Horse Island lies in a current of the Gulf Stream directly in front of the southwest coast of the Republic of Ireland - 15 minutes away, by water, from the small harbour village of Schull. The island is reached quickly by aircraft and then a taxi covers the final short leg of the journey. Alternatively, take the ferry and bring your own car with you directly to Ireland. The nearest airport is Cork Airport.

The Infrastructure

What kind of property could be more associated with big-time romance than a stable green island? But an island shouldn't be "too far off". The mainland is in view from Horse Island - nice and close since you'll want to go shopping or top up the supplies once a while. And hey - all the natural surroundings sound great, but the island should have its own electricity supply and naturally clean, pure drinking water. Well, you've got it! Horse Island fulfills those wishes and much, much more...

Romance is not in short supply either. Here's a quick taste:

The beds are white fishing boats converted into beds. In the bedroom you'll find a jacuzzi with an integrated ice bucket for your champagne. Upstairs in the house, pop into the sauna with a view of the sea, or relax in the living room with a wood and turf fireplace.

The island's houses are constructed of sturdy boulder rock. There are three houses on Horse Island, all built like an oyster; crusty on the outside and white-on-white equipped with Gunter Lambert furniture on the inside.

On the ground floor, there's a bedroom with a double bed and jacuzzi, bath, toilet and living room with an additional wood and turf fireplace. Also, a complete kitchen and a small laundry with a washing machine and dryer. Upstairs, there's a second bedroom with a double bed, bath, toilet, 4-person sauna with sea view, shower and a gallery.

All of the houses are electrically heated (underfloor heating) from the island's own power production (220 volt, 50 Hz and also 380 volt). These are truly earthy island houses with very solid construction - plenty of space for two, four, or more people.

In addition to the three houses described above, there is a more generous "Manager's House", also constructed of boulder rock, as is the so-called storehouse which can be easily converted into a family house. There is also a "Lord's Manor" with a large "Knight's Hall" and an adjacent bedroom, kitchen and sanitary tract which awaits expansion in the taste of the island purchaser. There are additionally two smaller guest houses for up to two persons and a fitness house with a solarium and large training machines (like new).

A well-preserved old farmhouse is also still around from earlier times - it has such great charm that the current owner just couldn't bring himself to tear it down. If the island purchaser desires, the ower will renovate said house in its true traditional style.

Horse Island also offers you a romantic night on its "stranded" ship. Have a snoop around the wood and ropes of the island's ship hull chained to the shore. A traditional Irish "hot whiskey" awaits you on board, where you will find the ingredients along with a ship's oven. Learn as much as you like about pirates in the ship's library. Afterwards, you can lie on your belly and observe the ocean through two ship windows. You can see Fastnet Rock, the world-famous lighthouse, blinking at you from a distance of only eight sea miles! A rainstorm in the night completes the experience... the calming sound of raindrops splashing on the deck - nothing could be more romantic. Use the onboard stereo system to listen to island and sea music or atmospheric sounds that accompany you into your dreams. An experience you're sure to enjoy!

Horse Island is completely developed. The four basic requirements for an island, namely pier, drinking water, electricity and housing are already in place. Many islands for sale lack these amenities. On Horse Island, you are spared the strenuous "pioneering period" and you can begin to enjoy all of the positive aspects of the island right away.

The huge pier, constructed of massive concrete (not hollow-bodied), is 150 feet long, 12 feet wide and over 18 feet deep. The pier also has a slip around 50 feet long and over 10 feet wide, all of which is lit at night. The pier has been approved by the marine authorities and its construction today would cost about 500,000 Euros.

Two Perkins generators run quietly around the clock in the generator house and supply 64 KVA. 220 and 380 volt electricity is available to the island. Both generators take turns in supplying power and rarely run at their peak. A professional-quality tennis court is also located on the island just a mile-and-a-half away. Should you be a golfer, mention must be made of the 9-hole Cosheen golf course.

Nature

Horse Island is a natural wildlife reserve area... an island full of wonder and the finest decoration nature has to offer. You won't find this anywhere else on earth. Compare it with every island you've seen up until now. Observe the pictures in all their details and imagine being able to call this genuine gift from heaven your very own. Let your spirit roam barefoot through the sand. Build a small driftwood fire on the beach. Steam the abundant mussels picked from the water with your own hand. You'll never taste fresher. And how about a dry white wine to go along with that?

Horse Island lies in a substream of the Gulf Stream, sometimes giving the island "its own weather". 75° F was once measured here on December 14th. The water, air and wind are similar to that of the German North Sea islands, but with the important difference being there is no winter of snow and ice on Horse Island. The outlying islands break the greatest force of the waves from the open sea. Still, during the winter months, the waves can get down to business too! Horse Island has pure, fresh air with a great salt content. Just lick your lips when you've been on the island for the first 20 minutes! The water? Well, it's crystal-clear...

All around Horse Island you can meet and greet dolphins. Otters are proud to demonstrate how to open a musse,l with the assistance of a rock, for their young. A seal colony lives close to Horse Island. The island is also home to seagulls, sea ravens and many species of land-based birds who feel right at home in the bushes and trees of the island. Pheasants and wild ducks are present too. Anglers feel like they've died and gone to heaven on Horse Island; there are rich reserves of mackerel, cod, whiting, coalfish, pollock, sea trout, salmon, gray mullet and conger eels. In addition, you can set basket traps for catching lobster and crabs.

The water on Horse Island emanates from a depth of some 250 feet and is pumped into a concrete silo to the island's highest point (145 f.). From there it builds up water pressure like you're accustomed to in the big city... and it's mineral water quality.

Info and Contact

The 65 hectares of Horse Island includes all the houses, pier, electricity and water supply... everything that has been described.

Horse Island awaits you with a hearty welcome for your viewing of the Island. You are more than welcome to stay overnight to familiarize yourself with the island. Listen to the wind and waves, taste the fresh salty air on your lips. See the soft hills and crystal-clear water that you can scoop up in your hand to sip. Visit the larger bathing lagoons, but also the smaller, cozy ones too. Hundreds of picturesque nooks and crannies are waiting to be discovered by you with their "picnic architecture" - as seen in the Rosamunde Pilcher movies.