
Bunbeg House, Harbour Road, Bun Beag, An Bun Beag, County DonegalF92PX80
€475,000
19 Bed~22 Bath~BER D1
What you'll like:
- Prime harbourfront location: The property occupies a prominent position directly overlooking Bunbeg Harbour, offering exceptional coastal views and high visibility that significantly enhance its appeal for tourism ventures.
- Substantial guest accommodation: Featuring nineteen generously proportioned en-suite bedrooms, the building is exceptionally well-equipped for immediate resumption of hospitality operations or alternative large-scale accommodation uses.
- Approved apartment conversion: The inclusion of an approved planning exemption to convert part of the structure into eight separate apartments provides an immediate and lucrative residential development avenue.
- Extensive commercial facilities: The footprint includes a spacious commercial kitchen, a fully licensed bar, a restaurant, and a large ballroom, offering comprehensive infrastructure for hospitality businesses.
- Wild Atlantic Way appeal: Situated along a world-famous tourist route in a sought-after coastal destination, the property is perfectly positioned to capture robust year-round visitor traffic.
- Proximity to regional airport: Donegal Airport at Carrickfinn is located just a short drive away, providing convenient regional flight connections that will attract international and domestic visitors alike.
- Historic landmark character: Dating back to circa 1890, the original structure brings unique historic character and local recognition that can be leveraged for high-end boutique hospitality branding.
- Modern extension scale: A large modern extension added in the early 2000s provides significant additional square footage, blending historical charm with contemporary spatial requirements and modern layout flexibility.
- Vibrant local culture: Located in the heart of Bunbeg within a vibrant Gaeltacht culture area, guests enjoy immersion in authentic local traditions, language, music, and coastal community events.
- Proximity to iconic attractions: The property is moments away from popular regional highlights like Magheraclogher Beach and the iconic Bád Eddie shipwreck, boosting its holiday rental marketability.
- Outdoor recreation access: The surrounding coastal environment offers abundant opportunities for water sports, deep-sea fishing, and scenic island excursions, appealing directly to adventure tourists.
- Versatile future options: The expansive internal layout provides incredible flexibility, allowing a savvy investor to pivot between residential apartments, boutique hotel, or mixed-use commercial schemes.
- Established trading history: Having formerly operated as a successful guesthouse, the building already possesses a proven commercial track record within the local hospitality and tourism sector.
- Nearby daily amenities: The surrounding villages supply a reliable range of shops, cafes, and everyday services, ensuring convenience for both short-term holidaymakers and long-term residential tenants.
- Strong tourism demand: Donegal continues to draw increasing numbers of holidaymakers seeking scenic getaways, ensuring sustained high demand for quality accommodation and dining facilities.
- Clear development pathway: The existing planning exemption streamlines the bureaucratic hurdles for a multi-unit residential project, saving the buyer substantial time and preliminary architectural costs.
- Dual income potential: A buyer could potentially operate the hospitality amenities on the ground floor while simultaneously developing and selling or renting the eight approved apartments above.
- Coastal lifestyle benefits: Beyond pure investment merit, the scenic setting offers a serene coastal lifestyle opportunity for owner-operators seeking a picturesque live-work environment.
- Landmark property status: As a widely recognized local landmark, the property enjoys natural marketing advantages and strong community awareness across the wider Donegal region.
- Rare market availability: Properties of this massive scale with commercial licenses and residential development exemptions rarely become available in this picturesque coastal pocket.
But keep in mind:
- Sub-optimal energy rating: The property carries a D1 BER rating, indicating that significant thermal upgrades will be necessary to improve energy efficiency and reduce ongoing heating costs.
- Online auction pressure: Being offered through an online bidding platform with immediate contract signing and a ten percent deposit requirement creates intense pressure and limits traditional mortgage financing timelines.
- Undisclosed reserve price: The presence of an undisclosed reserve means bidding could exceed initial expectations, requiring buyers to establish strict valuation limits before entering the auction.
