Period bliss at Finisk Lodge

Tommy Barker says refurbished property retains original features.

A YEW tree said to have been planted by Sir Walter Raleigh 500 years ago graces the grounds of Finisk Lodge — where its occupants of the past four years are now doing a U-turn of their own.

A couple with a background in music, the academic world and in theatre production, and with jobs in Cork and Dublin, made this Affane, Cappoquin Georgian house their home in 2005.

After a pretty full refurb, and happy times, plus the arrival of a baby earlier this year, they want to change the commute pattern, hence Finisk’s surprise arrival on the ‘09 property market.

Local Lismore estate agent Ken Madden has the sale listing, seeking €495,000 for the four-bed 2,260 sq ft home on an acre which, he says, “is in the heart of the rolling west Waterford countryside,” near Cappoquin and wide country views. Cork and Waterford cities and airports are about an hour’s drive away, and Fermoy, Youghal and Dungarvan can be reached in half that time.

Period features have been kept at Finisk Lodge, and the recent refurb works include a new slate roof, renewed chimneys, double glazing, breathable lime render sourced from Hugh Dorian in Youghal, cast iron chutes, new French drains in the drive, etc.

Original features have been kept and enhanced, such as solid panel doors and ironmongery.

Rooms include a sitting room with wood burning stove set against the decorative fireplace, a book-shelved study, dining room, family room/kitchen with Aga and back-up electric oven and hob, large US-style fridge, etc.

There’s also ground floor WC with bath, and a laundry room with hot-press. Upstairs are a main bedroom with en suite and bath, main bathroom and three other bedrooms.

Central heating is via oil and all the recent works “greatly improve the overall quality of the property,” says Ken Madden.

The acre is mostly in pristine lawn, with some outbuildings forming a boundary to a farm and buildings behind, and the front lawn is graced by that Raleigh yew tree, with a decorative iron gazebo and sundial. Behind the house is a raised area with some fruit trees, with secondary car access to a rear yard with some outbuildings.