A 200-year-old lighthouse standing on the coast of the largest of the Aran Islands is still up for sale, offering a rare opportunity to own a historical landmark.
Okay, so this little bit of history has been on the market for a few years and will take a pretty penny to renovate into something inhabitable but imagine the possibilities.
The Old Lighthouse, located on Inis Mór in the Aran Islands, is on the market for €550,000 ($670,000) and is listed by KMS Galway.
The lighthouse is situated on the highest point of the island and can be seen from anywhere on Inis Mór.
As a result, the two-centuries-old property boasts incredible views of the rugged landscapes of the Aran Islands and also offers jaw-dropping panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the coasts of Galway, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, and Mayo.
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The Old Lighthouse, also known as Eileen Mor Lighthouse, was constructed between 1812 and 1818 by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. It was designed by George Halpin Sr., a prominent Irish engineer who played a significant role in building several lighthouses around Ireland during that era. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1857 due to its poor positioning.
Ships approaching the Aran Islands to the north or south could not see the lighthouse due to its unusual inland position, while its elevated position of 122 meters above sea level also meant that ships couldn't see it when visibility was poor.
Aerial view of Inis Mor.
The Old Lighthouse is now a listed building within the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH).
The NIAH notes that the lighthouse is "unusually sited inland" and that it "dominates views in the middle of Árainn".
The property stands on more than two acres of land and is directly adjacent to the Dún Eochla monument - a large Celtic stone ringfort that is still in remarkable condition.
However, the ringfort is often overlooked due to the popularity of the nearby Dún Aonghasa. Dún Eochla dates back to between 550 and 800 AD and commands excellent views of the Atlantic Ocean.
* Originally published in 2021, updated in 2024.
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