Every once in a while, an Irish property comes on the market looking and sounding like something from beyond your wildest dreams  - and at the lowered price of just over $2.1 million it just might be

This waterfront retreat on Mermaid Isle in southern County Kerry is absolutely one of those properties. The stunning property went on the market in 2006 at $3.2 million but now appears listed on Daft.ie for $2,124,757. 

On the peninsula of Mermaid Isle, a protected inlet of Kenmare Bay, sit a stunning but incredibly cozy main house and a quaint guest house that was once a fisherman’s cottage.

Also included in the listing? Illaundrane, a private island just off the shore; 4,000 ft of private shoreline with access to crystal clear water for swimming, bathing and snorkeling; and neighbors such as seals, dolphins, otters, and seabirds.

The property was listed by Engel & Völkers, with an asking price of $3.4 million (€2.95 million) but now appears on Daft.ie for $2,124,757 exactly!

The 25 acres include a forest, Illaundrane Island, and two outdoor hot tubs.

The three-story main house is an architectural masterpiece, lovingly and carefully built in 2001 with design elements from around the world: Californian Douglas Fir beams, stained glass windows, marble, limestone, doors, and wooden accents reclaimed from old churches and abandoned manor houses; French doors leading directly to the waterfront; an atrium tiled with Chinese slate.

The house was built barn-style, with wide open spaces, vaulted ceilings, and sweeping, south-facing windows that flood with the sunshine.

It includes an open plan kitchen and living area, a sunroom, an atrium leading on to a terrace, a library, a master bedroom with an en-suite bath boasting a soaking tub and a double shower, a second bedroom accessed by a wooden staircase leading from the library, and a large open plan area currently used as a studio and workspace which could be easily converted into additional bedrooms.

The guest cottage, hidden in the woodlands, also boasts stunning views and is a renovated fisherman’s cottage with exposed stone walls.

According to the listing description, “Dolphins patrol in front of the house and curious seals bask on the rocks in the bay. The mature wooded groves and the island are home to many different kinds of seabirds, otters and many other animals.”

Speaking with the Daily Mail, Ron Krueger, the property’s agent described it as “A perfect property for someone looking for a special retreat for their family” and someone who “loves the peace and quiet of Ireland.”

Nearby attractions include the lovely Kerry towns of Sneem, Caherdaniel, and Kenmare.

Mermaid Isle is also a short drive away from Cork and Kerry Airports.

To view the full listing, click here.

If money were no object, would you snap up this property, or does your dream Irish home have different criteria? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 * Originally published in September 2016.