Rory McIlroy puts Northern Ireland home up for sale for £2m

Golfer Rory McIlroy has put his Northern Ireland home up for sale, with an asking price of £2m.

The five bedroom property was built in 2006 and sits on a 14 acre estate at Moneyreagh in County Down.

It includes a gymnasium and a golf practice area, complete with a putting green and driving range.

The sports star bought the house three years ago but has now decided to sell it due to his increasing overseas professional commitments.

The 23-year-old is currently ranked as the world's number one golfer and spends up to 50 weeks a year playing international tournaments.

For the past year, he has been mainly based in Florida and both of the major titles he holds to date were won in the United States.

'Special place'

He is said to have thought long and hard about the sale, but made the decision on "purely practical and commercial reasons".

The sale is being handled by estate agents Rodgers & Brown, who are based in McIroy's home town of Holywood in County Down.

Michael Rodgers, a partner at Rodgers & Brown, told the Press Association; "I would say interest in the house will be extremely good, both locally and potentially world wide. We will have to wait and see."

In a brochure produced for the sale, McIlroy is quoted saying: "I have really enjoyed living here. It is a really special place which has allowed me to relax and unwind - when I get time!"

Just last year, in an interview at his Moneyreagh property, he told BBC Northern Ireland that he saw himself "always living here".

However, Paul Gray, the manager of Holywood Golf Club where McIlroy learned to play as a child, said the move made sense.

"I don't think its any surprise that he has to move away from Northern Ireland, he's working in American now effectively.

"He's playing a lot more there so, its no surprise to anyone really. I think that he definitely has to go and base himself there."

However, McIlroy has said that he will always consider his native Northern Ireland as "home" and will stay at his parents' house in Holywood on future trips back here.