Mark Zuckerberg buys 440-acre gothic castle in Ireland for up to Rs 335 crore: Here’s why

Dublin: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have acquired Strancally Castle, a historic Gothic-style property in Ireland’s County Waterford, in an off-market deal reportedly worth between €20 million and €30 million (around Rs 223 crore to Rs 335 crore).

The purchase is notable not just for the price or the scale of the estate, but also for its connection to Zuckerberg’s long-standing ties with Ireland. Meta has maintained its international headquarters in the country since 2009, making Ireland an important base for the company’s global operations.

A Meta spokesperson said Zuckerberg and his family are looking forward to caring for the historic property and spending time in Ireland.

A castle, not just a holiday home

Strancally Castle sits on a sprawling 440-acre estate along the River Blackwater in the Blackwater Valley. The 19th-century property was built around 1830 for John Keily, a former Conservative MP, and was designed by architects James and George Richard Pain.

The main building covers about 16,000 square feet and is known for its large-scale design. According to The Houses of Ireland, the distance between the kitchen and dining room was once so considerable that it could take several minutes to walk between them.

The estate was previously owned by Michael Alen-Buckley, co-founder of investment firm RAB Capital, and his wife, Giancarla. The couple acquired and restored the property more than two decades ago.

They said they were pleased that Zuckerberg and his family intended to continue maintaining and enhancing the estate.
Read more | China’s ‘robocops’ hit the streets: Wheeled robots now detect traffic violations

Why Ireland?

Zuckerberg and Chan are expected to continue living primarily in the United States and use Strancally Castle as a base when visiting Ireland.

The location also puts the property within reach of Meta’s international operations. The company has its European headquarters in Dublin and employs around 1,500 people in Ireland, with other operations in the country as well.

Zuckerberg’s interest in acquiring an Irish estate is not entirely new. Last year, Liberty Media chairman John Malone said Zuckerberg had approached him about buying Castlemartin House and Estate in County Kildare.

That deal did not happen, but the acquisition of Strancally Castle now gives the Meta chief a substantial Irish property of his own.
Also read | Elon Musk has a plan for India's rural internet gap- but can Starlink reach every village?

Part of a wider luxury estate trend

Zuckerberg is not the only technology billionaire or business leader to acquire a historic Irish estate.

Dyson founder James Dyson bought Ballynatray House, also in the Blackwater Valley, in 2024, while Stripe co-founder John Collison acquired the Abbey Leix estate in County Laois in 2021.

Strancally Castle’s purchase adds another high-profile name to Ireland’s market for historic country estates, where properties are valued not only for their size but also for their architectural and historical significance.

For Zuckerberg, the acquisition offers something beyond another luxury property: a historic estate that can serve as a private base in a country that has become central to Meta’s international presence.