Grand Designs Irish Castles: The Story of Cloontykilla Castle and Sean Simons

Few shows capture the imagination quite like Grand Designs, and when Grand Designs Irish Castles Season 1 introduced the world to Cloontykilla Castle, it became one of the most talked-about restoration projects in Ireland.

A ruined fortress transformed into a breathtaking home, it was an audacious dream—one that embodied both ambition and the weight of history.

At the heart of this extraordinary journey is Sean Simons, the visionary behind the project. Not just a castle restorer, Simons is also known in the world of acting as Sean Simons Irish actor, but it is his role as a dreamer and builder that captured the public’s imagination. His journey to restore Cloontykilla Castle is a tale of determination, passion, and no small amount of struggle.

The Cloontykilla Castle Restoration

Cloontykilla Castle, nestled in County Roscommon, was in ruins when Sean Simons took on the challenge of reviving it. The castle, dating back to the 19th century, had been reduced to little more than a crumbling shell, abandoned and forgotten. But Simons saw potential where others saw decay. His vision was to not just rebuild the castle but to turn it into a luxurious, modern home while preserving its medieval soul.

This restoration was featured in Grand Designs Irish Castles Episodes, captivating audiences with the sheer scale of the task. The project was not just about bricks and mortar—it was about breathing life into a place with history embedded in every stone.

Sean Simons Castle Update: Where is the Project Now?

The restoration of Cloontykilla Castle has been a long and arduous journey, filled with unforeseen challenges, financial strains, and the kind of determination only a true visionary possesses. Fans of the Grand Designs Irish Castles Season 1 episode have followed the progress closely, eager for a Sean Simons castle update on whether the ambitious vision has finally reached completion.

Today, the castle stands as a stunning example of historic restoration done right. The interior Cloontykilla Castle finished design combines old-world charm with modern elegance, making it one of Ireland’s most unique homes. From grand stone archways to luxurious contemporary interiors, the castle is a seamless blend of past and present.

For those interested in seeing the transformation firsthand, visiting the Cloontykilla Castle website offers a closer look at the journey, with updates on the latest developments in this remarkable project.

The Grand Designs Journey of Cloontykilla Castle: A Vision, A Struggle, and an Unfinished Dream

When Sean Simons, a former West End actor, took on the monumental challenge of restoring Cloontykilla Castle in County Roscommon, his vision was nothing short of extraordinary. Inspired by childhood memories of playing in the castle ruins, Sean set out to breathe life back into the historic structure, turning it into a spectacular home fit for the modern era.

But as with many ambitious Grand Designs projects, reality proved far more complex than the dream.

Kevin McCloud, host of Grand Designs, described the project as more than just a restoration—it was “a story of Ireland’s banking crisis, of childhood dreams and a man’s relentless charm, and of a building that refuses to be forgotten.”

The Legacy of Cloontykilla Castle

Cloontykilla Castle, a 19th-century Gothic revival folly, was designed by British architect John Nash in 1839. Once part of the Rockingham Estate near Lough Key, the castle originally served as a hunting lodge and was set within 800 acres of forest, making it an awe-inspiring location.

By the late 20th century, it had fallen into ruin, abandoned and overtaken by time. Yet for Sean, who had spent his youth wandering its grounds, the castle wasn’t just a forgotten relic—it was a challenge waiting to be conquered.

In 1989, he purchased Cloontykilla Castle for £117,000, determined to restore it to its former glory. However, due to its Irish listed status—equivalent to the UK’s Grade II listing—Sean had to work within strict preservation guidelines, ensuring that the castle’s exterior remained largely unchanged.

That didn’t stop him from envisioning a transformation that would blend history with modern grandeur.

The Grand Vision

From the beginning, Sean’s plans for Grand Designs Irish Castles were ambitious. He secured a £1.2 million loan to kickstart the restoration, opting to hire a structural engineer but no architect—a bold move that would later come back to haunt him.

His dream? To create an opulent 16th-century-style baronial residence with grand, open-plan interiors, a medieval hall stretching the length of the castle, and a wood-carved staircase leading to a lavish living space. The castle would feature 12 bedrooms, a recording studio, a performance space, and, in a particularly extravagant flourish, a rooftop jacuzzi within one of the towers.

