Mark Zuckerberg Buys 19th-Century Castle in Southeast Ireland

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have acquired a historic 19th-century castle and sprawling estate in southeast Ireland.

The couple bought Strancally Castle, a Gothic-style property in County Waterford overlooking the River Blackwater, according to reports confirmed by a spokesperson for Zuckerberg.

The castle, which sits on a roughly 440-acre estate, was built around 1830 for John Keily, a former member of the British Parliament. It was designed by architects James and George Richard Pain and has undergone extensive restoration, including major renovation work in the early 2000s.

The exact purchase price has not been disclosed and the transaction does not appear on Ireland’s state property price register.

However, The Irish Times, which first reported the acquisition, estimated that the property could be worth between €20 million and €30 million.

The three-storey castle reportedly covers about 16,000 square feet, with the wider estate offering extensive grounds along the River Blackwater.

A spokesperson for Zuckerberg said the family was “excited to continue caring for this historic home” and looked forward to spending time in Ireland.

The purchase comes as Zuckerberg maintains a significant connection to Ireland through Meta’s operations in the country.

Meta employs about 1,500 people in Ireland, where the company has its international headquarters. Ireland has also become an important European base for major US technology companies, partly because of its favourable tax environment.

Despite the acquisition, Zuckerberg and Chan are expected to continue living primarily in the United States and use the Irish property as a base when visiting the country.

Strancally Castle had previously been owned by businessman Michael Alen-Buckley and his wife, Giancarla, who reportedly spent years restoring the historic property.

The secluded estate is located in an area known for its scenic countryside and historic houses, placing the Facebook founder among a growing number of wealthy individuals who have invested in historic Irish properties.

The acquisition adds another high-value property to Zuckerberg’s extensive real-estate portfolio, which includes homes and estates in California, Hawaii and other parts of the United States.