Music
18 Sep 07

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Michael Jackson to buy Wicklow Castle

Michael Jackson has splashed out a staggering €20million on an historic castle and estate property in Ireland. Hot Press understands that the King of Pop has bought Luggala Estate, which has been home to a host of stars during their stay in Ireland - including Mel Gibson and Orlando Bloom.

Apparently Jackson fell in love with the 350 acres estate, situated in Roundwood, County Wicklow after he had rented it out for three months last year during his extended stay in Ireland. At the time, newspaper reports said that Jackson was spending between €20k and €30k a week during his Irish visit.

Last year, Luggala Estate made the news when its owner Garech de Brún — a member of the Guinness brewing family — made a deal with the Irish government which saw them purchasing 1,600 acres of the estate land for some e1.7m to extend the public ownership of the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

It was reported last year that Jackson wanted to move to Ireland "permanently" after falling in love with the country following his visit, which saw him accompanied by his three children, Prince Michael (3), Paris (8) and Prince Michael II (4). During his stay, he was spotted dining in local restaurants, as well as making trips to the cinema, and a shopping jaunt to the Hughes & Hughes bookstore in Dun Laoighaire.

Jackson had viewed various properties in Ireland, but he told friends that nothing came close to the spectacular Luggala Castle and its surroundings. It is believed that a leading developer negotiated the purchase of the castle for Jackson.

Havens and Hideaways gives a complete description of the property :

"The main bedroom is on the ground floor, as is a sitting room with a huge plasma tv, a drawing room, dining room and kitchen. The library is in the courtyard as is the indoor pool.

"Up one flight of stairs there is a bedroom with a four poster bed and its own bathroom. from the landing a staircase leads to a twin room, also with a bathroom.

"To the left is a double bedroom with two doors - one onto a corridor that leads to the second staircase and a twin bedded shamrock room and a single bedded shamrock room and two bathrooms to serve the three bedrooms.

"At the end of this corridor is the minstrels gallery. From the minstrels' gallery one can go down to another bedroom with a bathroom, overlooking the courtyard."