- Untested services warning: Agents explicitly note that all apparatus, fixtures, fittings, and services remain untested, meaning buyers must budget for comprehensive mechanical and electrical system overhauls.
- Substantial renovation scope: Combining an 1890s structure with a 2000s extension will likely demand extensive capital expenditure to modernize finishes, repair structural wear, and meet current building codes.
- High bathroom maintenance: Managing twenty-two bathrooms across nineteen bedrooms entails continuous plumbing maintenance overheads and high wear-and-tear costs typical of commercial hospitality properties.
- Complex planning compliance: Buyers must independently verify the exact conditions and expiry timelines attached to the approved apartment conversion exemption to ensure current validity.
- Commercial licensing transfer: Securing and transferring the fully licensed bar and restaurant permissions to a new operator will involve navigating licensing laws and potential legal fees.
- Seasonal market reliance: While tourism is strong in summer, the coastal location may experience pronounced seasonal dips in footfall and revenue during the harsh winter months.
- Unknown total floor area: The listing fails to provide exact square footage measurements, making initial cost-per-square-meter calculations and renovation budgeting difficult without a physical survey.
- Potential structural heritage issues: The 1890s portion of the building may be subject to local heritage considerations or conservation restrictions that could complicate exterior remodeling plans.
- Wastewater treatment capacity: A property of this massive scale requires careful diligence regarding local sewage and wastewater infrastructure capacity to support twenty-two bathrooms and eight apartments.
- Fire safety compliance costs: Bringing a large former guesthouse and mixed-use commercial building fully up to modern commercial fire safety regulations will likely involve substantial additional expenses.
- Remote location logistics: Sourcing specialized contractors and construction materials in a peripheral coastal region of County Donegal can lead to inflated project delivery timelines and costs.
- High insurance premiums: Insuring a large coastal hospitality property with vacant or partially developed spaces can attract exceptionally high premiums and stringent policy conditions.
- Lack of parking details: The listing description omits specific details regarding dedicated on-site parking capacity for nineteen bedrooms and eight potential apartments, which is a critical municipal requirement.
- Roof and exterior weatherproofing: Exposed coastal locations subject the building exterior to harsh Atlantic gales and salt spray, demanding frequent masonry maintenance and roof inspections.
- Financing complexity: Securing commercial development finance for an auction property with mixed residential and hospitality elements can be difficult and time-consuming for inexperienced buyers.
- Uncertain pre-auction bids: Vendors retaining the right to accept pre-auction bids introduces sudden deadlines that could preempt a thorough architectural and legal due diligence process.
- Vacant property deterioration: If the property has experienced extended vacancy periods prior to sale, hidden dampness, pipe freezing issues, and dry rot must be thoroughly checked.
Price positioning
?
- The asking price appears attractively positioned given the massive physical scale and extensive commercial facilities included within this substantial multi-room harbourfront landmark property.
- The presence of nineteen bedrooms alongside a ballroom, licensed bar, restaurant, and commercial kitchen provides exceptional underlying value relative to standard residential listings.
- Strong support for the valuation comes from the approved planning exemption allowing conversion into multiple apartments, substantially boosting the overall development upside.
- Potential risks include significant capital expenditure requirements needed to upgrade the D1 energy rating and modernize the extensive older interior spaces.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property consists of an original building dating back to circa 1890 combined with a large modern extension added in the early 2000s, meaning buyers should investigate the structural integrity, insulation standards, and maintenance history of both the older fabric and the newer extension.
- Given its former use as a 19-bedroom guesthouse with a commercial kitchen, fully licensed bar, restaurant, and ballroom, a buyer should verify compliance with current fire safety regulations, commercial building control standards, and public health requirements.
- The property benefits from an approved planning exemption for conversion into eight apartments, so a prospective purchaser should review the specific conditions, timelines, and technical requirements attached to this exemption.
- Due to its prominent harbourfront location in a coastal Gaeltacht area, buyers should investigate potential exposure to marine weathering, dampness, and coastal storm impacts, alongside verifying flood risk assessments.
- As floor area is not explicitly provided in the listing details, a comprehensive measured survey should be undertaken to confirm exact dimensions and square footage for future development or renovation planning.
