Ireland has quietly become one of the most desirable celebrity hideaways in Europe. From the glamorous coastal villages of Dalkey and Killiney, often called the Irish Riviera, to the wild, windswept shores of West Cork, the country offers a rare blend of privacy, natural beauty, and old-world charm that A-listers find impossible to resist.
The question of where celebrities live in Ireland has surged in search interest over the past few years. International stars, Oscar winners, rock legends, and sporting icons have all staked their claim across the Irish landscape. Some have restored crumbling castles. Others have built ultra-modern mansions. A few have simply retreated to modest holiday cottages far from the paparazzi.
From Enya’s fortress overlooking Killiney Bay to Conor McGregor’s expanding estate in Kildare, here is an inside look at 12 stunning celebrity homes in Ireland that you need to know about.
1. Enya | Manderley Castle, Killiney
Manderley Castle is perhaps the most iconic celebrity home in Ireland. Perched on a clifftop in Killiney, County Dublin, this 19th-century fortress offers sweeping views of the Irish Sea. The reclusive singer Enya purchased the property in 1997 for €3.8 million, reportedly outbidding Michael Flatley for the keys.
The castle features six bedrooms, ornate bathrooms, and a heavily fortified perimeter that reflects Enya’s well-known desire for absolute privacy. The surrounding grounds are lush and expansive, creating a moat-like sense of seclusion between the castle walls and the outside world. Despite her global fame, Enya has maintained an almost hermit-like existence here for over two decades.
Quick Facts: Purchased in 1997 for €3.8 million. Located on the Vico Road corridor in Killiney. The castle was originally named Victoria Castle before Enya renamed it after the estate in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.
2. Bono | Temple Hill, Vico Road, Killiney
U2 frontman Bono has lived at Temple Hill on Vico Road since the 1980s, making it one of the longest-held celebrity properties on the Irish Riviera. The estate is valued at approximately €4.8 million and sits on one of the most prestigious addresses in Ireland. Bono and his wife Alison Hewson have gradually expanded and renovated the property over the decades.
The mansion overlooks Killiney Bay with views that stretch all the way to the Wicklow Mountains. The entrance gates on Vico Road have become something of a landmark in their own right, regularly covered in fan graffiti and messages from U2 devotees who make the pilgrimage from around the world. Bono’s presence has also drawn other high-profile residents to the area, including The Edge and Van Morrison.
3. Jeremy Irons | Kilcoe Castle, West Cork
Few celebrity homes in Ireland can match the dramatic backstory of Kilcoe Castle. British actor Jeremy Irons purchased this 15th-century tower house in 1997 for IR£150,000 when it was a long-abandoned ruin perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking Roaring Water Bay in West Cork. What followed was a painstaking, decades-long restoration that transformed the crumbling fortress into a stunning family retreat.
The castle is painted a distinctive rusty pink, a colour choice that makes it visible from miles across the bay and has become one of the most photographed landmarks in West Cork. Irons, who had already lived in a nearby farmhouse with his wife Sinéad Cusack, approached the restoration with deep respect for the building’s medieval heritage. The castle was once one of the last fortresses to fall to the English, adding layers of historical significance to its already romantic setting.
4. Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick | Kilcar, Co. Donegal
In a refreshing contrast to the grand estates on this list, Hollywood power couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick own a modest traditional cottage on the outskirts of Kilcar in County Donegal. The property has been in the Broderick family for more than 40 years, long before either actor achieved global fame.
The couple has carried out significant renovations on the home while carefully preserving its traditional Irish character. As of March 2026, they are preparing to apply for planning permission to extend the holiday home further, deepening their roots in this remote and beautiful corner of northwest Ireland. Parker has been spotted shopping at the local SuperValu, and the couple regularly spends New Year in what Parker once described as a remote but beautiful land far away.
5. Cillian Murphy | Monkstown, South Dublin
Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy chose understated elegance for his Irish base, purchasing a six-bedroom Victorian period home in Monkstown, South Dublin, for €1.7 million. The seaside property reflects Murphy’s reputation for keeping a low profile, offering understated charm in one of Dublin’s most desirable residential areas.
Murphy and his artist wife, Yvonne McGuinness, moved from the city centre to this quieter coastal suburb seeking more privacy for their family. The home is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture with generous proportions and period details. Monkstown is not a major tourist area, which has allowed Murphy to maintain a relatively normal family life in Ireland despite his global stardom following Oppenheimer.
6. Daniel Day-Lewis | Annamoe, Co. Wicklow
Three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis has lived near the village of Annamoe in County Wicklow for decades. Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland, and Day-Lewis’s five-bedroom Georgian home is surrounded by heavily wooded estate grounds that provide the kind of deep privacy the intensely private actor requires.
The property is located not far from the famous monastic settlement and scenic beauty spot of Glendalough. Day-Lewis has been a familiar if rarely seen figure in the local community, known for his quiet, unassuming manner when he ventures into the village. The sprawling, wooded nature of the estate mirrors the actor’s own withdrawal from public life since his announced retirement from acting.
7. Conor McGregor | The Paddocks, Straffan, Co. Kildare
Conor McGregor’s home at The Paddocks in Straffan, County Kildare, is the most visibly ambitious celebrity property development in Ireland. The mixed martial arts star purchased the countryside estate in 2019 and has been locked in a high-profile planning battle ever since to create what would be one of the most extravagant private homes in the country.
