Windows on the sea from sheltered spot in Kenmare

Co Kerry/€5m: It's built of stone and has period features like 18th century fireplaces, Gothic-style arched doors and windows…

Co Kerry/€5m: It's built of stone and has period features like 18th century fireplaces, Gothic-style arched doors and windows and beamed ceilings - but Dawros House is a comfortable modern home, built just eight years ago with old stone salvaged from a nearby convent.

The property, in a secluded spot on 12 acres by Kenmare Bay, with views of sea and mountains from most of its rooms, is on the market through joint agents Dominic J Daly in Cork andKnight Frank in the UK. It is being sold by private treaty with a price tag of €5 million.

It seems likely that the internationally rich and famous will be as interested in this property as well-to-do homegrown buyers: Riverdance couple John McColgan and Moya Doherty own property next door, and former footballer/actor/celebrity Vinny Jones is believed to have sold a property nearby recently to move into the town of cosmopolitan Kenmare three miles away.

The agents describe it as an excellent family house, ideal for entertaining: it has three good reception rooms, a large kitchen/breakfastroom/diningroom and five bedrooms. From the entrance hall, doors open into a the main reception rooms on one side; double doors lead from the other onto lawns outside. The drawingroom and sittingroom both look across the bay to the Ring of Kerry golf club.

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The kitchen/breakfastroom/diningroom has Brazilian slate flooring, a Lacanche gas range, central island unit, and a dining area with an 18th century stone fireplace and French doors opening into the garden.

The five bedrooms upstairs all have uninterrupted sea views; the charming main en suite bedroom has French doors opening onto a balcony looking over a stone jetty.

A covered walkway outside the house leads to an annexe used as a boot/rod room; it opens into a garage with a wine cellar below and guest/staff quarters above.

A large well-landscaped garden with paddocks and dry stone walls runs down to the sea. The property also includes a disused 150-year old cottage and a 120ft stone pier with planning permission for a boathouse.

Kenmare, Co Kerry, has many restaurants and two five-star hotels and is easily accdessible: you can fly into either Cork airport (65 miles away) or Farranfore (30 miles), with regular flights from Dublin and Stansted.

Frances O'Rourke

Frances O'Rourke

Frances O'Rourke, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about homes and property