Forging a modern twist on converted family home in Co Kerry
Size: 280 sq m ( 3,014 sq ft )
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
BER: C3
Integrity
Great imagination, ingenuity and effort have gone in to the transformation of this old stone forge at Slieveduff near Kenmare in south Kerry
Now a spacious and unusual three-bed family home, it started out in the late 1880s as a forge and stables for the landlords of the Dromore Estate.
Imagination was required for the renovation because originally this was an extremely long, ruined building with thick stonewalls. It had no windows and it also required reroofing and electricity.
In the 1990s, an American with roots in the area bought the old property and began work on the roof. But the lion’s share of the work was carried out by the current owners, a Cork couple who bought it seven years ago.
Elaine Daly of Sherry FitzGerald Daly Kenmare says they did a huge amount of the work themselves including re-pointing the old stonework and putting in timber beams. “It is now a comfortable family home with a vast amount of character and charm.’’
Offering a total of 3,000 sq ft of living space it has stone walls in all the rooms and, some unusual features, such as a gigantic old stone fireplace and a galleried reading room on the first floor.
Modern features include large roof lights, solar panels, underfloor heating and a bathroom with a steam shower and a Jacuzzi bath. The rooms are extremely large including the kitchen which is more than 22’ long and 22’ wide and has fitted country kitchen units, a Belfast sink, oak beams, an enormous traditional fireplace with a stove in one corner.
There’s also a long dining room with oak flooring, pine beams and double roof lights, plus flagstone floored living room with ceiling beams.
At ground level the house has two long bedrooms and, at one gable end, a utility room and a large bathroom with a Jacuzzi bath and a shower.
At the other gable end there is a large studio or living area with a shower room off it.
The living rooms and kitchen have double-height ceilings but the owners put in a first floor over the bedrooms where they added a third bedroom. Over the studio is a small first floor reading room accessed by a ladder stairs. Fitted with underfloor heating in most of the rooms, it has a C3 energy rating, which is high for such an old property.
On a site of four acres, the house is surrounded by fields, woodland and forestry. Located almost six miles from Kenmare and three from Templenoe pier — it’s very scenic. “It has beautiful views of the McGillycuddy Reeks,’’ says Ms Daly quoting a guide of €350,000.
Because of the location, the views and the stone walled character and charm, it’s perfect for foreign buyers looking for scenery and tranquility. Ms Daly says it has been getting interest from UK buyers — it was on display in Sherry FitzGerald’s London Property Fair Saturday last, garnering lots of attention, and is also being viewed by a German looking for a Munster home of character.
