Horsing around in Summerhill

Summerhill is at the heart of Meath horse and hunting country, and The Moy is located at the centre of that way of life in Summerhill. The village has numerous equestrian stories of one type or another, such as the former British prime minister, the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, who declared that just because he was born in a stable didn"t make him a horse. He was reputed to have been born in the vicinity. Summerhill was also a favoured hunting ground of Elizabeth, the great empress of Austria, who visited the area regularly to ride out with local packs. Even today, the area has a great horseracing tradition, with point to point races taking place annually at Fowlers of Rahinstown, a family of which trainer Jessica Harrington is a member. Summerhill is also the native place of Gordon Elliot, trainer of last year"s Aintree Grand National, Silver Birch, and his brother, jockey Joey. A newly built four-bed residence at The Moy in Summerhill on two acres is for sale with J S Fox Auctioneers of Dunboyne, complete with stables and railed paddock, ideally fitting in to the traditions of the area, with an asking price of €1.2 million. A mile outside Summerhill, the home has a feature front window which takes in both the ground and first floor, at the stairway. Another eye-catching feature of the home is the fitted Christoff kitchen. Accommodation includes a lounge with fireplace, study, utility room, four spacious bedrooms - all with en suites, a main and secondary bathroom, as well as a large sun room with patio doors. The ground floor study also includes patio doors and an adjacent bathroom. Outside, on two acres, are landscaped gardens, a stable block with four boxes and a railed paddock. The home is described by auctioneer Joe Fox as a magnificent large family residence, built to an exceptionally high specification. It extends to circa 3,200 square feet, and its gracious proportions and stylishly presented interior create a family home wonderful for entertaining. The landscaped fully mature gardens surrounding the house have an abundance of shrubs and plants, and extensive timber decking. The Moy is convenient to all local amenities, including schools, shops and recreational facilities, and is one mile from Summerhill village, six from Trim, nine from Maynooth and only 20 miles from Dublin city centre. Viewing is by appointment and for more information, Joe Fox can be contacted on (01) 825 1054.