Kilderry House: A Swashbuckling Adventure in Donegal
Price: €825,000
Agent: Rainey Estate Agents 074 9122211
Step into the wide-ranging adventures of General George Vaughan Hart of Muff and his loyal manservant Balloo. Their tale, with its politically incorrect charm, can be compared to the fictional partnerships of Lone Ranger and Tonto or Inspector Clouseau and Kato.
General George Vaughan Hart, a true swashbuckling adventurer of the Empire, resided in Kilderry House on the picturesque shores of Lough Foyle. Born in 1752, he hailed from a line of soldiers and fought on the British side during the American War of Independence. He later saw action in the West Indies and India, where he met his trusted manservant Balloo. Balloo tended to his master’s needs, slept near his bed, and fought alongside him in battles.
Returning to Donegal, General Vaughan Hart was elected MP for the county. Balloo faithfully followed him and spent the rest of his life at Kilderry House. He would sleep outside his master’s door until George’s passing in 1832. It was in Donegal that Balloo was baptized into the church and christened John Chichester, cementing their partnership.
Kilderry House, dating back to 1770, was built by General Hart and became home to him and Balloo. It remained in the Hart family until the 1940s and later became the residence of the family of Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal North East, Liam Cunningham. Catherine and Pat McDaid made Kilderry their home in 1983 and are now selling it for €825,000. This remarkable 10-bedroom mansion sits on 10.6 acres of land right on the waterfront.
General George Vaughan Hart was a man of means, with his ancestors rewarded with extensive estates for their efforts in suppressing the Gaelic chieftains. Kilderry House, encompassing 5,416 sq ft, was the family seat and the jewel in the crown. Initially a small shooting lodge built by George, it was expanded during his military campaigns.
After fighting in the American War of Independence, General Hart traveled to the West Indies and then spent most of his fighting days in India. He participated in sieges, wiping out the independent state of Mysore and its Sultan. In 1792, he married and continued his military service until the early 1800s when he returned to Ireland and became MP for Donegal.
Balloo’s story is an integral part of Kilderry’s history. Becoming General Hart’s manservant during the Seringapatam campaign in the 1790s, Balloo traveled back and forth from England to India with his master. Their final journey brought them to Ireland, but they got separated in Britain. George made arrangements for Balloo to cross the Irish Sea, leaving money and instructions along the way. Balloo arrived at Kilderry, placing his sleeping mat outside George’s bedroom, where he spent his nights. He outlived his master by 16 years and is buried in the family graveyard outside the entrance to the family vault.
In 1983, Pat and Catherine McDaid purchased Kilderry House as their first home. The house was originally listed for IR£70,000, but the price dropped to IR£35,000, prompting the McDaids to make an offer of IR£30,000. Worried they might lose out, they increased their offer to the asking price of IR£35,000, ensuring the property was taken off the market immediately.
The house features architectural details such as high ceilings, sliding sash windows, fireplaces, and original dado rails. The extensive grounds, spanning 10.6 acres, include the remains of an old walled garden and outbuildings. Kilderry House is located approximately 13km from Derry and 39km from Letterkenny.
This unique and historic property is listed for sale by Rainey Estate Agents, with a guide price of €825,000.
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