Just down the coast from Mullaghmore – a place that professional surfers agree is one of Europe’s best locations for the sport and where waves can reach up to 7.5m (25ft) – is a spot called Lislary. It’s a popular local spot for surfing when winds blow in from the south, the southeast or the east.
From the kitchen table at this contemporary home you can sit and survey the goings-on of the Atlantic as the room’s position allows 180-degree views.
Constructed in 2009, this three-bedroom home was designed by architect team Aoife Leonard and Dan Talkes. Essentially it’s a house of two parts, where a spacious central hallway acts as a meeting place separating the living and sleeping quarters.
It’s all about the views here: not only do you get the entire maritime panorama, the design of the 212sq m (2,281sq ft) property also takes full advantage of the surrounding lands allowing views of Inishmurray island, the mountains of Donegal and, of course, Sligo’s magical ridge of Benbulben.
The peak is said to be the final resting place for lovers Diarmuid and Gráinne. In his poem Under Ben Bulben, WB Yeats alludes to the site as being home to the fairies. In his Mythologies, Yeats describes a limestone square on the mountain ridge: “It is the door of Faeryland. In the middle of the night it swings open, and the unearthly troop rushes out.”
While you’re not likely to meet any fairies here, there is a certain magic about this spot at the edge of the Wild Atlantic Way.
In one block of this home is a sittingroom with an inset stove, while an office acts as a divide between this and the hub of the home: a spacious open-plan kitchen/informal living and dining space. It’s a perfect spot for entertaining, while musing over vagaries of the ocean.
Designed by local craftsman Dermot Feeney, the kitchen has a central island and built-in units offering lots of storage.
Two feature walls of Liscannor slate – one in the front hallway and a second housing a gas fire off the kitchen – add interest.
The second block has three bedrooms, two of which are en suite, alongside a spacious family bathroom with a whirlpool bath.
Outside has been landscaped with a large barbecue area and patio, again situated to maximise views of the sea. The well-maintained garden occupies 0.65 of a hectare (1.6 acres) and benefits from a southerly orientation.
Nestled on the coast, sea-swimming is popular with locals on Streedagh Beach, just up the road. The villages of Grange and Cliffony are less than a 10-minute drive away. For golfers, there are an array of clubs such as Bundoran and Strandhill nearby.
Though some of the interiors would benefit from a cosmetic refresh, what is on offer here is a spacious A2-rated home with superb views. If you enjoy surfing and the sea, it’s a magical spot altogether.
The property is now on the market through joint agents Savills and Murphy & Son Auctioneers, seeking €850,000.
