Glenbeigh beauty

LIFE'S a beach sometimes, and for those who want to be beside the seaside, a second chance to buy a one-off house on the Ring of Kerry has come up.

A sale agreed and far advanced on this Glenbeigh beauty fell by the wayside in the last few weeks. While the vendors' plans to emigrate hit this unexpected speed-bump, the gem on the ring is expected to find another buyer quickly - despite the hike in price to a 2005 level of around €800,000.

This two-year old modern take on the traditional Irish vernacular is on two acres of land by the sea, with views to gazump for. It went for sale in summer 2004 with a €700,000-plus price guide, and sold for well over that, to a Limerick buyer as a holiday home.