Land, an A-rated home big enough for most families, with room for horses, along with an island - not the kitchen kind - and the option to fish for your very own catch of the day.
With many coastal properties exceeding the budgets of mere mortals, lakeside settings offer much of the same vistas, and often for a fraction of the cost.
If you’re looking for wide-open spaces where you can keep horses and chickens, grow-your-own vegetables and fish a lake where you own an island, The Thatch in rural south Co. Sligo might appeal.
Address: The Thatch, Falleens, Monasteraden, Co. Sligo, F45 DH42
Asking price: €495,000
Agent: Savills
The property, The Thatch, is mis-monikered for there isn’t a sheaf of thatch to be seen on any of the buildings.
Instead, there are solar panels on the roof and the four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached house of 201 square metres boasts an A1 rating, upgraded significantly from its original mid-1990s construction.
The residence is set on 10 acres of land that comprises equestrian facilities, an orchard and lakeshore frontage.
Famed for its trout and pike fishing, the lake in question is Lough Gara.
And the property comes with an island on said lake, which gives you bragging rights in anyone’s book.
The location is south-east County Sligo, near the borders with Roscommon and Mayo.
It is rural yet well-connected.
The heritage town of Boyle, over the county line in Roscommon, is about 14 kilometres by car.
Ballaghadereen in Co. Mayo is a distance of 12 kilometres. Castlebaldwin in Co Sligo is about 30 kilometres away.
Ireland West Airport at Knock, Co Mayo, is just under 32 kilometres away. Dublin city centre is a distance of 198 kilometres, a journey time of 2.5 hours.
Inside the house, the accommodation is to the left of the large entrance hall.
There are four double bedrooms here.
The kitchen cum living room is a large, broken-plan space with charming country cottage decorative elements that suit the setting but never fall into the realm of pastiche.
It starts with latch and black-hinged, panelled doors. The cabinets painted a soft, rainy sky grey had similar panelled fronts, but here there are brass hinges.
These match the handles on the six-burner range cooker.
The island features two drawers and has a timber countertop.
An inglenook-style fireplace has a mantle set high above, as was tradition.
The fireplace has been lined with mosaic black tiles that frame the wood-burning stove and also reflect heat into the space.
The kitchen leads through to a dual aspect living room that is bright and enjoys a southerly aspect.
Two sets of double doors open out to the garden.
The grounds are well planted with mature trees and an orchard.
Anyone keen to keep horses or ponies for the kids will love the fact that there are several stables, a hay barn and other outbuildings, along with a sand exercise ring and the aforementioned acreage.
There is a vegetable patch and a jetty where you could head out onto the water to catch a fish for supper, which might appeal to fans of grow-your-own.
The boat shown isn’t included in the sale, but selling agent for Savills, Cianan Duff, feels that the owners may be open to selling it to the next owner.
Inch Island, which almost looks like two small isles, is also included in the sale.
Ownership is to the water level. It gives you bragging rights more than anything.
This part of the overall real estate may even be a crannog, for the lake is said to be littered with them.
Nearby are bogland trails consisting of looped walks, also suitable for cycling, just three kilometres from Ballaghaderreen, while Lough Key Forest Park offers an abundance of amenities.
The A1 BER-rated property is seeking €495,000.
