Many people who make the move to Ireland do so because they have an ancestral connection to the island or a love of the feeling of history and lush green countryside. Whatever the reason, we’re quite sure that most people don’t see their dream home in Ireland as a sterile holiday home.

With this in mind we took a look at some seriously unique and historic properties on the market.

Okay, so these may be beyond most people’s budgets, but one can dream right!? What could be better than living in an authentically historic Irish home.

Here are our top picks:

Mermaid Isle

Where? Illaundrane, Sneem, County Kerry

How much? $3,255,857 (€2,950,000)

What? Six-bedroom detached house with three bathrooms

Why is it unique? Located on over 25 oceanfront acres, over half an island

Features:

- Overall floor area of main home 450 square meters (4,844 square feet)

- Main home is slate-clad, recently built but in the style of a medieval post and beam barn, fitted with centuries-old appointments, windows and doors.

- The fisherman’s cottage on site is an ancient structure that has been refurbished.

- Two acclaimed homes located on over 25 oceanfront acres, on half a private island,

- Over 4,000 feet of shoreline

- Two hot-tubs

- Boat launches and moorings

- Located just off the famed Ring of Kerry, in the southwest of Ireland

- A bonus 3 additional acres of peat used to fuel four fireplaces on the property

Find out more here.

The Old Coastguard Station

Where? Derkmore, Dromard, County Sligo

How much? $1,594,298 (€1,445,000)

What? Detached five-bedroom house with six bathrooms

Why is it unique? Classic period stone building includes 1,000 feet of water frontage, original boathouse, slipway, watchtower and private beach.

Features:

- Overall floor area: 414.8 square meters (4,465 square feet)

- Breath-taking views across Sligo Bay

- 1,000 feet of waterside frontage include the original boathouse and slipway leading down to a small sandy beach with two moorings

- Property has been refurbished with all internal woodwork in solid light oak

- Accommodation is spread over two levels and consists of three main reception rooms – the study, an office and a library – together with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, kitchen, utility room, shell room, pantry and boot room. Four of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms

- Site extends to about 7 acres.

- Front gardens are enclosed by stone walls and native shrubbery to provide protection from the elements.

- To the rear of the house there is a secure, sheltered and paved (300 sq. m.) courtyard which houses the original stone fresh-water well and useful outbuildings

- Outbuildings consist of five original coastguard station buildings, two recently built garages and a green house

- Located on the southwestern shores of the Ballisadare Bay just as it joins Sligo Bay. The property is about 5 minutes from the village of Beltra, 11 minutes from Ballisadare and 18 minutes from Sligo Town

Find out more here.

Netterville Manor

Where? Dowth, Navan, County Meath

How much? $2,482,472 (€2,250,000)

What? Detached six-bedroom house with five bathrooms

Why is it unique?

This old rectory is a classic example of Victorian architecture, located in the Boyne Valley, the historical heart of Ireland, with a Church on the grounds.

Features:

- Overall floor area of main home 562 square meters (6,049 square feet)

- Over the past decade, the present owners have undertaken an extensive renovation and restoration of the house, outbuildings and gardens

- Site contains a church, a banquet hall and ample accommodation

- Fenian, writer, poet, novelist, and later advocte for Irish Catholics in America, John Boyle O'Reilly was born at Netterville, in around June 1844.

- House includes an entrance porch, entrance hall, dining room, drawing room, sitting room, study, library, kitchen and utility room. Upstairs there is the master bedroom with walk-in-wardrobe and en suite bathroom, two further double bedrooms and first floor of the library which can also be accessed from the ground level. Also located on the first floor is a one bedroom self-contained apartment with access from the utility room on the ground floor.

- The grounds include a chapel, games room and car port

Find out more here.

Dromore Mill

Where? Bantry, County Cork

How much? $1,379,016 (€1,250,000)

What? Six-bedroom detached house with five bathrooms

Why is it unique? This house was formerly a Victorian watermill, powered by an eight-meter diameter wheel.

Features:

- Overall floor area of main home 400 square meters (4,306 square feet)

- Property includes an entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen, dining room, library, office, pantry, laundry, boot room, as well as six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a gallery

- The site also includes a two-bedroom guest cottage, a garage, riverside grounds, woods, pools and waterfalls.

The property is spread over about 1.76 hectares (4.50 acres)

- The mill was partly converted in the 1970s with a full conversion and restoration taking place within the last 5 years.

Find out more here.

The Old Rectory

Where? Blessington, County Wicklow

How much? $937,510 (€850,000)

What? Detached five-bedroom house with three bathrooms

Why is it unique? This old property was built in 1870 and is located on 4.9 acres (1.98 hectares)

Features:

- Overall floor area of main home 265 square meters (2,852 square feet)

- The property is situated on the periphery of the Blessington town on some 4.9 acres (1.98 hectares) of mature pasture lands

- The house links seamlessly with the gardens and wider setting, views extending to the Blessington Lakes.

- There is an abundance of windows affording views of the garden and lakes.

Find out more here.

Ballindooley Castle

Where? Castlegar, County Galway

How much? $634,198 (€575,000)

What? Detached three-bedroom house with two bathrooms

Why is it unique? A 15th century historic castle just a short drive from the center of Galway

Features:

- Overall floor area of main home 315.9 square meters (3,400 square feet)

- The 15th century castle is in excellent condition having undergone a great deal of recovery, renovation and repair over 22 years

- The castle is presumed to have been built in the late 15th century (approximately 1480). It is a Norman castle and was probably built by the DeBurgo Family

- The castle measures 3,400 square feet approximately and is offered for sale including all furniture, fixtures and fittings, curtains, drapes, window treatments, beds, tables, chairs, delph, right down to the last candlestick

- Located on about half an acre of land, surrounded by low walls and hedges

Find out more here.