THERE SHOULD be a lot of interest generated by the sale of a farm and house on Canon Island, Kildysart, Co Clare which has gone on the market for less than a half a million euro.

This is a special place indeed which lies snug in the Shannon Estuary about a mile and a half offshore in one of the most beautiful parts of this country, midway between Clare and Limerick.

“It would be like buying your own country,” said auctioneer John Casey, from Ennistymon, Co Clare who is asking €485,000 for the 112 acres and the house which was lived in up to about 16 years ago. “If this had come on the market five or six years ago there would have been a queue for it but it will still be of interest to a lot of people,” he said.

It is the potential this property has as a retreat from the rest of the world, a tourism venture, or a working farm which makes this place so special.

What is on offer is an old dwelling house and outbuildings, around 112 acres of good quality land and a 50 per cent share of 50 acres of commonage.

The whole island contains 270 acres in all and there is just one other owner of the rest of the island, who does not live there.

Like most of the offshore and inland islands in this country, populations have dropped dramatically over the last century.

For instance, the 1901 census records 24 inhabitants on it coming from three families, the McMahons, the McCauliffes and the Hastings.

A limestone quarry is also located on the island which accounts for the quality of the old stone house with three bedrooms, sittingroom, kitchen and livingroom, which was built 200 years ago of local stone with a slate roof.

Mr Casey said the house has major potential for renovation and said the quality of the land is excellent although there has been some encroachment by scrub growth.

“I think it will create a lot of interest from all the sectors because of its overall potential and the lovely location,” he said.