British actor Jeremy Irons bought the historic Kilcoe Castle in County Cork, Ireland, in 1998 with his wife, actress Sinéad Cusack, and spent years restoring the medieval property. The castle was later joined by another acquisition: a small island nearby, with a cottage. In January 2022, Irons revealed the purchase during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, explaining that the island was around 100 metres from the castle. He also said he plans to keep Kerry ponies and Galloway cattle there, adding that he spends more time farming than acting.
How did Jeremy Irons restore Kilcoe Castle
Irons bought Kilcoe Castle in 1998 with Cusack. Located in south County Cork, the medieval structure became the focus of an extensive restoration project. According to Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland’s national public service media broadcaster, the castle was refurbished over five years, while the actor worked on the property.The restoration involved rebuilding the castle’s castellations, the defensive features along the top of its walls. Irons explained in a television interview that the work was carefully planned, with models prepared before construction began. However, once the castellations were completed, he realised that the finished structure was smaller than he had intended.
How Jeremy Irons corrected a mistake during Castle’s restoration
Irons recounted how he decided to inspect the newly built castellations himself after noticing the problem. One of his friends suggested that he speak directly to the builders rather than leaving the matter to someone else. The actor then climbed 13 floors of scaffolding to reach the top of the castle.In an interview with Raidió Teilifís Éireann, describing the conversation with the workers, Irons said: “This is wonderful, guys, this is wonderful what you’ve built, but actually you got to take it down; we’ve got to make it bigger. It’s not strong enough.” RTÉ reported that the exchange ended with one of the builders remarking on the difficulties of working with actors, saying, “The trouble with working with bloody actors is the bloody rehearsals.”
Why did Jeremy Irons buy a tiny island near Kilcoe Castle
In his January 2022 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Irons disclosed that he had acquired a small island close to Kilcoe Castle. He described its proximity to the castle by explaining that it was approximately 100 metres away and that he could almost swim between the two properties. The island also has a small cottage, according to the actor’s description during the interview. He commented on the additional property, which he said he intended to use for agricultural purposes. His remarks followed the television appearance.Irons said he intended to rear Kerry ponies and Galloway cattle on the island. Explaining the purpose of keeping the animals there, he said they would help “eat it down”, referring to managing the vegetation through grazing.Speaking about his activities, Irons added: “I’m farming a little bit more than I’m acting.” His remarks indicated that farming had become a significant part of his routine alongside his work in film and television.
Why Irons supports reopening Dublin’s historic Iveagh Markets
Alongside Kilcoe Castle and the island near it, Irons owns a house in the Liberties area of Dublin. RTÉ reported that he had spoken in November 2021 about his support for a local campaign seeking to reopen the long-abandoned Iveagh Markets.The campaign aims to bring the historic market building back into use as a resource for the surrounding community. Irons expressed support for the initiative during an interview with RTÉ Entertainment conducted while he was promoting House of Gucci. The film featured Irons as Rodolfo Gucci, while he also appeared in Munich: The Edge of War as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. His time in Ireland and his comments about farming reflect activities beyond his acting career. The purchase of Kilcoe Castle in 1998, its subsequent restoration and his later acquisition of a neighbouring island.
