While long considered too far for many second-home buyers, especially for those in the Dublin market, improved road and rail links will ensure that accessibility has never been better, according to Fiona Buckley, acting chief executive of Failte Ireland South West. "Following the recent opening of the by-pass at Mitchelstown and with the soon-to-be-completed bypass in Fermoy, the Dublin-to-Cork route should be completed in three hours, " adds Buckley.

Improved air lift has also made a significant impact. Aer Arann now has daily flights from Dublin, Galway and Belfast and since the introduction of the second terminal, international flights from UK, Europe and USA now land in the city. As a result, the county is even more attractive for both holidaymakers and holidayhome buyers from all destinations.

According to ex-president of the IPAV, Richard Nagle of Global Properties, up to now, the five-hour road journey time had a big impact on the market. "Dublin buyers make up the smallest sector of the market here, which is mainly comprised of overseas buyers, particularly from the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

A huge part of the county's attraction of course is the magnificent scenery and the coastline with its picturesque fishing villages and ideal sailing conditions.

From a holiday-homebuying perspective, the county can be divided into east Cork and west Cork, explains Nagle. "East Cork is very popular with locals, and places like Youghal, Ardmore and Ballycotton represent good value for money."

Nagle believes Youghal, with its family-friendly amenities and excellent strand, is an up-and-coming location and worth keeping an eye on. Good standard three-bed properties can be found for around 250,000, many of them with Section 23-type tax relief.

The county is renowned for its jazz festival held in October, but every town and village has its festivals and there is something to celebrate year round in the county. Cork city's international reputation has grown since capturing the title of European Capital of Culture in 2005. As well as the famous English Market with its gourmet food and organic produce, Cork city has great shopping, entertainment, arts and culture. Other wellknown tourist attractions include Blarney Castle, Ballymaloe House and Cookery School and Fota House and Gardens and Wildlife Park.

With so many international and homegrown celebrities owning holiday homes along west Cork's coastline, the location has become known as Ireland's riveria, and places like Glandore, Baltimore, Rosscarbery and Kinsale command particularly high premiums. "Location is extremely important in west Cork, according to Caroline Maslin of Sherry FitzGerald O'Neill. "You can pick up a property and put it a mile down the road with no sea views and the price could drop by half."

Premium prices are also paid for property that is private but close to good restaurants and social amenities, adds Maslin. "The market is very buoyant in west Cork; it is a micro market within Ireland fuelled by tourists and foreign investment."

The tax-incentive schemes have significantly increased supply both of new developments and hotels along the coast, but they have also played a role in artificially raising the property prices, according to Eoghan Clarke of Neil Clarke Auctioneers. However, despite this, one of the factors contributing to the high property prices in the west Cork area is the shortage of properties that come on the market. It seems that when people buy here, they don't want to move!

Skibbereen Distance from Dublin: 200 miles Key attractions: Scenic coastline, sailing, hillwalking, close to Baltimore, Glandore, Castletownsend Shopping and eating: Bustling market town with a weekly farmers' market and a country market Entertainment: Food festival, children's festival, traditional Irish music, pubs and a variety of restaurants Average price of a holiday home: Two-bed cottages start at 275,000 Within easy reach of all the popular sailing villages, Skibbereen is a growing market town. "People come from the surrounding villages to shop and eat and for entertainment in the town. At the height of the summer season the population of the local area, say from Clonakilty down to Baltimore, almost trebles, " says Caroline Maslin of Sherry FitzGerald O'Neill.

With high-profile locals including Tony O'Reilly, Julia Roberts and Jeremy Irons, property values are high and premium prices are paid for homes in Baltimore, Glandore and Rosscarbery. A typical three-bed semi will cost in excess of half a million euro and many of the most desirable properties well exceed that figure according to Michael Galvin of DNG Michael Galvin.

"Demand is high and supply is short, so property is often snapped up within six weeks of going to market, " adds Maslin.

"In Baltimore for example, a fully furnished three-bed terrace property would sell for around 400,000.

But there is good value in Skibbereen, according to Galvin. "We have a new three-bed semi in a small development on the edge of the town for 270,000."

Property prices in Skibbereen are generally around 10% lower than in Clonakilty, which has the benefit of a good all-year-round population due to its proximity to Cork city, adds Maslin. Rental yields in Skibbereen and the surrounding areas are good throughout the summer with a typical three-bed property achieving in the region 500- 700 per week.

Bantry Distance from Dublin: 250 miles Key attractions: Scenery, hillwalking, watersports, music festival in July Shopping and eating: A range of good shops and restaurants in this busy market town, like O'Connor's Seafood Restaurant, The Pantry and Peters Entertainment: West Lodge Hotel, Sea View Hotel, Eccles Hotel Average price of a holiday home: Within a development, 350,000; one-off homes from 400,000 While prices in and around Bantry are considered some of the best value in west Cork, what you really find here is choice and availability. The extra distance makes all the difference, and this area has a good selection of one-off developments with coastal views as well as reasonably priced property in some of the newer development schemes.

"The tax-incentive schemes are a recent addition to supply in this area compared to the rest of west Cork, " explains Eoghan Clarke of Neil Clarke Auctioneers. "As a result, supply is good now and we get a lot of overseas buyers, from northern Europe, the UK and France, as well as ex-pats."

If you dream of an idyllic cottage, you're more likely to find it in the area around Bantry. "If you go off the main roads along the prime area which would be anywhere on the road from Bantry to Glengariff, then you can find a lot of property around the 250,000 mark, " adds Clarke.

Starter homes begin at 250,000 and four-bed semis in a recently launched development on the outskirts of the town start at 320,000. During high season rental values range between 400 and 500 per week depending on size, location and facilities.

Kinsale Distance from Dublin: 170 miles Key attractions: Sailing, yachting and water sports Shopping and eating: Kinsale is renowned for its seafood and a wide range of international-standard gourmet restaurants like Blu in the Blue Haven Hotel, Captain's Table at Actons Hotel, Man Friday and Jim Edwards Restaurant Entertainment: Pubs, traditional Irish music Average price of a holiday home: Well over 500,000 Although the average price of a townhouse in Kinsale is about 380,000, they're harder to find than hen's teeth and you won't get anything under half a million in this attractive fishing village, according to Michael Galvin of DNG Michael Galvin, who has been selling property in west Cork for the last 20 years.

Galvin puts the massive rise in prices in this area down to demand and the tax-incentive schemes. "Kinsale didn't get the benefit of the seaside-resort tax scheme (Section 48), so demand outstrips supply here. As Section 48 provides tax relief on all income, a lot of Dublin buyers snapped up property further along the west Cork coastline and it led to the inflated prices we have today."

Popular with the sailing fraternity thanks to its sheltered harbour and with international visitors, thanks to its proximity to Cork airport and easy access via ferry, Galvin suggests areas outside Kinsale if you're looking for choice and affordability.

"I'd advise buyers to look to places like Courtmacsherry, Ballinspittle and Ownahincha. All within 20 minutes' drive of Kinsale and close to Garrettstown beach; good properties can be found here for 350,000."

Rental return is excellent; typically properties in Kinsale rent throughout the summer for 500 to 600 per week, but can rise to up to 1,200 per week.