Live in the shadow of the legendary Liscarroll Castle

THERE’s a pretty impressive backdrop to this Main Street, Liscarroll, home up for sale: the landmark Liscarroll Castle looms into view beyond the garden boundary.

Famed in song and ballad, the 12th century castle with its circular towers and long curtain walls serves to root the village near the Cork-Limerick border to almost 1,000 years of history. It also makes for a striking garden feature for a few houses on this side of the village's main street.

Likely to be associated with the Barrys who acquired it through allegiance to King John, it saw off sieges before it was taken by Irish rebels in 1642 AD and before Cromwell wrested it back.

It spent the intervening centuries in the ownership of the Earls of Egmont, and the OPW in the mid-1900s oversaw works to its Anglo-Norman structure, reckoned to be one of the most important military constructions of the period.

New to the market in Liscarroll near Buttevant, and blending the old with the new, is this Main Street residential and renovated property, once let for self-catering guests, with a long back garden and in-your-face castle views.

For those who think history is a load of hot air, this stone-built house has a different selling point a first floor sauna as just one taste of its creature comforts.

It has three bedrooms at its upper level, each with an en suite bathroom, and the bedrooms have wood-sheeted ceilings.

Beyond the hall are an 18' by 11' sitting room with floor to ceiling stone fireplace and French doors to the rear garden, a large 17' by 17' open kitchen and dining room.

Continuing the wood floor theme, the ceiling here is wood-clad and there's a pine surround open fireplace. In addition, the fully renovated house has a utility room and guest loo, and the stairwell has an exposed stone wall as a feature.

The home, in immaculate condition throughout, is on the market with Sherry FitzGerald Walsh with a €220,000 guide, and they expect strong interest given its condition, appeal and location within a 45 minute commute of both Cork and Limerick cities. Buying interest may come from owner-occupiers or investors.