Ireland's top getaways, from Dingle to Down

From the law courts on tour in Roundstone to surfing in Sligo, Ireland is still a strong rival to the overseas property market. Kate Butler reports

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But Carlingford remains charming with the ruin of King John's Castle at its centre, along with well known restaurants and bars such as Magees Bistro, the Oyster Catcher and PJ O'Hare's pub - you can see the likes of Jim Corr socialising in the village. The marina has been newly rebuilt and water sports of all kind are popular; there's also an adventure centre which is a draw for stag parties and teenagers alike.

Conor Haughey recently developed land overlooking the harbour and sold six detached houses for over 1m each. Brian Carroll of Sherry FitzGerald Carroll says that people either want to be close to the town, or to have a view.

"In the town's estates you'll get a three-bed house for €360,000 and a four bed for €420,00," he says. "There are very few cottages left in the village - most want to be within walking distance of the village, maybe a little on the outskirts. You can go up higher for spectacular views. Up at Mountain Park you can see as far as the Isle of Man on a clear day. Most investors buy in estates close to the village - you'll get rents of €450 or €500 for the weekend."

Co Galway

Clifden and Roundstone

AS CHI-CHI as Ranelagh, Roundstone is one of the most exclusive spots for the Irish holidaying family. Known to some as "the Law Society on tour", the locals are completely outpriced from some parts of the village - houseowners on Inis Nee, which is accessed by a causeway (or, quite commonly, by helicopter), tend to trade amongst themselves so properties rarely come on the market. When they do, even poor properties will make €600,000 or €700,000.

There's a healthy academic fraternity in the village - last year, cartographers and publishers Tim and Mairead Robinson bequethed their seafront home to NUI Galway. Sailing doesn't dominate, but there are plenty of big boats around - Bill Whelan kept a boat in the town.

The Ballyconeely golf course is between Roundstone and Clifden , but the big past-times are shopping for designer goods, eating top nosh, and generally being seen about the place.

According to local agent Martin O'Connor, the price of property is putting some holiday makers off. "Some are spreading their wings because of the cost," he says. "They're going to Cashel which is equally as nice but not as pricey."

Clifden is also popular but has a more arty and bohemian flavour. Home to a small French community, the village has a year-round cosmopolitan flavour, but also has a number of good quality hotels which attract more transient visitors. The Sky Road drive is one of Clifden's big attractions, and the prices aren't anywhere as heady as Roundstone. You can get a four-bed house overlooking the bay for €425,000 while houses outside the town can be got for €250,000.

Co Kerry

Dingle and Kenmare

SLIGHTLY larger than many of the popular destinations around the country, Kenmare town can support numerous high class bars and restaurants, including Packies, The Lime Tree and Old Bank House, along with two five star hotels, The Park Kenmare and Sheenfalls.

Built in the shadow of the Caher mountains and McGillicuddy Reeks, and on the edge of Kenmare River (the local name for the bay), the town has glorious surroundings. It doesn't overlook the bay, however, so those looking for a holiday home with a view have to go further out, up one of the mountain roads.

Most Irish holiday makers seeking to become neighbours with the likes of Vinnie Jones or Moya Doherty and John Colgan opt to stay within walking distance of the town, where you can get a three bed in a new development for an average of €300,000. Houses further out with a view start at €400,000, and the sky's the limit, according to John Daly of Sherry FitzGerald Daly.

Dingle, another popular destination in the Kingdom, mightn't have the upmarket range of Kenmare, but houses are just as pricey in the little fishing village - and gateway to the Blaskets - which attracts more than its fair share of legal eagles in August.

With McCarthy's and St John's Church promoting live gigs, the vibrant nightlife attracts a younger crowd, and you're likely to see Mundy and Roesy playing there, while Jonny Quinn, the drummer from Snow Patrol, is also a visitor.

"You'd pay €350,000 for a three-bed semi in town, €250,000 for a two-bed apartment," says Brid Griffin of DNG WH Giles.

"Cottages are hard to find, but you're looking at excess €350,000. The west of Dingle seems to be far more popular with holiday makers, but I think the east is just as nice and is less busy, with less development."

Co Waterford

Dunmore East

SITUATED on the mouth of Waterford Harbour, Dunmore East has always been a strategically important village and historically had great wealth. Still a thriving fishing village - one recently beset by tragedy with the loss of the Pere Charles and Honedew II trawlers - the community is supplemented by well-heeled second home owners from Waterford city and Dublin.