Retrofit Cost*
Possible renovating / insulating expenditure
- The property currently holds a D1 BER rating, indicating that energy efficiency falls into the lower bracket where a deep retrofit is advisable to achieve modern standards.
- Because the building is exceptionally large—encompassing 19 en-suite bedrooms, multiple commercial and function areas, and a substantial multi-decade footprint—a comprehensive commercial-grade deep retrofit, including heating system upgrades, extensive wall and roof insulation, and window replacements, would likely exceed standard residential costs and require a bespoke engineering assessment, potentially ranging from 150,000 to over 300,000 euros depending on the scale of works undertaken for the apartment conversion and continued commercial spaces.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost: €6,000 to €10,000.
- Explanation: With a D1 energy rating and a very large commercial-scale footprint including 19 en-suite bedrooms, a ballroom, restaurant, and bar, heating requirements are substantial and will vary considerably depending on occupancy levels and operational usage.
Pollution Safe
9/10Environmental situation to investigate
Flood Safe
7/10Water overflow reports to follow up
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estate
No verified results were found for this group in the previous five years.
Recent sales in the wider Bun Beag area
DOBHAR UACHTAIR, AN BUN BEAG, CO DUN NA NGALL
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €200,000.00
Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR).
Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.
Last Sale
A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property
No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.
Buyer fees*
Associated expenses guide
- Stamp duty: Approximately 1% to 2% of the purchase price depending on residential or commercial classification, estimated around €4,750 to €9,500.
- Solicitor legal fees: Roughly €2,000 to €5,000 plus VAT for conveyancing and legal representation on a commercial-scale property purchase.
- Land registration fees: Approximately €600 to €1,000 for registry of deeds and property registration authority charges.
- Property valuation fees: Around €150 to €350 depending on the surveyor or valuer appointed.
- Surveyor fees: Estimated between €1,500 and €3,500 given the exceptionally large scale and 19-bedroom footprint of the building.
- Annual home insurance: Approximately €2,500 to €6,000 per year, heavily dependent on commercial or hospitality policy specifications and underwriting.
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Locals and regular visitors often discuss the vibrant tourism appeal of Bunbeg and the Wild Atlantic Way on community forums.
- Discussions in the area frequently highlight the scenic beauty of Magheraclogher Beach and the iconic local landmarks.
- Community groups note the strong demand for local accommodation and hospitality services to support tourism in the Gaeltacht region.
- Residents occasionally share updates regarding regional infrastructure improvements and transport links via Donegal Airport.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children3/10
The property is a massive former guesthouse with 19 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms, which is entirely unsuited for standard family life with young children unless undergoing significant residential conversion.
- Teenagers3/10
Due to its commercial layout as a former guesthouse, it lacks traditional family living spaces, though the large scale offers plenty of room if converted.
- Multi-generational Living8/10
With 19 en-suite bedrooms and an approved planning exemption for eight apartments, the physical scale and layout offer immense potential for multi-generational families to live independently under one roof.
- Single Buyers2/10
At an asking price of €475,000 for a massive former guesthouse, this is far too large and commercially oriented for a typical single buyer.
- Couples2/10
The property's vast scale as a former 19-bedroom guesthouse makes it completely impractical for a standard couple unless they intend to run a hospitality business or develop the apartments.
- Empty Nesters4/10
While empty nesters might appreciate the coastal location, the sheer size of the 19-bedroom building presents severe maintenance and heating overheads unless downscaled via the approved apartment conversion.
- Retirees4/10
The scenic harbourfront setting appeals to retirees, but the vast commercial scale of the building requires heavy management unless specific residential portions are isolated.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working6/10
The expansive footprint provides ample space to set up multiple home offices, though broadband connectivity speed should be verified by the buyer.
- Hybrid Commuting1/10
Located in northwest County Donegal, making regular commuting to major employment hubs like Dublin entirely unfeasible.
