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Description
Specialties:
Selling Castles, Country Homes, Islands, Lakeshore, Seashore and dreamy Cottages in the hauntingly beautiful West of Ireland.
Helen's day to day existence is not one that many Auctioneers will find familiar in the West of Ireland.
" I grapple with a wide variety of rather gripping, glamorous properties, from Castles in varying states of repair, to huge Islands accessable only by boat, chopper and waders, to pretty Western Cottages and lakeshore abodes".
Once she had seen her first Castle however, she was hooked. " It just snowballed," says Helen. " Suddenly I was practically tripping over them. I did wonder why someone else had not been there before me. There is something so terribly romantic about that silhouette on the landscape. "
Very often its another famous Castle nearby, Ashford Castle, that has provided the backdrop to her deals, where purchasers have aquaplaned, sailed, rowed, swam or helicoptered in to sign a cheque.
" I deal in dreams," Helen says. "People do need to feel it can work for them in the West of Ireland, whether in a Castle, or on an Island, or stoking the turf fire in a pretty mountain cottage. Often I am the first person they will encounter in their quest, and I am acutely aware of this."
She knows they will watch her subconciously and assess her and her lifestyle. " I give people time, and I do mind them. To be honest, it really is great crack. And I do have to ensure I am asked to all the Castle warmings and cottage warmings! So long as they don't dangle me over the turrets for neglecting to point out the dungeons!".
Helen finds the West of Ireland " an enchanting place, hugely glamorous.... there is a great buzz and excitement here. The West of Ireland is a well kept secret. Peoples eccentricities are not just tolerated, they are positively encouraged.
" You are literally King of your own Castle."
There is a wildness here that is most beguiling. This motivates me hugely. The excitement of never quite knowing what will happen next.