IF YOU EVER fancied literally living out the phrase a man’s, or a woman’s, home is their castle then you may be interested in this one that is for sale in Galway.

Peter Hayes, 50, has been looking to sell Caherkinmonwee Castle in Co Galway for the last three years and it is now on the market for a price of €380,000.

It is habitable but needs some work done as he explains: “It’s like a fantasy, it’s a different kind of living. I like old buildings and I like the feel of it but I’ve no more money to do it up.

“So in order to finish the project that’s one of the reasons to let it go. I don’t know how I will feel about giving it up until I turn in the key and walk away.”

Hayes bought the castle in 1996 with his then wife and has been living in it for over a decade after renovating it himself. He currently lives there with his partner and one of his two sons.

He says he learned how to cut medieval stones and windows, and carried out all the plumbing, electric and carpentry work on the castle in order to make it habitable.

The living space includes a bath which is built into the ground and Hayes jokingly described this as a bathroom-cum-living room.

“If it was fully finished it would be a lovely place to live so I want somebody to continue that dream. It maybe needs €120,000 worth of work done,” Hayes adds.

He joked that any prospective buyer might “have to have a screw loose” to put up with the different lifestyle but said that the pros of living in a castle far outweigh the cons, which includes the cold in winter.

“It has been a labour of love,” Hayes said adding: “I’d like somebody to come along who can make an offer and you never know your luck. Come and see it, look at it and then we’ll see.”

Hat tip to Niamh Smith.

For sale: five bedroomed house complete with hidden tomb and skeleton