There are two parts to the village, the upper and lower - right on the water's edge, the Strand Hotel is at the centre of the lower village where the core of the holiday makers stay. Close to the two beaches - Lawlor's beach and Councillor's Strand - this is a big draw for families who spend the day on the sand. The sailing club and adventure centre are based in the harbour area and there are plans to enlarge it for more moorings. Holiday homes can be bought in new developments for about €350,000, while a detached house on the outskirts would cost about €500,000. According to John Daly of Sherry FitzGerald Daly, buying in the upper village, however, would set you back about €1 or €2 million - these are period properties that rarely come onto the market.

In the upper there is also a park which has views of Hook Head, and there are the Haven and Ocean hotels.

Co Clare

Lahinch

IT'S NOT quite Surfing USA, but Lahinch is one of the towns and villages on the west coast - along with Bundoran in Co Donegal and Strandhill in Co Sligo - to have new life breathed into it thanks to some serious wave action. Lahinch is built right on the beach, so there's a lovely promenade in the village. There are two surf schools, one run by John McCarthy who won a bronze medal in this year's European Surfing Championship, and the area is seeing an even greater surge of interest thanks to the challenge of the Aill Na Searrach wave off the Cliffs of Moher. Not only that, but last year 44 surfers rode the one wave on Lahinch beach, breaking a world record.

According to Aine Hussey of Sherry FitzGerald Hussey Madden, the introduction of broadband to the area is also having an impact as more young people are choosing to make Lahinch their home and perhaps commute to Limerick which is just an hour away.

"With the surfing and kayaking, a lot more young people are coming into the town and some are moving here permanently," she says. "So it's not so seasonal any more. A three-bed semi, maybe a mile from Lahinch, would cost from €250,000. A detached hosue in Lahinch would be about €450,000. People are looking to be in the town more, they want to be able to walk to the facilities, so they'll go for stand-alone houses, or the estates."

But the town hasn't been overrun by surfers - the golfing contingent is still strong with two courses, the Lahinch and the Castle. In the village there's the Atlantic hotel and Michael Vaughan, who is the fourth generation of his family to run a hotel in Lahinch, has just opened Vaughan Lodge, a new luxury golf and leisure hotel.

Co Down

Strangford Lough

HEADING north for the summer holidays may seem a contrary thing to do, but southerners are doing it in their droves. Strangford Lough's glorious natural features, unusual wildlife and mild microclimate is attracting more and more second home buyers from all over Ireland and prices are accordingly quite high.

While you can get an apartment in a new development on the shore for between £220,000 and £260,000, some are willing to spend over £500,000 for a second home in the Castle Street area of Strangford village - Georgian houses with gardens and views can reach £785,000, according to Michael Dunne of Eric Cairns Partnership Estate Agents.

Almost totally landlocked, the lough is dotted with islands making it popular for sailing while the surrounding countryside and Mourne mountains boast two grand stately homes, the Castleward Estate and the Mount Stewart Estate.

Cultural events include the Castleward Opera festival in June and there are frequently jazz concerts and craft fairs around the area. The Royal County Down golf club is a half hour drive away. Both villages of Portaferry and Strangford have developed excellent seafood cuisine - Rick Stein featured the area in his BBC series Food Heroes.

Co Mayo

Westport

WESTPORT isn't the hippy magnet that Galway city is, but the jewel in Mayo's crown has long been a little bohemian - it was here that Sonia Kelly pioneered the idea of health tourism in Ireland, opening the Cloona Health Centre in 1973.

Blessed with a spectacular setting, on the shore of Clew Bay with the iconic Croagh Patrick behind it, Westport has also benefited from the graceful design of James Wyatt. In 1780, Lord Sligo commissioned Wyatt to plan a town for a place for his workers and tenants to live.

One of the striking features of the Georgian layout is the Mall, a promenade along the river Carrow Beg.

Although there is a flood of incomers for events such as the Westport Horse and Pony Show in June and the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage in July, the town isn't blighted by seasonal whimsy.

There are 12 blue flag beaches within 45 minutes of the town, and it's also a gateway to Achill Island, Connemara and the freshwater fishing mecca, Lough Corrib. But there's also fishing to be had in Westport itself, and its golfing has attracted fans of the sport such as Hugh Grant.

The average townhouse costs about €300,000, while an apartment would be about €230,000, according to Gerard O'Toole of Sherry FitzGerald O'Toole.

"The south side of Westport has always been popular - there's Rosbeg, Murrisk, Lecanvey, Kilsallagh and Old Head - these little pockets along the south coast are unspoilt and hugely popular," says O'Toole. "A new-build detached house, measuring 2,000sq ft would cost €500,000. Smaller houses would be €350,000 to €380,000."