The Irish Times

According to a recent report from Madrid, the number of Irish people who own property in Spain now stands at 250,000. Indeed, within the previous year, our compatriots invested around ¤1 billion in villas and apartments on the Costa del Sol. All but a tiny fraction are bought off the plans or when a newly-completed scheme is being marketed. And though Irish investors account for around a third of all foreigners buying in Spain, only a tiny fraction would have commissioned an architect to design their dream home. The more discerning tend to plump for other resort areas, such as Ibiza, where a number of prominent Irish business people have villas. And despite its raunchy reputation from the Sky TV series, Ibiza Uncovered, the once pirate-run island in the Balearics is quite a civilised place.