Clone House offers the best of both worlds. It is a fine registered Heritage house, one of the few remaining houses of its size and character in the south Wicklow area. Yet the house and gardens have delicately been restored affording a clean, attractive environment with modernized facilities.

By 1996, Clone house had been derelict for several years and was on the verge of total destruction. Leaking ceilings, extensive damp, collapsed foundations and deferred maintenance throughout left the house in sad disrepair. The house was purchased in late 1996 by Michael Smith for renovation. Mr. Smith had previously been involved in other heritage property renovations in Dublin and is currently the Head of An Taisce.

For the next three years Mr. Smith's team conducted extensive renovations to Clone including foundation repair, new walls, electrical, and plumbing. Floors were refinished, walls shifted, rooms painted, and ensuite bathrooms installed. The house was roughly renovated and furnished. Little was done to the gardens but the principal courtyard was partially renovated.

When the Watson's purchased Clone House and moved in early 2000, they started extensive renovations in the gardens and grounds. New ponds were dug, extensive stone retaining walls were build, ponds dug, new lawns, over one-hundred trees planted, over one thousand plants, shrubs and seedlings planted, and over ten of thousand bulbs planted.

Inside the house further rooms were finished, four-poster beds and curtains put into the bedrooms, new floors installed, and house was generally finished with beautiful interiors.

Courtyard

Courtyard today

Clone House,Pond & Gardens

Clone House,Pond & Gardens today

Herb Gardens

Herb Gardens today