Friarstown Stables On The Curragh To Undergo €10 Million Redevelopment

Wednesday, 9 April 2025 14:25

By Eoin Beatty

According to the Irish Independent, New-York based businessman Mark Dobbins will be investing in the project

Mark Dobbin, the founder and managing director of Highline Group, a New York-based construction firm, is set to invest €10 million in the redevelopment of a stud farm in County Kildare, according to The Irish Independent.

Together with his wife, Sonja Dobbin, originally from Kerry, they have recently submitted plans to Kildare County Council through their company, Highline Stud Farm Ltd, for the transformation of Friarstown Stables, located on the Curragh.

According to an article by Gordon Deegan in the Independent, the proposed redevelopment will feature two new equine barns, each housing 24 stable units, as well as staff accommodations and a manager’s residence, among other facilities.

According to the business plan submitted with the application, the Dobbins purchased the 110-acre Friarstown Stables property for €3.5 million and plan to invest an additional €7.5 million to €8 million to convert the farm into a top-tier stud facility.

The plan highlights: "In total, Mark Dobbin will invest up to €10 million in the stud farm, its development, and related equine operations by the time the facility is fully operational. Further investment may follow if the stud meets its near-term goals."

The business plan further notes that Highline Group, based in Manhattan, specializes in New York’s luxury residential market, generating average annual revenues of $100 million and employing over 200 staff members. It emphasizes that Mr. Dobbin, a native of County Down, is an avid racehorse owner and breeder, and that Friarstown Stables aligns perfectly with his long-term ambitions in Irish racing.

Currently, according to the article, the Dobbins have horses stabled in locations including Malton (UK), Kentucky (US), Kildare, and Tipperary, and their goal with this application is to centralize their operations at Friarstown Stables.