Acheson Family Purchases Abbeville Stud from Eimear Mulhern in Kildare

The Acheson family has purchased Abbeville Stud in Kilnagornan, County Kildare, from breeder Eimear Mulhern, a transaction confirmed to Thoroughbred Daily News via reporting in The Irish Field and direct comment from Mulhern. Abbeville is a 110-acre property outside Kildare town described in The Irish Field as a prominent producer of flat-bred horses, and Mulhern says the farm was sold privately.

The stud’s modern configuration began after Mulhern moved Abbeville to Kilnagornan following the sale of Meadow Court at Maddenstown to Abu Dhabi-based Al Shira’aa Racing in 2016. The property previously traded as Abbeville and Meadow Court Studs at Maddenstown on the Curragh before that transaction, making the Kilnagornan site the current base for Mulhern’s breeding operation until this sale.

Mulhern, who told The Irish Field, “I've been running the stud since I was 25 and I just wanted to wind it down on my own terms. It's been emotional but I'm delighted the stud has been bought by an Irish family so steeped in the industry,” bred horses including Approve, Gutaifan, Homme De Loi and Approach The Bench. While winding down the Abbeville operation, she will continue to breed and currently boards mares at the Irish National Stud and at Newtown Stud; she also remains chairman of Goffs, a role she has held since 2005, and serves on the Leopardstown board.

Mulhern described how the sale was initiated: “I mentioned to Andrew Nolan of Goffs Property to keep me in mind if he had any clients interested in a property like Abbeville. Quite soon afterwards I had a couple of enquiries and the deal was done.” The Irish Field reports the sale was arranged privately through that channel; no financial terms or formal closing date have been disclosed.

The buyers are identified simply as the Acheson family, who race under the Robcour banner and are better known for National Hunt stock than flat breeding. Robcour’s colours—familiar pink, white and black silks—have been carried by Bob Olinger, Gerri Colombe and Teahupoo, and Robcour will be represented at Cheltenham by Heart Wood and Skylight Hustle. The Irish Field lists a growing band of potential broodmares associated with the Achesons, including Air Of Entitlement, Kala Conti, Highland Crystal, Only By Night and Mange Tout. TDN notes, “In July last year, the Acheson family made another significant purchase when acquiring a minor stake in Ecurie des Monceaux.”

“The Acheson family has bought Abbeville Stud,” the reporting chain confirms, and “It’s believed that Rob Acheson will take responsibility for Abbeville,” according to The Irish Field. However, “Future plans for Abbeville Stud under the Acheson's ownership are not yet known,” TDN adds. Missing details for follow-up include the sale price, the contract completion date, an on-the-record statement from Rob or Brian Acheson about management and strategy, and whether existing Abbeville staff or the current mare roster will remain in place. The transfer of this 110-acre flat-bred operation to a family with expanding broodmare interests reshapes local bloodstock geography; the next confirmations from Robcour will determine whether Abbeville stays a flat-bred producer or is folded into the Achesons’ National Hunt pipeline.