House hunters seeking a holiday home on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way have the opportunity to snap up this cottage which is going under the hammer with a starting price of just £21,000.
The cottage is only a couple of minutes from the stunning North Mayo coast line with ready access to some of the best salmon fisheries in Europe – including Jack Charlton’s favourite spot on the River Moy.
Charlton, who visited Ireland’s west coast for more than 20 years following his retirement from the Republic of Ireland job declared that the Ridge Pool in Ballina was the ‘best fishing spot in the entire world… bar none’.
Following his death, a mural based upon a famous photograph of the World Cup winning legend pulling a pint behind a local bar was painted above his favourite fishing spot.
World Cup Winner and former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton described the Ridge Pool in Ballina in Co Mayo as the best place in the world ‘bar none’ for fishing salmon
This historic cottage outside Ballina is available for the bargain basement price of £21,000
Jack Charlton was a regular visitor to the West of Ireland even after retiring from the Irish job, where he’d spend many hours on a river bank
It is also only a short distance from beaches in Ballycastle, and Killala, while an hour journey up the road is the surfing hotspot of Bundoran.
Better still, for those looking for a weekend bolt hole, it is only 45 minutes from Ireland West international airport in Knock – which is an hour’s flight time from London.
However, despite the bargain valuation, auctioneers Edel Rolston warn that it is a ‘traditional style cottage in need of complete renovation, upgrading and modernisation’.
Charlton himself, bought a house in the area in 1991 so he could have ready access to fisheries in the region.
At the time of his death, huge crowds gathered above the famous footballer’s favourite fishing spot to pay tribute to the legend.
Charlton, pictured here in Galway in 1993, was a regular on the salmon fisheries across Ireland
Unfortunately, the cottage, which is on sale now, and near the football legend’s happy hunting ground requires a complete refurbishment
However, there is a change that government grants could be available to assist the new owner
The selling agent said: ‘The property sits on an elevated site extending to 0.26 hectares in area and is located in a beautiful and scenic rural setting. Situated circa 8.5 km’s from both Ballycastle and Killala, the property is very centrally located.
‘The cottage is derelict and may qualify for some of the currently available grants for renovation.’
The Irish government currently offers grants of up to €70,000 to refurbish a completely derelict property, to bring it up to the standards of a modern home.
In addition to the refurbishing grant, there are also possible grants for improving the energy efficiency of the cottage as well as fitting solar panels to reduce energy bills.
Charlton, who went on to become a successful manager most notably with the Republic of Ireland, died earlier in 2020 aged 85.
Tributes came in from across the football world for the one-club Leeds United legend, famed for his uncompromising defensive work.
He went on to be revered in Middlesbrough after guiding the club into the old first division as champions, but it was leading the Republic of Ireland which sealed his managerial reputation as one of the greats.
Irish fans took Big Jack to their hearts, and the feeling was mutual, as he led the country to two successful World Cup campaigns in 1990 and 1994.
US president Joe Biden, pictured in Ballina, Co Mayo in April 2023, addressed a massive crowd just yards away from Jack Charlton’s favourite fishing spot
Ireland, under Charlton also qualified for their first major tournament, Euro 88 in Germany.
Charlton was the eldest son of miner Bob and his wife Cissie, who went on to have three more boys.
He followed his father at the pit for a brief spell before leaving Northumberland to join the Leeds United ground staff aged 15.
He stayed there for a remarkable 23 years, a spell broken only by National Service, playing a major part in the club turning from also-rans into a major European force.
He was almost aged 30 when he made his England debut, but the late developer turned good at the just the right time, and was one of the Wembley heroes on that famous day in 1966.
Charlton had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was also battling dementia.
