A very private Irish island with historical and literary connections for sale

If you’re a fan of solitary musings in brisk weather while gazing, perhaps, at the ancient ruins of a monastery as seagulls float overhead, then this could be the property for you.

For 1.25 million euros (or $1,982,000) a private island off the coast of county Galway in Ireland is up on offer through Spencer Auctioneers.

High Island, also known as Ardoilean, has been maintained as a wildlife sanctuary. The new owner will get 32 hectares of wilderness with a plethora of birdlife — such as gulls, petrels, and oyster catchers — and two freshwater lakes, all only accessible by boat or helicopter.

At 1.2 kilometres long and 400 metres wide, people can purportedly walk from one end to the other in about an hour.

While the island is uninhabited, it was once home to a monastery and there’s evidence it could have been populated as long ago as circa 1000BC.

The religious endeavour was reportedly established by an Irish Saint who died in a plague in 665. Its ruins including a church, altar and graves have survived to this day, along with a stone beehive hut, although the monastery is the property of the Irish Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

And because the government will require access to the ruins to maintain the site, you wouldn’t quite have the place entirely to yourself.

There a more recent addition in the form of an old miners cottage – dating back to the 1820s and still in one piece – along with the still-visible copper mine shaft, and a much, much newer septic tank.

There’s also the potential to either extend the cottage or build a new structure, according to Luke Spencer of Spencers Auctioneers, although that would be “subject to planning permission.”

Aside from it historical significance, High Island also a literary pedigree, having belonged to the Irish poet, Richard Murphy between 1969 and 1998.

According to the Irish Times he offered it as a gift to the country in the mid-1980s, but they were so slow to respond that he withdrew the offer and instead sold it to a trusted friend.

Having come onto the market earlier in February it’s attracted a lot of interest, with the agent thinking the remote site with uninterrupted ocean views might sell to a Russian billionaire, “someone from Google, or [Mark] Zuckerberg.”

Or perhaps a wealthy Australian with a helicopter who is really, really sick of their neighbours.