This beautiful property is located in Derrycastle, Ballina, Co. Tipperary & boasts stunning views over Lough Derg.

Ballina is the nearest town, just 2 miles away..

The property comprises the following;
 
5 bedrooms: Upstairs there are 3 x ensuite double bedrooms & downstairs there is 1 x double bedroom & 1 x twin bedroom.
 
Large Entrance Hallway;
 
Three Reception Rooms;
1.Sitting room over looking the lake
2.Study with french doors that open out to a large veranda over- looking the lake
3.Den
(all with open fires)
 
Kitchen / Dining Room;
Large State of the Art Stainless Steele Kitchen With French doors that open out onto the back sun terrace. The kitchen opens out through an archway into the dining area with has a dining table that can seat 12 people comfortably. Kitchen has all appliances.
 
Sun Room;
Sun Room with vaulted ceiling that overlooks the lake and opens out onto the veranda.
 
 
W/C with shower on ground floor.
 
Bathroom on first floor.
 
Central heating.
 
Large garage with a small well equipped gym on the first floor.
 
Fully enclosed garden with gates at the end of the drive.

Outdoor swimming pool on site

THE AREA 

The linked towns of Killaloe and Ballina offer history, an exceptionally beautiful riverside setting and access to Ireland’s greatest waterway. Joined by a 13-arched stone bridge, the twin towns lie on either side of the River Shannon, where it narrows after passing through Lough Derg.

Killaloe, on the left bank, in County Clare is a network of charming narrow streets, flanked by old shops and houses, that climb up the steep hillside and look down over the 13th century cathedral. The buildings of Ballina, in North Tipperary line the roadway that runs parallel to the river. The high ground is dominated by the The Lakeside Hotel. Below it, one of the many first-class pubs in the town stands by the old quayside. Just upstream, a new marina caters for the hundreds of leisure craft that make Killaloe/Ballina one of the best centres for water activities. The old canal banks, disused railway line and narrow streets and footpaths of the old town make the twin towns a most delightful place to wander through.

History

Commanding an important ford on the Shannon, Killaloe has been a place of strategic importance for thousands of years. Its greatest claim to historical fame is as the site of Kincora, the palace of Brian Ború, the 11th century high king of Ireland and one of its most powerful rulers of all time. Brian Boru’s royal residence stood on the summit of the hill, above the bridge at Killaloe. This great fort where Brian lived from 1002 to 1014 probably covered the site now occupied by the catholic church, the village green and some neighbouring houses. At the height of Boru power Kincora was a massive fort rich in wealth and harvest and became the centre of authority and capital of Ireland. Today nothing but the fame of this royal palace remains.

Located northwards from Killaloe are the remains of Beal Boru or Brian Boru’s Fort. Little more than the site has survived, marked by traces of earthen ramparts and a surrounding ditch. The fort environs are of considerable antiquity; traces of bronze age occupation have been found. The fortifications date from several centuries prior to King Brian Boru's time (11th century).

Centuries earlier, two holy men, St. Lua and St. Flannan had established monasteries nearby. A little stone church, built in the 9th century, was part of St. Lua’s monastery, whose river island was inundated in the 20th century. It was rebuilt beside the 19th century Catholic church which occupies the site of Kincora. A larger stone church of about the same age, St.Flannan’s oratory, stands beside the beautiful medieval Killaloe Cathedral. Under the great kings of Thomond, the O'Brien's, Killaloe flourished as one of the most powerful religious and political centres of early medieval times. St. Flannan's late 12th century cathedral and the two oratories bear ample testimony to this. Immediately inside the entrance is a Romanesque doorway from an earlier church. The stone standing before the doorway is unique for its ogham and runic inscriptions. Killaloe Cathedral holds a unique slab with two inscriptions. One, a Viking runic inscription reads "Thorgrim carved this stone'; the other, carved in ancient Ogham, asks for 'a blessing upon Thorgrim'.

