Former Coastguard Station For Sale in Co. Sligo

The Old Coastguard Station is an imposing period property with a rich and varied history and boasts 300 metres of shoreline on an outstanding coastal site extending to circa 2.80 hectares (7 acres). Internally the property has been modernised over the years and some changes have been made to suit each family who have occupied it including opening some walls to let in more natural light and converting the watchtower to a very comfortable and unusual living space.

Throughout the home, the rooms are spacious and, in many ways, multifunctional in terms of their use. The previous owners through the years changed the use of many of the rooms over time but kept much of the fabric of the building intact. The accommodation extends to approximately 4,209 sq ft / 391 sq m.

Outbuildings
There is an assortment of useful outbuildings on the property including a detached double garage to the side of the house and a courtyard with workshop, wood store and green house to the rear.

One of the standout features of the property is the Boat House with adjoining slipway. Used on a regular basis, it houses the family boat as well as all the wet gear and water sport equipment required when owning a property like this. It is a very rare offering to have a slipway on a private home and one of the reasons that makes the Coastguard Station so special.

Gardens & Grounds
Set in mature private grounds, the gardens are a particular feature of the property. Mostly laid to lawn, the site has a mature tree boundary and feature stone wall running through the front garden.

To the side of the house are two large grass paddocks, the sea paddock has a lovely walking trail and a picnic area looking out to Benbulben and Sligo Bay. This area could be utilised in many ways but mostly for enjoying and admiring the incredible and unsurpassed views.

History
The Old Coastguard Station was built in c.1873 by the Office of Public Works (OPW). It was originally constructed to accommodate four boatmen and one officer with their families. The officer’s accommodation and offices were located at one end with the watchtower at the other. Given its location at the entrance of Ballisadare Bay it was purposely positioned at this strategic location. This particular location was chosen because of a naturally occurring strip of beach which allowed easy access into the bay for launching and retrieval of the stations cutter (boat) from the boathouse and slipway.

After a fire in c.1919 the Coastguard Station was left as a ruin with only the stone walls and masonry surviving until the 1960’s. It was then bought from the government by an Irish American Architect who restored both the watchtower and the officers accommodation at either end of the building. In the 1980’s, the property was then fully restored by a German hotelier who used the property as a holiday home. It was further renovated and refurbished in the mid 2000’s and the current owners have modernised some rooms and it now comes to the market in superb condition with most of the period features and styling intact.

Listing
The Old Coastguard Station is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and is included on the record of protected structures by Sligo County Council. Ref No: 32401308.

We also note the following features of the property are protected by Sligo County Council – front façade, tower wall and boathouse’s gable end walls original stone masonry only.

Fixtures & Fittings
All fixtures and fittings are excluded from the sale including garden statuary, light fittings, and other removable fittings, although some items may be available by separate negotiation.

Services
Oil fired central heating, mains electricity, mains and well water, alarm, CCTV, broadband.

Local Information
The Old Coastguard Station is privately located on the south-western shores of Ballisadare Bay with outstanding views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Strandhill Beach, Knocknarea and Benbulben mountains. The beautiful county of Sligo sits amidst an unspoiled landscape of rolling hills and glimmering beaches and boasts a rich literary heritage with a close association with W B Yeats who named the county ‘The land of hearts’ desire’.

The views of (what seems like) a private bay with seals, dolphins and porpoise swimming may seem hard to leave, but local amenities are close by. The nearby village of Ardabrone (3km) has a very useful country store while Beltra (6 km) offers postal services and weekly market and Ballisadare (15km) offers a supermarket, pharmacy and leisure centre.

The much renowned Beach Bar and Restaurant is also just a short drive away at the picturesque setting of Aughris Beach, which is hugely popular for locals and tourists alike.

Sligo Town (22 km) is nestled between Mayo, Leitrim, and Donegal on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, and is the capital of the Northwest region and one of Ireland’s largest towns. It offers a wide range of services, amenities, cultural activities, and educational opportunities. As the educational hub of the northwest, it boasts two universities along with top class primary and secondary schooling.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the area offers an abundance of activities including golfing, horse riding, hiking, sailing, surfing, kayaking, fishing, and hunting. For golfing enthusiasts, Strandhill Golf Links Course is located 27 km to the east. The County Sligo Golf Club in Rosses Point (31 km), home of the West of Ireland Golf Championship, is one of the world’s great Links courses. There is also the Championship Golf Links Course at Enniscrone which is located 39 km to the west. The challenging course offers panoramic views across the Atlantic and is known for having some of the largest dunes in Ireland as well as being rated in the top 100 courses of Britain & Ireland.

Local beaches include Dunmoran Strand (6.5 km) a sheltered beach which is popular for walkers, swimmers and surfers and was awarded the Green Coast Award in 2018. Portavade beach (4 km), a lovely, secluded beach close to the Coastguard Station.

The area has an excellent transportation system with the N4 and mainline train connecting Sligo to Dublin and the N17 connecting Sligo to Galway and Limerick. Ireland West Airport at Knock is 53 km to the south of the property and offers flights to a range of European destinations.

BER Details
Exempt