Kinsale Georgian villa bought by US billionaire for €4.75m has been virtually demolished
The near total demolition of the period home on the scenic south Cork coastal Sandycove came after Cork County Council granted permission for 'redevelopment and renovation' of the property. Picture Dan Linehan
A Georgian villa near Kinsale bought for €4.75m by a US billionaire just two years ago as part of an ongoing property splurge has been virtually demolished.
Just the front and part side walls of the 200-year old Sprayfield House are left standing, pending rebuilding and enlargement.
The near total demolition of the period home on the scenic south Cork coastal Sandycove came after Cork County Council granted permission for “redevelopment and renovation” of the early 1800s "gentleman’s cottage" as part of an extensive plan by its overseas purchasers for a private home and animal sanctuary at the period property on 40 acres.
Behind the near-virtual removal of the c 3,600 sq ft house is wealthy US man James Berwind, and his husband Kevin Clark.
A communications company spokesperson on Mr Berwind’s behalf said more extensive building problems than anticipated were found when work started on the renovations.
The couple appear on a spending spree around Kinsale, with €20m or so currently being invested. The property that started the spiral, the Georgian gem Sprayfield extended lightly over centuries, was the family home of former UCC president Gerry Wrixon and had gone for sale in 2023 guiding €4.75m on his behalf.
Since buying Sprayfield after visiting Kinsale on his €80m superyacht Scout, Mr Berwind has also bought a contemporary home, Seaspray, in Kinsale’s Scilly, for an even steeper price, €5.5m, a price record locally, as well as a more modest dormer bungalow called Valley House in Sandycove for a sizeable €4.99m.
The spending clearly is not over, with plans for an animal sanctuary for horses and goats, with a ‘farm’ at Sprayfied also being advanced for the owners, who are avowed animal lovers.
Market sources say Mr Berwind has agreed a yet-further off-market purchase of a smaller dwelling at the water’s edge at Sandycove, likely to be a multi-million euro swoop too, and is also purchasing a 30-acre farm at Oldcourt, Ballinspittle, to grow hay for their horse and goat sanctuary and for other animal welfare charities.
A fifth generation heir to part of a multi-billion diverse business fortune, initially based on coal mining in the US in 1860s, and a long-time Florida resident, Mr Berwind is described in US circles as a philanthropist, animal rights activist and environmental architect, while his husband Kevin Clark’s background is in real estate.
The couple sold a 10,000sq ft house they had redeveloped in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2021, for c €25m, now largely travelling and living on board the 200-ft superyacht Scout, which is called after one of their dogs.