Remaining important as market towns, Killaloe and Ballina enjoyed an upsurge of prosperity, beginning early in the 19th century with the development of commercial traffic on the Shannon Waterway. A weir and a canal were built to allow barges to pass the rapids. Soon afterwards, a railway line brought trains to Ballina and that was when the two towns formed a holiday resort whose popularity has never since failed.
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Top Attractions

Watersports are the key to the popularity of Killaloe. Boats of all kinds from rowing boats to Shannon cabin cruisers are available for hire and water-skiing has long been popular. Short (circa one-hour) tours of the River Shannon and Lough Derg are available from the Ballina side aboard the 50-seater passenger boat Spirit of Killaloe

Spirit of Killaloe and boats of all kinds may be hired. In September, Killaloe is the venue for the European Pike Angling Championships. The great gothic Killaloe Cathedral numbers amongst its treasures a stone with an inscription both in Ogham – an early Irish script – and Runic characters. Beal Boru a mile upstream of Killaloe is a particularly fine example of an iron age earthen fort: as its name implies, it is associated with King Brian. The Brian Boru Heritage Centre, built on the site of a lock keeper’s cottage on the banks of the river in Killaloe, contains a tourist information office, souvenir shop and an exhibition on Brian Ború, the Shannon Navigation project and the history of the town. A visit to the Centre tells the story of the High King.

Great Entertainment

Early in July, the Brian Boru Festival brings traditional music and a variety of entertainment, inside and outside, to the towns for a week. Towards the end of July the Killaloe International Music Festival centred on the cathedral, concentrates on the classics and is growing in reputation around the world.

Pubs and Restaurants
There are many fine pubs including Molly’s and Galloping Hogan’s which have the added attraction of seats in the open beside the river in fine weather. There are more than a dozen pubs in all, several of them doing musical evenings. A few miles out of town the Pipers Inn does regular traditional music evenings throughout the season.

Goosers Pub & Restaurant and the Cherry Tree in Ballina are among the good choices for food. Good hotel and pub food in many venues. Indian and Chinese cuisine is available in Killaloe

Activities
Lots of activity options are possible from Killaloe / Ballina.

Angling: The banks of the old canal are good spots for fishing for pike, bream and roach, while the The River Shannon and Lough Derg offer great boat fishing for trout and pike. Within a few miles of the town are many lakes teeming with pike and coarse fish including well know angling waters of the East Clare Lakelands. Within 30 minute drive easy you can be fishing in Castleconnell – a world-famous centre for Salmon.

Water sports: Not surprisingly, the main activities in Killaloe/Ballina are centred on the waterside. Boats of all shapes and sizes are available for hire.

Golf: The golf courses in East Clare, Limerick City and Nenagh Co.Tipperary are easiest to reach. Par 3 golf (Pitch-and-putt) is available on the outskirts of Killaloe

Equestrian: Horse riding for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders is also available locally.

Walking: Killaloe provides easy access to a number of walking ways including Lough Derg Way, The East Clare Way, The Mid-Clare Way, and the Slieve Felim Way

Cycling: The are a number of signposted cycling routes through scenic County Clare, the closest being The Lough Derg Cycleway.

Driving Routes: Killaloe is on the Lough Derg Drive. In all there are 11 Driving Routes driving routes through the Shannon Region.
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Accommodation: Visit our value breaks section to book a special deal in Killaloe or visit the accommodation and reservation section to check out and book any accommodation.

Surroundings
Killaloe/Ballina make one of the best centres for exploring Counties Clare and Tipperary.

Within 30 minutes drive
Shannon’s Lough Derg; Limerick City; Nenagh; Silvermines; and the Slieve Felim Mountains.

Within 60 minutes
Shannon International Airport; Bunratty Castle and Folk Park; Craggaunowen – The Living Past Experience; Kilrush Dolphin watching and Carrigaholt Dolphin Watching; Portumna Castle and Gardens.

Within 90 minutes
The Atlantic coasts Clare; The Cliffs of Moher; The Burren; Birr Castle Demesne and Historic Science Centre; Lough Gur Visitor Centre, Co Limerick and Holycross Abbey.