Thatch and stone cottages in the west of Ireland have more than an element of romance; they make for beautiful holiday homes. Kate McMorrow reports

Connemara: €340,000: A picturesque stone fisherman's cottage on eight acres near Cashel, Connemara is expected to fetch around €340,000 at auction later in the summer with Ganly Walters.

The land runs down to the sea and looks out on Inishnee Island and the mountains.

When the cottage comes into view over the brow of a hill, the seascape beyond is breath-taking.

Located in Letterard but with a Cashel address, the house is 10 minutes across the bay from Roundstone by boat.

This area between Glinsk and Carna on the shores of Bertraghboy Bay is jagged and wild, with inlets and coves and rugged mountains.

The location is hugely popular with well-heeled Dublin professionals, who will probably spend money on upgrading and extending the cottage for use as a stylish second home.

At the moment, the accommodation includes a large livingroom with front and back doors and a turf-burning stove. A second sittingroom or third bedroom has a fireplace and ladder to a mezzanine level.

The small galley kitchen has a timber countertop and there is a shower room with electric shower.

Upstairs are two fair-sized bedrooms with wardrobes. Overlooking a lake and less than a mile from the beach at Rossnowlagh, a thatched Co Donegal cottage wouldn't look out of place on a Bord Fáilte poster.

Co Donegal: €380,000: Lake View Cottage has an asking price of €380,000 through Schiller & Schiller. The large two-bedroom house stands on 0.75 acres at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac by Durnish Lough.

The German owners, who have used Lake View Cottage as a holiday home for some years, re-thatched the house in 1993. The property has been well maintained over the years, with new bathroom ware and a classic traditional interior.

On the ground floor is a sittingroom with a big country fireplace and flag-stone floor. There is a second sittingroom and good kitchen/diningroom with flagstone floor and a scullery off. A bathroom is also at this level.

Upstairs, two huge bedrooms taking up the entire second floor have wonderful lake views.

The gardens are mature and sylvan, with a former stone coach-house which could be converted into further accommodation if required.

Co Limerick: €300,000: The only surviving thatched cottage on Lough Gur in Co Limerick has come on the market with GVM Auctioneers of Kilmallock. Priced at €300,000, this listed three-bedroom house was re-thatched in 2004 and is in good order. Neat, pretty flower gardens front and back extend to roses scrambling over the whitewashed walls. Doors and window frames are emerald green.

Maura's Cottage is strategically located - 12 miles from Limerick city, two from Bruff and half a mile from Lough Gur, so would suit either as a family home for a commuter or weekend retreat.

The accommodation includes a kitchen/breakfastroom with flagged floor, under floor insulation and appliances. A large sittingroom has an open fireplace with the original crane and blower, with a peephole by the front door, flagged floor and pine dresser.

Two of the three bedrooms can fit a double bed and there is a carpeted box room. Wardrobes are fitted in the main bedroom, plus an ornate fireplace. The double bed, wall lights, flooring and curtains are to stay. The bathroom houses the airing cupboard and heating is oil-fired.

Outside, a double garage, utility room and store room are incorporated in a separate slated building which could be converted into a guest cottage or tea rooms.