Trading up: Ennis, Co Clare, €600,000

Sq m: 280 (3,000 sq ft)

There’s old world class to the Ennis private residence and grounds called Woodlands, at the Clare town’s Mill Road by the River Fergus: it’s even recalled that at one time the salmon in the river alongside were so abundant, their jumping kept the house’s residents awake at night!

Those fishing glory days are gone, but the house here with local history can easily be brought back to former glories, says estate agent Diarmuid McMahon of Sherry FitzGerald McMahon who guides at €600,000.

It’s close to a former bishop’s palace, and the local tennis club, and the grounds are private and enhanced by the Fergus river’s proximity. An earlier house here was burned down in 1921, and this replacement was bought in 1931 by then prominent Ennis businessman Dan McInerney, whose merchant business (later run by his son James) still trades under the family name nearby on the Mill Road.

Four-bedroomed Woodlands (built along the lines of the 19th century house it replaced) is now on the dated side, but has charm and character (plus an old Aga) along with adjoining old outbuildings and stable with conversion potential.

VERDICT: A special Ennis town buy, with historical links, river frontage and considerable scope.