By Denis Hurley

MATT Damon might have his sights set on buying a lighthouse somewhere on the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW), but the Hollywood star has missed out on one in Castletownbere.

Earlier this week, Damon told a newspaper that he would like to own a lighthouse in Ireland, having enjoyed a WAW holiday last year.

‘That whole geographical area, from Cork to Kerry, Galway, that environment is like nowhere, it’s good for the health. All that air. I just have this image, this dream of sitting atop of the lighthouse, looking out to sea ... how peaceful that must be.

‘I don’t know if you can buy those, wouldn’t they be State-owned? If you could, I’d do it. Well, I’d run it past my wife first, then I’d do it.’

Roancarrigmore Island near Castletownbere, featuring a lighthouse and six-bedroom keeper’s house, went on the market in July, but a sale has been agreed and will be finalised in the next few weeks.

‘Matt missed the boat on this one, unfortunately,’ said John O’Brien of DNG Timothy O’Sullivan in Kenmare.

‘If he wants to call, we’ll definitely sell him something, we’ll have the door open and the red carpet out.’