What would you do .

You'll have to start saving to show banks you can afford mortgage, even with the 160k inheritance. After that, it's sit down and do some sums on how much you want and can afford to spend on a house, where you want to live, whether you want to keep some inheritance money in the bank or use it all for smaller mortgage, buy alone or buy with partner, short mortgage or longer mortgage. Nobody here can answer for you.

You should make decision as part of a full financial plan, pensions etc...with a proper financial planner. I worked as one for a few years, it definitely benefits.

You'll get a mortgage of four times your annual salary. That, along with the cash, will comfortably buy you a house or an apartment in Dublin.

Other people above are mentioning buying rural houses. Unless you have lived rurally, I strongly warn against this. It's very easy to see a country house on a nice day in summer and think that life there would be a dream, but rural living is dramatically different if you're used to living in a town, and some people are simply not wired for it.

you wont buy a house for 160k unless its a rural area ,just start saving with a bank , the important think is save x every month, eg as much as you can save without causing inconvenience ,eg build up a good credit rating, a good regular saving record ,look for a mortgage in 8 to 12 months .it depends where you live ,a city, town, it expensive living in rural area,s ,theres no local bus service.

do you want to buy a house or an apartment?in a city or a small town ?