- Retired8/10
Ideal for retirees looking for a scenic coastal change of pace, provided they are prepared to manage or redevelop the substantial property.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place3/10
The massive scale, multiple levels, and current commercial layout of a 19-bedroom guesthouse make it poorly suited for ageing in place without major internal modifications.
- Low Maintenance1/10
A substantial property consisting of a historic building combined with a large 2000s extension, 19 bedrooms, and 22 bathrooms requires exceptionally high maintenance.
- Secure Gated Entry3/10
The listing does not indicate a secure gated entry system, meaning the buyer should verify security provisions.
- Minimalist Design2/10
The property features a mix of c. 1890 historic character and a sprawling 2000s hospitality extension, which is far from minimalist.
- Flexible Floor Plans10/10
Offers extraordinary flexibility with a massive existing footprint, commercial areas, and an approved planning exemption for conversion into eight apartments.
- Heritage Home7/10
The original section of Bunbeg House dates back to circa 1890 and stands as a recognised landmark overlooking the harbour.
- Ecological Setup3/10
Carries a D1 BER rating, indicating significant room for energy efficiency and environmental upgrades.
- Outdoor areas7/10
Enjoys an enviable harbourfront setting with stunning coastal views, though private enclosed garden space is limited.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening4/10
The property is heavily built up as a former guesthouse and commercial building, leaving limited traditional private garden space, though coastal surroundings are lush.
- Walking9/10
Superb location along the Wild Atlantic Way with access to scenic coastal walks, beaches, and local landmarks.
- Gym2/10
No dedicated gym facilities exist on-site, and local specialized fitness centres are sparse given the rural setting.
- Cycling7/10
The scenic coastal roads and Wild Atlantic Way routes offer wonderful cycling opportunities, though terrain can be challenging.
- Golf6/10
County Donegal features notable links courses nearby, though players will need to travel a short distance from Bunbeg.
- Fishing10/10
Outstanding location directly on the harbourfront with excellent local opportunities for sea and freshwater fishing.
- Horse Riding5/10
Coastal areas offer scenic backdrops for riding, but local equestrian facilities require verification.
- Water Sports10/10
Prime coastal position in Bunbeg offering exceptional access to water sports along the Wild Atlantic Way and nearby beaches.
- Entertaining10/10
Equipped with a fully licensed bar, restaurant, commercial kitchen, and impressive ballroom/function room, making it uniquely suited for large-scale entertaining.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living6/10
Located in a scenic coastal area along the Wild Atlantic Way, though it sits right on the harbourfront in the heart of Bunbeg, which can see tourist activity.
- Rural Living7/10
Situated in County Donegal in a picturesque Gaeltacht region, offering a distinct rural and coastal community atmosphere.
- Village Living8/10
Positioned right in the heart of Bunbeg, within moments of local amenities, shops, and cafés in the nearby villages.
- Coastal Living10/10
Occupies a prominent harbourfront position overlooking Bunbeg Harbour, moments from the coastline, sandy beaches, and famous local maritime landmarks.
- Urban Living1/10
Bunbeg is a small rural and coastal Gaeltacht community rather than an urban centre, offering very limited urban infrastructure.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement8/10
Set within a vibrant Gaeltacht community with strong local cultural ties and community engagement.
- Café Culture5/10
Nearby villages offer local cafés and amenities, though it lacks the dense café culture of a major city.
- Nightlife4/10
Limited primarily to local traditional pubs and the property's own licensed bar facilities rather than a bustling urban nightlife scene.
- Health/Wellness groups4/10
Local wellness activities are likely community-led and informal given the rural nature of the location.
- Networking Opportunities2/10
Professional networking opportunities are severely limited in this remote coastal location.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity1/10
There are no major tech hubs in the immediate vicinity, requiring total reliance on remote digital infrastructure.
Listing information
- Agent
- Campbells Auctioneers
- Phone
- 074 95 21020
- Published on HouseDelve
- 21 September 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-022D19HouseDelve · Republic of IrelandReport checks
Sources used: Public marketplace, Property Price Register, and grounded web research where available.
Automated quality checks: Passed
* Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.