Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a castle?

Have you ever dreamed of dancing in a grand ballroom that at one time was filled with princes and other nobility?

If you find yourself dreaming of this lifestyle, you're not alone. Celtic castles, and all things medieval for that matter, have gotten very popular in recent years. While it's true that there aren't Irish castles for sale on every corner, you can still find them if you're willing to be diligent and patient.

First, decide what region of Ireland you'd prefer to find castles for sale.

If you want to buy a castle in Ireland, you must first decide whether you're interested in a particular region. If you are, then research that area first. The best way to do this is to use one of the online community guides to all 32 of Ireland's counties.

Best ways to find castles for sale in Ireland:

Unlike houses and commercial buildings, you probably won't find listings for Irish castles for sale in the local real estate section of a newspaper. A better place to begin searching for castles for sale is with a reputable real estate agent in Ireland so you can be contacted as soon as Irish castles come on the market.

Discuss with the realtor your interests and see what they have to offer. During the discussion, expect that the realtor will be pre-screening you to see how serious you are. Why? Because buying an Irish castle is an enormous undertaking and a realtor won't be interested in working with a client who is not completely serious about this type of transaction.

Also, if you're planning an Ireland vacation, check with locals in the area while you're there to see if they know of any Irish castles for sale. They may know of a castle just in the next county coming on the market soon, before the real estate agents even know about it!

Things to carefully consider when researching Irish castles for sale...

First, be sure you've thought diligently about the type of property you will be buying. Castles are very expensive to buy, restore, and maintain. It is important to understand that most of a castle's value is based on the property upon which it is built, not in the castle itself. Most castles will require a considerable amount of updating and remodeling. But since governments actually own many of the castles and underlying properties, you may be eligible for grants to assist you with upgrading and refurbishing the castle.

Be prepared for repairs. Remember that castles are huge and they're old. So refurbishing a castle can be quite costly, ranging between $200,000 and $2 million or even more! For instance, the roof may be in poor condition; the plumbing might leak; the electricity, if there is any, may not meet local code requirements; and there may already be tenants in the castle...rats, squirrels and other things that come out at night!

After the remodeling is complete, you'll need to furnish the castle too, and you may need to hire a staff to keep it clean and maintained. Another thing to consider is that castles are usually not very energy efficient. They can actually be somewhat cold and drafty. If you purchase an Irish castle in a region where the temperature drops considerably during the winter, the monthly heating bill might just cost more than the monthly mortgage!

Regardless of the time and expense, if you dream of living in an Irish castle...hold on to that dream!

Because even if the reality of buying a castle presents plenty of challenges, we all know that anything in life worth pursuing is full of challenges! And there's just something about the idea of living in a castle that brings out the child in us all! If it is something you can carry out in a thoughtful, considered manner...there's no reason why you can't answer the call of your inner child! If you indeed have the "luck of the Irish" as well as "the patience of Job" you may just find an Irish castle for sale that's right for you and so you will finally be able to live your fantasy!