Mane attraction
¤6.75m Horse Island comes with six cottages, a house, livestock sheds and much more, writes
THE current TV advertisements for the Lotto feature a ‘winner’ seeking to spend some of his new-found fortune on an island shopping spree. The destinations represented on the ads are generally sun-kissed and far-off, where the sea is turquoise and the sky is forever blue. Should I be so lucky as to land a massive jackpot any time soon, and if I am minded to buy my own island, I won’t need a plane to carry me where I want to go. I’ ll drive to Schull in West Cork and take a short boat ride to Horse Island.
Horse Island in Roaring Water Bay is for sale in its entire 157ac glory. The privately-owned spot is home to six cottages and a main house, all in impeccable order and finished to the highest standard with the main house extending to 4,500 sq ft. Other facilities include livestock sheds, storage spaces, a modern pier, a boathouse and a helicopter landing pad. The private treaty sale is handled jointly by Colliers International and by Ron Krueger of Volker and Engels, Kinsale. The price is guided at €6.75m.
The island was known for copper mining in Victorian times and the population reached its height in 1841 when the place was home to 137 people. The remains of the mining village are still visible. The current owner bought out all the landowners over a number of years and took on an ambitious building programme resulting in the perfect island retreat. At one point, a herd of Kobi cattle was reared on the land.
The island can be reached by boat from a wide range of coves, piers and ports on the mainland, the nearest being Dreenatra. The Baltimore Ferry can be requested to transport machinery, oil delivery trucks and livestock.
Electricity supply is generated by a combination of diesel and wind turbines and water is supplied by an aquifer located 400ft below the ocean floor.
According to Callum Bain of Colliers International, most of the island was owned by a German family prior to its being bought by the current owner, Dublin financier Adrian Fitzgibbons. “Adrian took up where the German family left off. He bought out any remaining landowners and completed the building and renovations projects the previous owners had planned or begun,” Mr Bain explained.
The design, layout and standard of work in all the houses has to be seen to be believed. The main house is large without being imposing. It exploits the light, the views and the ambience of the island in a spectacular yet sensitive manner. The spacious living room has doubleheight ceilings with a mezzanine floor, while the panoramic windows command marvellous views over to Cape Clear Island and Fastnet Rock Lighthouse.
“Sitting in the sitting room in the evening and looking out, you can see the flare from Fastnet Lighthouse
THIS IS AMONG THE BEST ISLANDS OFF THE IRISH COAST. I HAVE VISITED A LOT OF THEM BUT THERE IS NOTHING TO COMPARE WITH HORSE ISLAND FOR THE QUALITY OF THE ACCOMMODATION AND THE AMENITIES