Kilcooley Abbey, near Gortnahoe in Tipperary is part of the Kilcooley Estate. One of the most striking features of the estate is tthe pyramid shaped mausoleum of the Barker family:
This pyramid shaped mausoleum is a very significant monument and measures 12ft by 12ft at its base. We understand it contains 7 coffins of the Barker family – original owners of the Kilcooley Abbey Estate . It was sealed up some years ago, as evidenced in photo, after it was vandalised.
There are other pyramids in Ireland – this page has a comprehensive list (including the Met Eireann Office in Dublin). David Winpenny’s “Up To A Point” claims to be the only book on British and Irish pyramids. There is lots of information on the estate at David Hicks’ blog here. As well as the Village Magazine article linked to above, the conclusion of Hicks’ post gives a grim view of how Ireland treats its heritage:
When the house appeared on the market in 2003 it had been in the same family since 1770. Locals had hoped that the estate would be purchased by the State but they were to be disappointed. The house was purchased in 2008 but was back on the market again in 2011 with an asking price of €2.75 million which included the eighteenth century mansion, five staff houses, outbuildings 313 acres together with 950 acres on lease to Coilte. Over the years a number of items from Kilcooley have appeared at auction in England and Ireland. In September 2013 a number of portraits from the collection that Sir William, the fourth Baronet had started at Kilcooley Abbey appeared for auction in Christies in London. Today the house and its grounds have become neglected and down at heel with mobile towers of security cameras providing protection. It was recently revealed that Kilcooley has been sold, so one hopes that this great house will now be restored and saved. However as of October 2015, Kilcooley is back on the market once more with the estate lands inflated to 1,200 acres through purchases of the current owner. Despite the expense incurred on the estate lands, the house and stable yard remain in a perilous state of decay. The Kilcooley estate now has a price tag of €8 million.
Séamus Sweeney 