Plans for new 24-bed guest house on grounds of historic Kilkenny estate
A beautiful Kilkenny Georgian house that is set to be transformed into a spiritual retreat has unveiled plans to build a new guest house on its estate.
The Seraph Foundation, the owners of Kilfane House on the Kilfane Demense outside Thomastown, have applied to Kilkenny County Council to transform an old Caretakers House on the estate into 24 bedroom guest house.
The 18th Century mansion, which is situated on 79 acres of land, was put on the market for €1.85 million back in 2016.
The Seraph Foundation purchased the house in 2019 for just €395,000, according to the residential price property register. Last year the owners secured planning permission to change the use of the house, a protected structure, from a residential dwelling to a guest house and retreat.
Now the Foundation are looking to create more accommodation at the Caretaker’s House close to the main house.
This includes the development of a “two-storey guest accommodation building containing 24 en-suite bedrooms with central common areas and leisure facilities within rooftop pavilion”.
In transforming Kilfane Estate from a derelict house to a 32-room retreat, the foundation hopes to attract people from across the world with the promise of providing a sanctuary where people of all backgrounds and belief systems can come together to share, learn and develop spiritually.
A decision on the new accommodation block is expected by the local authority by the end of June.
