I spend a few weeks of each year in Ireland, visiting family and friends, enjoying the greenery and (relatively) warm weather…and getting out on Ireland’s incredible golf courses…
Of course, I keep close tabs on real estate too; I own property in Ireland and am always on the lookout for new opportunities.
Even as I’ve traveled the world looking for profitable real estate investments these last years and set up part-time bases in Cabo San Lucas and Portugal…Ireland has always had my heart.
And I’m not the only one…
Visitors from around the world come to the Emerald Isle to enjoy the traditional culture, stunning vistas, and history. Heritage tours for those of Irish descent are extremely popular. Some even decide to make their home here, taking advantage of Ireland’s citizenship-by-ancestry program.
An in-law of one of my researchers bought a country home along the famed Ring of Kerry, on a rugged peninsula in the southwestern corner of Ireland, with the idea to retire there…perhaps open a little B&B as a hobby.
Below, my team has compiled some of the best cheap Irish properties on the market right now. The first two may be a bit small to open to visitors while you’re still there (likely you don’t want to be an innkeeper anyway). But for a vacationer looking for a laidback visit, it could work a charm. And, of course, you’ll have a haven in the quiet countryside when you want it.
Coole West, County Limerick
Listing Price: €90,000 ($107,118)
In the southwest of Ireland, Country Limerick sits on the estuary of the mighty River Shannon. While not a big hitter on Ireland’s tourist trail, Limerick city is one of Ireland’s oldest, founded by Vikings in 812 and featuring an impressive medieval castle at its heart.
The cottage above is found in the west of the county, close to the picturesque, wind-swept rocky coves and sandy beaches of north County Kerry. You’re also within an hour’s drive of Killarney, a popular tourist town, as well as the Dingle peninsula, where you’ll find one of Ireland’s last Irish language areas.
The cottage was built more than 100 years ago but renovated in 2008, with its thatched roof “re-ridged” in 2018. It sits on just over a half-acre and comes with outbuildings, perfect for storage, a workshop, artist studio, or maybe, with some work, a guest cottage.
Crickamore, County Donegal
Listing Price: €80,000 ($95,216)
Far to the north, west of Northern Ireland, Country Donegal is about as remote as you can get in Ireland. The landscape is rugged, perfect for extended hikes, bike trips, or horseback rides into the vast wilderness. Anglers will enjoy fishing in the lakes and rivers—not to mention the Atlantic. And, of course, you can also enjoy village life, complete with traditional music in the local pubs. Because it’s far removed from modern Ireland, the traditions of song, dance, and folklore have prevailed here.
This three-bedroom home puts you right inside Donegal’s “Gaeltacht,” the largest geographical Irish speaking region in the country. But don’t worry, you won’t have any problem getting by with English.
The home sits on an elevated lot, giving you panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Nearby lakes offer great fishing and water sports. And stunning unspoiled beaches aren’t too far away.
Ballingowan, County Offaly
Listing Price: €230,000 ($273,748)
Ballingowan, a townland in County Offaly, lies nearly dead-center in the middle of Ireland, giving you access to the lively seaside city of Galway to the west and the capital, Dublin, to the east. The nearby village of Belmont, population a couple hundred, has a pub and a shop. So, if you want to get away from it all, this is the place.
It’s a waterfront retreat…on the Grand Canal, which is connected to the River Shannon to the west. This old grain warehouse, built in 1895, has been brought up to date and converted into a comfortable four-bedroom while still maintaining the structure’s historic character. And don’t worry about boat traffic. The last cargo barge went through the canal in 1960, although you could navigate your own craft.
