What will €140,000 buy in Clones and Cavan?

Two homes, one price: A three-bedroom townhouse in Co Monighan or a cottage near the lake in Thornhill?

Cara Street, Clones
Cara Street, Clones

Town

Address: Cara Street, Clones, Co Monaghan

Agent: Terry Hyland

Near the border between Fermanagh and Cavan, the second phase of the Ulster Canal restoration project – which provided a new marina and a kilometre of restored canal and towpath – opened last June in the market town of Clones. Once a monastic settlement, one of its key landmarks is an early medieval high cross on the diamond.

This three-bedroom property on Cara Street has a sittingroom and a separate eat-in kitchen. Extending to 78sq m (839sq ft), with an E2 Ber rating, it requires modernisation to create a comfortable home. Dublin city centre is a two-hour drive from the town.

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Plus: Restoration of Ulster Canal will draw tourists to the town

Minus: The steep garden will need attention

Ballsbridge mews formerly home to Irish musician for €1.95mOpens in new window ]

Thornhill Cottage, Thornhill, Blacklion, Co Cavan
Thornhill Cottage, Thornhill, Blacklion, Co Cavan

Country

Address: Thornhill Cottage, Thornhill, Blacklion, Co Cavan

Agent: Sean O’Boyle Auctioneers Ltd

This is a large three-bed bungalow in need of modernisation on about an acre of grounds in the picturesque borderlands. It is just 4km from Blacklion, Neven Maguire’s hometown and a similar distance from Glenfarne, in Co Leitrim, the one-time site of the Ballroom of Romance. The sizeable house, which extends to 117sq m (1,259sq ft) and has a D2 Ber, is a bare shell but offers a detached garage as a potential studio or office space. Lough MacNean is nearby, offering fishing, a jetty, a picnic area and a playground.

Plus: The recent installation of a new boiler will be helpful when upgrading

Minus: It may qualify for the vacant property grant

*This article was amended at 10.25am on November 26th

Alanna Gallagher

Alanna Gallagher

Alanna Gallagher is a property journalist with The Irish Times