Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have made headlines with their recent purchase of a historic castle in Ireland, spending over €51 million (about $56 million) for the main residence alone. This amount is nearly double what real estate experts initially estimated, as they had projected a price range of between €20 million and €30 million for the Gothic-style Strancally Castle in County Waterford, according to a report from The Irish Times based on official property records.
The official records show that the €51.17 million transaction only includes the castle and a small portion of the land around it. Strancally Castle sits on an extensive 440-acre estate along the River Blackwater, meaning the actual total cost of the property is still unclear and is expected to be much higher when considering the entire estate.
The sale was officially recorded on August 17, 2026, just prior to its public announcement in local media.
Strancally Castle, built around 1830 for Tory MP John Keily, is known for its stunning Gothic-revival architecture, designed by the well-known architectural brothers James and George Richard Pain. The estate covers a remarkable 16,000 square feet, with such a vast layout that it reportedly takes about four and a half minutes to walk from the kitchen to the dining room.
Previously owned by Michael and Giancarla Alen-Buckley for the last 25 years, the couple undertook significant restoration work on the castle during their time there. In their farewell statement, they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to restore Strancally Castle and shared their hopes that Zuckerberg and his family would continue to enhance the property, wishing them happiness in their new home.
Zuckerberg’s interest in Irish real estate emerged last summer, after he sought to purchase Castlemartin House and Estate from Liberty Media owner John Malone. While the couple will still keep their home in the United States, they intend to use Strancally Castle as a family retreat during their visits to Ireland. Additionally, the property provides Zuckerberg with a strategic location close to Meta’s European headquarters, which has been based in Ireland since 2009, employing around 1,500 people.