From the outside, the medieval grandeur of Cloontykilla Castle would be preserved, while inside, Sean wanted a seamless blend of history and modern indulgence.

But as work commenced, a much larger storm was brewing—one that had nothing to do with castle walls and everything to do with Ireland’s collapsing economy.

An Uphill Battle

Just as construction was getting underway, Ireland plunged into recession. The banking sector crumbled, loans dried up, and grand projects like Sean’s suddenly found themselves on unstable ground.

Despite mounting pressure from the bank and his quantity surveyor to complete the project in just eight months, Kevin McCloud was skeptical, estimating it could take at least eight years.

Progress was initially steady—dummy windows were converted into real ones, and the roof was nearly finished within two months. But tensions soon arose.

Sean’s constant changes to the build frustrated his team, and financial constraints forced work to halt multiple times. The bank agreed to release more funds, but under tight restrictions, turning what was meant to be a passion project into a bureaucratic nightmare.

By August 2010, major revisions were made to the ground-floor layout. The originally planned ten bedrooms were reduced to six, as the small windows made the rooms feel more like caves than living spaces.

Then came an even bigger setback—Sean, dissatisfied with the progress, hired a new team in September 2010 without consulting his original builders. Walls were demolished and rebuilt, adding further delays and escalating costs.

The Breaking Point

As Ireland’s financial crisis deepened, banks faced a £40 billion bailout, and Sean’s structural engineer, Paul Cuddy, resigned in January 2011.

By mid-2012, despite promises of funding, the money never came through. In July of that year, work on Cloontykilla Castle stopped entirely. The exterior restoration was largely complete, but inside, stud walls stood unfinished, and the grand interiors Sean had envisioned remained unrealized.

The dream was on hold.

Where is Cloontykilla Castle Today?

Even after construction halted, Sean refused to give up. He continued pushing for financing, hoping that the bank would honor its original agreement. Meanwhile, he commissioned new interior designs, determined that one day, his vision would be realized.

In June 2020, Sean announced on social media that Cloontykilla Castle would be open to guests by March 2021. But once again, delays struck, and as of today, the project remains incomplete.

Still, Sean remains steadfast in his belief that the castle’s journey is not yet over.

“I had to take something from the ruins and make it better, leave it better than what I found it,” he once said. “And if people did that everywhere, we would live in a better world.”

Kevin McCloud echoed this sentiment, saying:
“Toy castles are for playing in. Real castles are for fighting for, and Sean is a fighter. He is this castle’s champion, its defender.”

The Unfinished Dream

The story of Cloontykilla Castle is more than just another entry in the list of Grand Designs Irish Castles Episodes. It is a testament to one man’s refusal to accept defeat, a building’s unbreakable spirit, and the unpredictable tides of ambition and adversity.

While the interior Cloontykilla Castle finished design remains a work in progress, Sean Simons’ castle update continues to captivate those who followed his journey. His battle with bureaucracy, the economy, and the sheer challenge of restoration has made this one of Grand Designs’ most unforgettable projects.

To see the latest developments, visit the Cloontykilla Castle website for updates on the ongoing restoration.

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Cloontykilla Castle’s story is still being written—perhaps one day, it will finally be the home Sean Simons always dreamed of.

Why Irish Castles Continue to Inspire

Cloontykilla Castle’s restoration is part of a larger fascination with Irish castles—ancient structures that continue to capture the imagination of those who dream of blending history with modern living. Ireland’s castles are more than just remnants of the past; they are symbols of endurance, creativity, and sometimes, sheer stubbornness.

Projects like Simons’ remind us that the stories of these buildings are far from over. Whether it’s a grand estate like Slane Castle, a historic stronghold like Trim, or a forgotten ruin brought back to life, Irish castles are still being written into history, one stone at a time.

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To uncover more of Ireland’s fascinating castle history and landscapes, check out:

As the story of Cloontykilla Castle continues to unfold, one thing remains clear—Irish castles are not just relics of the past. They are living, breathing structures that still have stories to tell.