Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have taken ownership of one of Ireland’s most distinctive historic buildings: Strancally Castle, a 19th-century Gothic property in County Waterford. The purchase has been reported as a $35 million deal and has drawn attention not only for its value, but also for the grim legend associated with the site.
A historic property in the hands of Meta’s chief
According to reports by the New York Post, the property is a three-story stone building set on 110 acres overlooking the River Blackwater.
Strancally Castle is considered a property of historical and architectural significance, making the deal more than just a luxury purchase by one of the best-known figures in global technology.
Confirmation from Zuckerberg’s representatives
The purchase was confirmed by a spokesperson for Mark Zuckerberg, who said that the Facebook founder and his family intend to care for the historic home and spend time in Ireland.
The same statement also highlighted that Meta maintains its international headquarters in Ireland, an element that makes the investment appear linked as well to the company’s long-term presence in the country.
The dark legend that follows the castle
Beyond the architecture and the value of the property, the name of Strancally Castle is also linked to old stories that have circulated in the area. English writer William Howitt, who died in 1879, mentioned a dark tradition connected to the site’s past.
According to these accounts, the area may have had links to the so-called Desmond Castles, medieval fortresses used by the Earls of Desmond in Ireland. Howitt described dramatic stories according to which unsuspecting visitors were lured into the castle, trapped, and then killed.
Between history and local myths
These stories remain part of local tradition and are not presented as confirmed historical events. Nevertheless, they give the property a layer of mystery that has clearly influenced how the purchase is being discussed publicly.
In the end, Zuckerberg’s deal is not being seen simply as another real estate investment, but as an entry into a property where history, symbolism and myth blend at the same address.
In the luxury property market, such purchases are not unusual for tech billionaires. What sets this case apart is the combination of the buyer’s profile with the building’s historical weight and the dark stories that continue to follow the castle.