RACEHORSE owner Sean Mulryan’s Ballymore Properties won the award for ‘Large Developer of the Year’ at the recent Property Week Residential Awards in London.

The owner of Ardenode Stud in Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare, Mulryan is well-known in racing and sporting circles as an owner and sponsor. Among the best horses to have carried his dark blue and yellow colours in Ireland are Buck Rogers, Dovaly, Forget The Past and In Compliance. He has enjoyed even bigger success in France with the likes of Mid Dancer, Cyrlight, Linda’s Lad, Or Noir De Somoza and Zaiyad.

In the height of the boom Ballymore Properties sponsored major races at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals.

Mulryan set up Ballymore Properties at the age of 26 and became one of Ireland’s biggest housing developers before investing heavily in London, acquiring vast land banks in east London that soared in value when the city was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games. When the crash came, Mulryan owed Irish banks almost €2.5 billion. However, the developer is reported to have succeeded in repaying most of this debts.

Commenting on the award, Mulryan said: “Our core values at Ballymore include exciting design and placemaking, and this award is testament to that approach. We are a developer intent on creating a cultural economy around the areas we develop, creating inspiring places with intelligently designed homes anchored by culture and community.

“Our entry into this award featured details of how we delivered on these aspirations. We are thrilled with what has been achieved and thank the judges for their support of Ballymore.”