Chunk of the “Gold Coast” part of package

YOU could almost say this sale at Ballyrisode, near Schull in west Cork, is unprecedented, considering what’s on offer and the location.

Six miles west of the sailing village, this sale includes 43 acres, a chunk of the “Gold Coast”, and a derelict house in stunning location.

What offers? Auctioneer Paddy Murray says it’s making a million already, but that offer might only be a starting point. After all, the ruin almost guarantees permission for a replacement dwelling. Close by, a 35-acre holding with a 4,500 square foot house, Shambala, has just sold through auctioneer, Charles McCarthy for a shave under e3 million; the buyer was a businessman from Dublin.

Schull draws a low-key, cross-section of millionaires from home and abroad.

The farm at Ballyrisode has rough grazing and some small fields and not one, but two beaches, with perhaps potential for a high tide mooring.

The scenery is beautiful, in wind, rain or hail, and the proximity to the village and the main road is a handy extra. You don’t want to be in Schull and not be able to get to the centre of things, particularly in Regatta Week.

While there is public access to one of the beaches on the land, the second is private, and a major selling point. Woodland and sharp outcrops create interest and a privacy barrier; a new or recontructed house would have no lack of shelter from prying eyes and the prevailing south-westerlies.

Paddy Murray of ERA Paddy Murray Auctioneers is selling the property for its two owners, one in the US and the second still in Co Cork: both vendors have strong family ties to the area.

The days after Christmas will see west Cork thronged with visitors, including potential buyers looking to buy into the lifestyle, as much as the land - a far cry from the smallholders who held on there through famine and economic depression.