There’s something really special about sitting by the waterside in Ireland and taking in the beauty of the country. Imagine owning your very own lakeside property?

Inspired by WB Yeats' “Lake Isle of Innisfree” we thought we’d take a look all around Ireland at houses with their very own lakes. Of course, in Yeats’ poem the lakeside house he dreams of is a “a small cabin" that he will "build there, of clay and wattles made,” and while that might be romantic we thought we’d rather look for luxury and pie-in-the-sky dream properties.

Here’s our top five picks for lakeside luxury in Ireland:

Borleagh Manor,

This house is actually three homes on one property but the cottage has direct access to the man-made one-acre trout lake.

Where? Gorey, Inch, County Wexford

How much? $5,348,422 (€4,750,000)

What? Four-bedroom house with four bathrooms and two 2-bed cottages

Features:

- Borleagh Manor is a five-bay, 2-story over semi-basement period residence, built circa 1840

- Overall floor area 915 square meters (9,849 square feet)

- Located at the end of a one kilometer avenue of beech trees

- Ground floor of the house includes reception hall, drawing room, dining room, kitchen/dining/family room, butler’s pantry, stairs leading to the library and sunroom

- First floor accommodation includes three large double bedrooms, two of which are en suite, and a guest bathroom.

- In the basement is a games room, wine cellar, billiard room, office, study, bathroom, utility rooms, laundry, stores and a large boot room.

- The cottage, approx. 146sq.m/1,572 sq.ft, overlooks the lake. The property includes a kitchen, utility room, living area and two bedrooms. French windows lead to the terrace, which overlooks the lake

- The Gardener’s Cottage has views of the walled garden and the paddocks. Measuring approx. 74 sq.m /800sq.ft it includes an open plan high ceiling kitchen/dining/living room, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

- The outbuildings include the original lofted courtyard, with a feature of box hedging and a fountain, 15 loose boxes, a feed house, tack room, workshop and staff canteen and office.

- Additional buildings include a coach house, open fronted sheds, machinery barns and storehouses.

- The lake is one acre in size and 12 feet deep. It is ideal for fishing, swimming and boating.

- There are numerous golf courses in the area. There are also bridle paths.

About the town:

Inch town is located between Arklow and Gorey in Wexford. Gorey, with a population of over 9,000 is closest town. It is about one hour’s drive from Dublin.

For more information click here.

Ballyneale House

This mansion set on 17 acres has its own ornamental lake, including an island.

Where? Ballingarry, County Limerick

How much? $ 2,812,124 (€2,500,000)

What? Seven bedroom house with four bathrooms

Features:

- Overall floor area c. 8,000 square feet

- Located on 17 acres, close to the village of Ballingary and just 34 miles from Shannon Airport

- Property includes the principal house, manager's house, staff apartment, folly cottage, all-weather tennis court, swimming pool, courtyard stabling and grazing paddocks

- The principal house is a five-bay fronted house with an attractive stone façade and projecting two-story wings with elliptical arches

- The gardens including manicured lawns, the ornamental lake, and graveled drive and also includes an orchard, kitchen garden, courtyard with coach houses, tennis courts, a long pond and sunken garden

- The sporting facilities within the grounds include a tennis court, croquet lawn, swimming pool and pleasure walks

About the town:

Ballingarry, with a population of 761, is a well-connected location, midway between Newcastlewest and Charleville. The town includes a church, primary school, shops, and a GAA pitch.

For more information click here.

Ard Na Mara

Ninety-four acres of waterfront land on Bantry Bay including “sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, mature forests and a beautiful lake setting to large lawn areas.”

Where? Reenabulliga, Adrigole, County Cork

How much? $ 2,698,384 (€2,400,000)

What? A detached four-bedroom house with three bathrooms

Features:

- Overall floor area 385 square meters (4,144 square feet)

- Large waterfront estate on the shores of Bantry Bay with sea views across the bay towards Adrigole lighthouse and the Sheep's Head peninsula with mountain scenery in the backdrop.

- Mature, south-facing grounds have a variety of scenery from sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, mature forests and a beautiful lake setting to large lawn areas.

- The private shoreline with sandy and shingle beaches extends to some 2,000m / 6,500ft and is safe for swimming

- Throughout the property a proper road network has been established to make the various houses and natural amenities easily accessible.

- The main house has a total size of approx. 280 sq m / 3,000 sq ft spread over two floors and two stone cottages.

- In the forest area of the property lies a two-bedroom log cabin

About the town:

Adrigole is a village situated on the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, with a population of 450. The scattered village is strung out over approximately nine kilometers along the north-western shore of Bantry Bay on the scenic south coast of the Beara Peninsula.

For more information click here.

Lakefield House

Four-bedroom house with three guest houses fronted on to Caragh Lake.

Where? Caragh Lake, County Kerry

How much? $ 2,136,146 (€1,900,000)

What? Four-bedroom detached house with four bathrooms, along with three guest houses

Features:

- Overall floor area 325.2 square meters (3,500 square feet)

- The house was built in 1978 and includes solid concrete floors, double glazing and stone-paved terraces

- A quaint Irish cottage and two apartments are included on the property

- Property includes outhouses, games rooms, sauna, boathouse, gardens, docking area on the lake, parking and storage sheds.

- The main house includes a sitting/dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, guest bathroom, and four bedrooms with bathrooms

About the town:

Caragh Lake is a large lake in County Kerry and is included within a large Special Area of Conservation, ("Killarney National Park, Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Caragh River Catchment"). The lake is glacial in origin.

There are excellent primary and secondary schools in Caragh Lake (1km), Killorglin (6km) and Killarney 25 km. Kerry Airport is just 30km away and Cork Airport is just 110km away.

For more information click here.

Portlick Castle

Ten-bed 12th century castle located on Lough Ree.

Where? Glasson, Athlone, County Westmeath.

How much? $ 2,136,146 (€1,900,000).

What? Ten-bedroom castle with ten bathrooms with an adjacent two-bed lodge.

Features:

- This is a 12th century Dillon Castle, located on Lough Ree, with 30 acres of walled gardens, wooded areas and pasture land

- The castle includes three function rooms, a dining room and a library, the banqueting hall has a renaissance style fireplace and will provide a truly medieval experience

- The castle has a restored carriage house at the rear and fortified roofed yards. The two-story carriage house has 3 / 4 bedrooms, living room with fireplace and separate family sized kitchen.

- The estate has two wells, one more recent and one dating back 800 years to the Norman settlers.

- The fortified yards have been approved as residences for six dwellings with rear estate entrance and car park. The approval, though lapsed, is not seen as excluded from renewal as dwellings are enclosed.

About the town:

Glasson is a village of just under 1,000 people 6.2 miles north of Athlone, close to Lough Ree, the second of the three major lakes on the River Shannon. The core of the village consists of a late 18th/early 19th century terrace of two-story rose-covered houses. Suburban development has taken place on all approaches to the village in recent times.

For more information click here.