees leads to the house, the plain square facade of which is typically Georgian. The house is surrounded by an esker, mature trees and rolling countryside over which the sound of the hunting horn will forever echo.

For all its rich history this house is neither intimidating nor antiquated. It offers real comfort in its grand reception rooms and seven ensuite bedrooms, all of which illustrate the Georgian architects commitment to harmony and symmetry and to airiness, space and light. This is a home with a character that money cannot buy, a class that cannot be replicated and a history that is unique.

The front hall introduces the house in fine period style, the floors are marble and the fine ceiling is simply stunning. The hall offers a first glimpse at the pedimented door cases and elegant staircase, which runs from the main hall past a huge window to the second floor.

To the right of the hall there are two grand reception rooms. The drawing room to the front has three large windows, a beautiful Adams fireplace and is currently home to a grand piano reputed to have been played by Mozart himself. The dining room, with doors from both the hall and the drawing room, is another fine example of the grandeur and beauty created by the exceptional artists and craftsmen of a bygone era. The room is designed for fine dining and is currently home to fantastic portraits of its former owners including a large portrait of John Dennis, first master of the Co. Galway hunt and a smaller but stunningly beautiful one of Lady Molly Cusack Smith. To the left of the front door, the smoking room is cosy with two huge windows and this time the fireplace has a mahogany surround and a brass inset.

The breakfast room, which lies between the smoking room and the kitchen, is the only room in the house which awaits the hand of restoration - currently used as a pantry / boot room. It retains its superb ornate cornices and boasts two picture windows overlooking the countryside beyond.

The kitchen, to the rear of the house, in a way the hub of the house, is big and bright with a huge AGA cooker, whose ovens are ready to cook a hearty breakfast to warm the huntsman as he jumps the stone walls of Co Galway. To the back of the kitchen is a good sized utility. The rear hallway leads to a self-contained apartment, to the rear garden and courtyard. It also has a door that leads to the cellar and basement area.

The carpeted Staircase has original stair rods and leads through to a simply stunning large upstairs landing, with access to seven bedrooms. There are no narrow corridors or dark hall ways here, just superb Georgian design, big bright open bedrooms, six of which are ensuite. All bedrooms are elegant, some have cast iron fireplaces others marble, one bedroom has a small sitting room attached; all have suburb views over the surrounding gardens. All bedrooms are big enough to house enormous beds and lots of comfortable and beautiful furniture. These are places to relax, to write, to dream, and to connect with the past while enjoying the present.

The guest apartment which adjoins the house has a comfortable sitting room, a small kitchen and upstairs a bedroom and bathroom.

The courtyard and other yards offer stabling for twenty-one horses plus a full complement of sheds, a cattle crush etc. The original walled garden may have lost some of its former colour but retains its original charm and awaits your green-fingered expertise.

Sometimes the pen refuses to capture the magic of a house. A magic, which can only be appreciated by inspection. Bermingham House is a treat for every one of the senses. In practical terms it is a suburb investment, a Georgian masterpiece with pedimented doors, Adams fireplaces, original maple floors, original windows with working shutters, stunning ceiling features and cornices and a new roof. Furthermore, Bermingham House occupies a unique and integral part of the socio-economic, cultural, social history and fabric of County Galway - a place you now have the opportunity to enhance and enjoy.

Entrance Hall 5.3m x 4.9m (17'5 x 16'1 )

Original ornate ceiling domed with pedimented doorways

Kitchen 5.73m x 4.81m (18'10 x 15'9 )

Two large windows. Solid fuel AGA Cooker comprising of 4 ovens

Utility Room 1.21m x 1.97m(4'0 x 6'6 )

Back Entrance Hall 5.52m x 1.23m (18'1 x 4'0 )

Breakfast Room 6.4m x 7m (21'0 x 24'3 )

Two windows Ornate ceiling and cornices

Rear Hall 9.16m x 4.60m (30'1 x 15'1 )

Gracious staircase. Big picture window.

Smoking Room 4.08m x 6.88m (13'5 x 22'7 )

Two large windows. Fireplace with mahogany surround and brass inset.

Dining Room 7.20m x 6.80m (23'7 x 22'4 )

Entrance through doors from hall and drawing room.

Original Adams fireplace. Home to original family portraits. Two large windows overlooking enclosed garden. Original wide pine floor boards

Drawing Room 6.80m x 8.40m (22'4 x 27'7 )

Adams fireplace. Maple floor. Chandalier and grand piano.

Rear Hall 1.35m x 3.99m (4'5 x 13'1 )

Access to basement

Upstairs Landing 4.66m x 7.65m (15'3 x 25'1 )

Centre piece. Original wide pine floor boards

Bathroom 3.50m x 2.40m (11'6 x 7'10 )

Bath, toilet, WHB and shower

Bedroom One 5.52m x 5.16m (18'1 x 16'11 )

Two large windows.

Ensuite Bathroom 1.41m x 5.16m (4'8 X 16'11)

Bath, toilet and WHB

Bedroom Two 3.70m x 5.16m (12'2 x 16'11 )

Ensuite Bathroom 1.33m X 5.16m (4'4 X 16'11)

Bath, toilet and WHB

Bedroom Three 6.83m x 4.45m (22'5 x 14'7 )

Beautiful green marble fireplace. Two Windows. Centrepiece.

Ensuite Bathroom 1.55m X 4.45m (5'1 X 14'2)

Bath, toilet and WHB

Bedroom Four 4.67m x 4.73m (15'4 x 15'6 )

Cast iron original fireplace.

Ensuite Bathroom

Shower, toilet and WHB

Bedroom Five 6.85m x 4.52m (22'6 x 14'10 )

Black wrought iron fireplace. Two windows

Ensuite Bathroom 2.2m X 4.52M (7'3 X 14'10)

Bath, toilet and WHB

Bedroom Six 4.13m x 6.80m (13'7 x 22'4 )

Open cast iron fireplace. One window.

Ensuite Bathroom 2.25m x 2.35m (7'5 X 7'9)

Bath, toilet and WHB

Upstairs Sitting Room 3.85m x 4.53m (12'8 x 14'10 )

Cast iron fireplace

Bedroom Seven 3.85m x 4.53m (12'8 x 14'10 )

APARTMENT ADJOINING HOUSE

Separate hot water system

Entrance Hall 1.58m x 1.40m (15' x 4'7 )

Sitting Room 3.41m x 3.68m (11'2 X 12'1)

Open fire

Kitchenette 1.19m x 2.59m (3'11 X 8'6)

Bedroom One 4.61m x 5.10m (15'1 X 16'9)

Bathroom

Bath, WHB and Toilet

Separate Apartment in Courtyard: Entrance Hall, kitchen, living room, three bedrooms