We want to keep pigs in land of the Celtic Tiger
THE once booming Irish economy – which led the country to be dubbed the Celtic Tiger – was hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis. But this has presented some attractive home-buying opportunities for Britons.
Angelos Koutsoudes, head of OverseasGuidesCompany, says: ‘It’s a good time to be buying property in Ireland. But low priced properties are selling fast, mostly to British buyers who have benefited from the strength of sterling against the euro.’
Late last year, Stephen Taylor, 66, and wife Lesley, from Lincoln, managed to bag a serious bargain in rural Ireland – buying a four-bedroom 1800s cottage in Leveelick in County Mayo set in 1.4 acres for just €55,000.
The property was in need of extensive renovation but they have now almost completed the work, spending €15,000 on a new roof and €8,000 on heating and a new kitchen. The couple chose Ireland not just because of price. Stephen says: ‘Our foreign language skills are poor and being fair skinned I didn’t fancy living somewhere hot. Lesley is also interested in selfsufficiency so we plan to grow vegetables and keep Kunekune pigs [below] at the property.’
The Taylors hope eventually to sell their home in Lincoln and retire to the Emerald Isle.
Stephen, a former chartered accountant and Lesley, 56, who works as a local government valuation officer, fly to and from their Irish property via East Midlands airport to Knock, 15 miles from their holiday home.
Not knowing the area previously, the Taylors turned to local estate agent James Kilkoyne for help. One word of advice Stephen gives for wouldbe expats is not to overlook medical care. He says: ‘Since we intend to live here we need to take out private medical insurance at a cost of €170 each a month.’