Bartragh House, Bartragh Island, Killala Co Mayo. Picture: Dan MacCarthy
By Orla Hearns
The real estate company handling the sale of Bartragh Island in Killala Bay says the property has attracted a considerable number of enquiries but remains for sale.
The confirmation follows the appearance of an online video last week featuring world renowned golfer, Nick Faldo, visiting Bartragh with his son, Matthew; agent, Jeremy Aisenberg and others and discussing its potential as a links course.
The island was acquired for €1.5m by Nick Faldo International in October 1997 when it was revealed that Mr Faldo planned to develop the property as a championship links golf resort.
The property has been the subject of a number of legal actions since then and has remained untouched.
On December 23 last it was listed for sale for €1.1m and described as agricultural lands.
The social media video that surfaced on January 22 last, portrays Nick Faldo enthusiastically visualising the type of golf links course Bartragh might accommodate and also shows him visiting and playing the established links course in the nearby town of Enniscrone in Co Sligo.
Killala Community Windfarm is visible in the background which suggests the footage was filmed in 2019 and as recently as July of that year when Mr Faldo is known to have visited Enniscrone Golf Course.
The golfer acknowledges in the video that he has not visited Bartragh in seven years but refers to it as having “frightening” potential as a links course.
His agent describes the Bartragh golf links proposal as a once in a life time project to “create something that could be viewed as one of the truly iconic golf courses in this part of the world”.
Real estate company, Colliers International, told the Western People on Friday, January 24 that it was contacted by the solicitor acting on behalf of the vendors and instructed to offer Bartragh Island for sale in the fourth quarter of 2019.
The company says the island, which is comprised of 420 acres, remains available at the asking price of €1.1m.