The existing home covers approximately 7,964 sq ft. McGregor’s proposed extension would add a further 13,131 sq ft, including a six-bedroomed main house complete with a 19.6-metre indoor swimming pool, a 21-metre outdoor pool, a cinema, and a bar. In April 2026, McGregor sought planning permission for a revised €3 million extension application, mirroring a 2022 approval for the property. The estate is located near the exclusive K Club golf resort.
8. Saoirse Ronan | West Cork & Howth
Oscar-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan has strong connections to two distinct parts of Ireland. She purchased a three-bedroom terrace home in Howth, County Dublin, for €334,000 in 2013, early in her career. More recently, Ronan acquired a simple two-bedroom stone cottage on the waterfront of Roaring Water Bay in West Cork.
The West Cork property is a quaint Arts and Crafts-style cottage that reflects Ronan’s taste for understated, characterful homes. The scenic location places her in the same coastal region as Jeremy Irons, who owns Kilcoe Castle nearby. Ronan, who married in 2024, reportedly plans to make the West Cork property a more permanent base, drawn to the area’s rugged beauty and artistic community.
9. Niall Horan | Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Niall Horan has maintained a strong connection to his home county of Westmeath throughout his career. The former One Direction singer purchased a sprawling country estate near Mullingar on ten acres of land, complete with six bedrooms, six reception rooms, and a heated outdoor swimming pool.
In early 2022, Horan sold that property and later purchased another home in the same area for approximately €420,000, staying close to his mother and grandmother. The new property is more modest in scale but keeps the singer rooted in the community where he grew up. The original estate was located near Belvedere House and Mullingar Golf Club, which suited the golf-enthusiast singer perfectly.
10. Hozier | Newcastle, Co. Wicklow
Hozier lives in an atmospheric 18th-century home at Oldfort on the outskirts of Newcastle, County Wicklow. The period property perfectly suits the musician whose work is deeply inspired by Irish landscape, folklore, and rural life. The home sits near the coast, close to the Wicklow Way walking trail and the seaside villages that dot this stretch of coastline.
In recent years, Hozier has been engaged in a planning process to add a guest lodge and gym to the property, though council planners initially told him the plans fell foul of planning rules. After modifications, Wicklow County Council eventually granted permission for the scaled-back development. The quiet, wooded surroundings of the Oldfort property reflect the contemplative quality that defines much of Hozier’s music.
11. Michael Flatley | Castlehyde House, Co. Cork
Castlehyde House in Fermoy, County Cork, is widely regarded as one of the most opulent private residences in Ireland. The dancer and entertainer Michael Flatley invested an estimated €20 million into the restoration and enhancement of this historic estate, which was once the ancestral home of Douglas Hyde, Ireland’s first president.
The property is considered one of the finest structural restorations of a historic Irish home ever undertaken. Set along the banks of the River Blackwater, Castlehyde features manicured gardens, lavish interiors, and an extraordinary collection of art and antiques. As of 2025, Flatley faced a legal battle to retain ownership of the mansion after financial difficulties, but he successfully saved the property from receivers and remains committed to the estate.
12. The Matt Damon Dalkey Lockdown Rental | Dalkey, Co. Dublin
Matt Damon does not own a home in Ireland, but his name is inextricably linked to one of the most talked-about celebrity properties on the Irish Riviera. When the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns began in March 2020, Damon and his family rented a sprawling luxury home in Dalkey, County Dublin, and stayed for three months.
The fairy-tale property, formerly owned by Formula 1 driver Eddie Irvine, was later sold for approximately $4.2 million. Following Damon’s departure, the home was listed for rental at €8,400 per week. Damon’s presence in Dalkey captured the public imagination, with the actor spotted on local runs, buying coffee, and mingling with residents. He later joked that he now knows everyone in the beautiful village. Searches for Matt Damon Dalkey remain consistently high, making this property essential to any roundup of famous Irish houses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do so many celebrities live in Dalkey?
Dalkey offers an exceptional combination of coastal scenery, proximity to Dublin city centre, and a tight-knit community that values privacy. The village has a historic, village-like atmosphere with excellent restaurants and schools, while property prices ensure an exclusive neighbourhood.
Where is the Irish Riviera?
The Irish Riviera refers to the coastal stretch of south County Dublin, primarily the villages of Dalkey and Killiney. The area is known for its dramatic sea views, elevated clifftop properties, and a concentration of high-profile residents. Killiney Bay has been compared to the Bay of Naples.
Does Matt Damon own a house in Ireland?
No. Matt Damon rented a luxury home in Dalkey during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The property was formerly owned by Eddie Irvine and has since been sold for approximately $4.2 million.
Where is Bono’s house in Dublin?
Bono lives at Temple Hill on Vico Road in Killiney, County Dublin. The estate overlooks Killiney Bay and is one of the most well-known celebrity properties in Ireland. The gates on Vico Road are a popular stopping point for fans visiting the area.
Can you visit these celebrity homes?
No. All of the properties mentioned are private residences. However, visitors can walk the Vico Road in Killiney for views of Enya’s Manderley Castle and Bono’s estate, or view Jeremy Irons’s Kilcoe Castle by boat on Roaring Water Bay in West Cork.