Ireland’s unique charm and natural beauty are envied the world over – the influence this tiny island has had on the whole planet is simply extraordinary. Despite a rather catastrophic slump in property values between 2007 and 2012, things are once again heading in the right direction – average prices in Dublin spiked a massive 15 per cent during 2013 alone. Rental yields remain consistently high across major cities like Dublin, Cork and Galway, while tourism numbers are steadily growing by the year. As such, short and long-term letting opportunities abound. What’s more, property prices in rural Ireland remain surprisingly low and make excellent prospects for vacation rentals – Ireland’s bounce-back from economic hardship has so far proved impressive to say the least.