Amidst the turmoil of economic and social crises, have you ever wished to live another kind of life in which you wake to the birds singing and step outside your front door to carpets of wild medicinal flowers? If so, this may be the home for you.It's for sale for €375,000.
The name, Derrynaneal, means "oak forest in the clouds", so called because this area used to be the most sacred part of the oak forest that extended for miles towards the sea in the west and the mountains to the north and east. There's no oak forest left but it's still a very special place, protected by National Heritage Area status and home to otters, pine martens, badgers and many rare and endangered plants, moths and butterflies.
The house has a light footprint on the land. It's energy efficient and has the potential to be completely self sufficient. Much of the garden is wooded with mature birch and younger ash, oak and beech so with good management you'll never need to buy fuel. there are no property taxes in ireland and there's a dual water system drawing filtered water either from the rain or the river and this is all free.
The house is situated on 3.5 acres, half an acre of which is laid to organic vegetables and soft fruit with a 30ft polytunnel. The soil is deep, peaty and a joy
to dig. The rest of the land has been conserved for the wild creatures that live here and if you move here, you'll be guardian to colonies of the rare and exquisite marsh fritillary butterfly.The house is made of wood and hidden among the trees. There's an entrance hall with a built-in pine dresser and washing machine and a large walk-in pantry that faces north and stays cool. from the entrance hall you walk into a spacious living area with kitchen and central wood burning stove. The room is full of light from the large windows facing south and west. There's a sunroom off this living area, 2 double bedrooms (one is used as a study) and shower room. Upstairs is a large open plan mezzanine with a velux window (perfect space for artists and writers) and a bedroom with en suite bathroom and balcony fa
cing south. There is some fine carpentry work throughout.There's plenty of storage space, including under-the-roof space and built-in cupboards. Attached to the house is a shed which houses the water filtration system, lawnmower and tools and close to the house is a rustic wooden shed with covered fuel storage space behind and beside it. The house has decking area to the south and north.
The property is situated on a quiet single track lane and feels completely secluded although there are 3 friendly neighbours close by. The land behind the property is protected (NHA status) and extends for acres to the dome of one of the last raised bogs in the west of Ireland. This is a unique wilderness habitat, some of which has remained untouched for 10,000 years.
Derrynaneal is 3 miles from the village of Feakle which is famous for traditional Irish music and 5 miles from Tulla, a small town with bank, postoffice, 2 great hardware stores, wholefood shop, old fashioned greengrocers and small supermarket. Ennis, the capital of County Clare is 25 minutes drive away and Shannon international airport is 40 minutes drive.
This is a quiet are where not a lot happens and most tourists pass it by on their way to the Burren and the coast which are an hour away by car. But if you like wild water swimming or fishing in pristine lakes it is paradise and the countryside brings constant delight if you are interested in ecology, wild flowers, moths, butterflies, dragonflies, lichens, small mammals and birds. And the night skies are some of the best in Europe.
For further information, please contact: fgiaquinto3@gmail.com
Ireland is facing its economic challenges but here, in East Clare, the Celtic Tiger has passed us by and so is the economic downturn. This is a perfect place if you wish to live humbly, close to the earth, with good neighbours and a strong local community.
