Drone footage shows Waterford castle bought by Zuckerberg

Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg is the new owner of Strancally Castle in Co Waterford.

A spokesperson for Mr Zuckerberg told RTÉ’s News at One that “Mark and his family are excited to continue caring for this historic home and look forward to spending time in Ireland, where Meta maintains its international headquarters”.

It is understood that the billionaire social media company owner and his family will continue to live in the US and will use the property in Waterford when carrying out Meta business in Ireland.

Facebook opened its international headquarters in Dublin in 2009 and Meta currently employs about 1,500 people in Ireland.

Ireland is home to Meta’s international headquarters in Dublin, its Reality Labs virtual reality and augmented reality business in Cork and a data centre in Clonee, Co Meath.

Located on the banks of the River Blackwater, Strancally is described as a three-storey cut stone Gothic revival style house that was built in 1827 for former UK Tory MP John Kiely.

The current Strancally Castle is located about 4.5km upriver from the ruins of the original Strancally Castle, which was one of a number of fortifications that were built in the area by the Desmond family.

Strancally is located about 20km north of Youghal in Co Cork.

The property, which was significantly refurbished by its previous owners, comprises about 16,000 sq ft set on about 440 acres.

The current house was owned for more than 20 years by the Alen-Buckley family.

Michael Alen-Buckley is a co-founder of the London based private investment firm RAB Capital.

Strancally is one of a number of historic houses and estates in the Blackwater Valley area, and is located close to Ballynatray House, Lismore Castle, Cappoquin House and Salterbridge House.

Inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson bought nearby Ballynatray House two years ago.