Westmeath holding has 20 acres of foreshore on lake that inspired Swift

A lovely lakeside Westmeath property with a traditional farmhouse on 42ac goes to auction this Friday, June 23, with a guide price of €300,000

Located at Lilliput Road, Dysart the house is 11km from Mullingar on the Delvin road.

The 42ac is laid out in about nine fields of grass while the farm also has access to 20ac of lakeside foreshore on Lough Ennell, land that has emerged as a result of declining water levels over the years.

Local legend has it that part of Jonathan Swift's inspiration for Gulliver's Travels came to him while he was boating near the Dysart side of Lough Ennell.

Observing the speck-like figures of people in the distance, he came up with the concept of the 'Lilliputians', the pint-sized race encountered by Gulliver .

The house is described by Padraic Murtagh of James L Murtagh auctioneers as a charming farmhouse, ivy clad and full of character but in need of refurbishment.

The downstairs accommodation includes a dining room /living room, a kitchen, a back kitchen/utility and sitting room and a bedroom.

Upstairs are three further bedrooms and a bathroom.

While the décor is dated the house is in good condition as it stands.

The farmyard adjacent to the dwelling includes a two-column hayshed and a range of stone outbuildings.

According to Mr Murtagh the lands are, in the main, of good quality with access to decent road frontage.

"This picturesque property would make an ideal rural residence with a nice parcel of land overlooking one of the best fishing lakes in the country.

It is also local to the Lilliput Adventure centre and a range of amenities," he said, adding that lakeside property such as this is becoming increasingly scarce on the property market

The place will be sold at auction at the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar on this Friday, June 23, at 3pm.

Rochfortbridge auction

Mr Murtagh is also handling the sale of a fine 30ac parcel of tillage ground at Rochfortbridge.

Described as premium quality ground in one division the property has substantial road frontage and comes with three modern storage units extending to 10,500sqft.

The place will be sold at auction and it has a guide price of €300,000.

Currently under a crop of winter barley the land is in top condition and serviced by a hardcore roadway that leads to the three storage units that are modern, top of the range industrial buildings with roll-up doors, water and electricity.

The units are suitable for a range of industrial and farming uses.

It will be sold at auction at the Greville Arms, Mullingar at 3pm on Thursday, July 6.