Move up in the world at Caherlag's large 'lodge'

RAPID build homes are bit of a buzz word right now, touted for the last two years as a partial solution to the housing crises. However, the experience to date in Dublin at least is that their delivery is anything but rapid: two years on, some sites are still 'works in progress'.

With the right motivation, traditionally built, block houses can come 'out of the traps' with startling rapidity, and the very well-built Ballyhennick Lodge is the proof of the pie, in the eating.

It was built back in 1999, when its current owners got their hands on this 0.42 acre site up at Caherlag, east of Glanmire, west of Glounthaune and up on a height above them all, with harbour views as a bonus from its elevation. Work started in summer '99, and the family moved in before Christmas, roughly five months roughly, start to finish.

That incredible turnaround only came about by chance. The family had been told by the builder they been expecting to use that he was busy, and that it would be months before he could make the start.

By coincidence, they were talking to one of the directors of major Cork house builders Ruden Homes, who said they had an unexpected planning hiatus on a development they were working on.

“That was on a Friday, and they said they'd only do it if they could start on the Monday, as they wanted to keep their crew engaged. We agreed, they started June 8, and we were in by November 15th,” they recall.

Despite having a grown family on the point of flying the nest, it was a trade-up from a house they'd had since the 1980s lower down on this hilly fringe, east of Cork city.

They relished the chance to go towards the top of the hill for airiness and views (you can see Cobh's St Colman's Cathedral spire jutting up over the top of Great Island, and settled in happily just acros the road from the local Erins' Own GAA club who, they say “ are the best of neighbours, it's a very obliging club.”

Now definitely trading down, and with adult children and grand children mostly living outside Cork, they plan a move to Waterford, and are selling up via estate agent Kevin Barry, who reckons the GAA club's facilities on the doorstep will be a boon for young and active families.

Barry Auctioners guide Ballyhenick Lodge, Caherlag, at €525,000, and that's for a four-bed home on very well landscaped private gardens. It's now 2,200 sq ft, as it was extended in 2010, coming up to the property's 'teenage' years.

The occupants added on a 1.8 m deep space to the main family living/dining/kitchen, so that now this main, oak-floored space is about 24' by 14', tee-ing back into the kitchen towards the rear.

It's where just about all day-to-day activity takes place, as it's capacious, bright, yet cosy thanks to a gas fire, and the extensive sections of glass added on as a wrap-around are ended by low-set, and deep window-boards, which serve as back-up seating when there are large clan gatherings and friends around.

“You'd be surprised just how many extra people you can seat because of it,” they exclaim. And, keeping the gatherings fed and watered, there's a handy section of built in cupboard shelving under the stairs too, just deep enough to hold wine bottles, and lots and lots of them, regularly topped up by bulk-buy visits to France.

The c 2010 extension not only added a very useful c 250 sq ft at ground level, with triple aspect, it also provided a first floor viewing balcony, or roof terrace of similar 250 sq ft, reached off the first floor central landing. It's given a modern feel, with things like lead flashing, decking, and glass balusters set in stainless steel posts and rails.

From here, there's birds eye vie towards Cork harbour, Monkstown and Cobh, with the harbour area's three enormous energy generating windmills whirring in syncopated rhythm off in the distant yonder. Close to home, there's the local Erin Own matches 100 metres away, and in between are the property's private gardens, richly landscaped and laid out to a plan by the late Munster garden designer Brian Cross.

It includes a small, feature pond with pumped water on a south-facing terrace, along with sheltered side terrace for al fresco meals off the kitchen/dining area.

Despite its size, now c 2,200 sq ft, there's not too many rooms at Ballyhennick Lodge. The hall's large and inviting, with guest WC off, plut there's a utility by the kitchen.

There's a formal sitting/dining room at the far side of the house to the main, modern and bright living/casual dining section, and this other, more traditional space is bright, over 30' front to back, with side windows also for a triple aspect.

This 'other' room was created out of two smaller ones, and still has two side-by-side entrance doors, and so can be readily converted back to two rooms, should new owners want a fifth bedroom.

Upstairs, the landing's large, with a powerful telescope for star-gazing by the glazed balcony doors. The master bedroom's to the front also for view and light, and reached back past a walk-in dressing room with yet more sliding wardrobes, on two walls to a good quality, updated en suite bathrooms.

All three other bedrooms are doubles in size, catered for by a main family bathroom with shower, plus there's a further, stand-alone shower for peak morning washing rituals.

Heating's via oil, windows are double glazed, the fact it is doubly insulated, with drylining and pumped cavity helps this 'lodge' get a solid, C1 BER.

Condition is excellent, it's spotless and any new owners might just want to change carpets, or paint knotty pine doors, for an updated look.

Externally, the grounds are a feature, plus there's a large steel shed hidden away to the rear, with parking to the front/side, and back, a school bus passes the door, and the red and green colours of hurling ad football club Erins Own are a familiar sight at Caherlag since the club moved here, up in the world, in 1978.

VERDICT: Game on

Caherlag, Glanmire, Co Cork

Price: €525,000

Size: 204sq m (2,200sq ft)

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

BER: C1

Best Feature: Substance