Oprah Winfrey could be considering a more permanent connection with Ireland after the American media superstar was reportedly spotted viewing properties in the west of the country during her recent visit.
The 72-year-old television icon arrived in Ireland this week for her first live appearance in the country, performing to a sold-out audience at Dublin’s 3Arena on Monday night. However, her visit has attracted attention for another reason, with reports that she has been looking at potential properties in counties Roscommon, Mayo and Galway.
A substantial lakeside estate in west Roscommon is understood to have caught Oprah’s attention. The property is believed to be close to the Mayo border, with Ballinlough among the areas being linked to her property search.
She is also reported to have viewed a property in Cong, County Mayo, as part of a series of private viewings during her time in the west.
Oprah is understood to have been accompanied by a real estate adviser as she looked at a number of properties, although there has been no confirmation that she has made an offer on any of them or that she intends to relocate to Ireland permanently.
The reports have nevertheless fuelled speculation that the media mogul could be considering purchasing an Irish retreat where she could spend time away from the United States.
Oprah’s first visit to Ireland
The reported property search comes during what is already a significant visit for Oprah, who had never previously appeared live in Ireland.
Her Dublin event, Up Close With Oprah Winfrey, took place at the 3Arena and attracted around 8,000 people. The evening featured an extended conversation with Oprah hosted by David Meade, along with a performance from Irish musician Niall Breslin.
The event was organised by Cork-based Pendulum Summit founders Norma Murphy and Frankie Sheahan, who had spent years trying to bring Oprah to Ireland.
Following the Dublin appearance, Oprah’s visit to the west has generated considerable interest in the possibility that her relationship with Ireland could extend beyond a one-night event.
From California to the Irish countryside?
Oprah already has an extensive property portfolio in the United States, including her well-known estate in Montecito, California.
An Irish property would therefore be more likely to represent an additional home or private retreat rather than a straightforward relocation from the US.
The type of properties reportedly being considered in the west of Ireland would also offer something very different from her Californian surroundings, with large estates, lakes, countryside and considerable privacy.
For now, however, there is no confirmation that Oprah is buying a home in Ireland.
Her reported interest in properties across Roscommon, Mayo and Galway does suggest that she has been taking a serious look at what the Irish property market has to offer, but whether that will eventually result in a purchase remains unknown.
For residents in the west, the prospect of one of the world’s most recognisable television personalities becoming a neighbour would certainly be a remarkable development.
If Oprah does eventually decide to purchase an Irish home, the property and its exact location are likely to attract considerable international attention.
