A reclusive hideaway, 110 acres of grazing land — or both

By Rose Martin

Thursday, December 03, 2009

IT’S in one of the most beautiful locations in the West of Ireland and has enough land and is remote enough to be a perfect retreat.

This farm at Munterowen East, Connemara, is at the upper end of the Maam valley, minutes from Killary Harbour, and three miles from Leenane, made famous in Martin McDonagh’s play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Set on the eastern slopes of the Maamturk Mountains and bisected by the Joyce river, the 110-acre hill farm has a modest, single storey dwelling.

The house is semi-derelict, but could be and converted into a comfortable breakaway home, says Rod Spencer of Spencer Auctioneers.

Any changes to the cluster of dwellings will be subject to planning permission, and applications should be carefully examined by Galway County Council in this area of outstanding scenic amenity. The property will best suit those of a reclusive nature, but it is close enough to Clifden and Galway for the occasional break-out. It’s used for sheep grazing, and most of the land is in one block, but divided by a public road, with the house, outbuildings and 49 acres on one side, and the remaining 61 acres, on the other.

Most of the property is fenced or divided by old stone walls, and the house is set into the hill and approached by a farm track.

The farm may also appeal to local farmers looking to expand their grazing. The property is on offer at €250,000. The land is eligible under the replacement REPS due in 2010.

Buildings at the entrance to the farm were once the home of the Ó Máille family. Pádraig O Máille became deputy cathaoirleach of the first Dáil.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, December 03, 2009