A very private property

THE Georgian villa Mount Patrick wears its years well — almost two centuries of age.

The simply conceived and symmetrical villa or lodge is on its own five acres of woodland grounds, at Kilcoolishal, near Glanmire five miles east of Cork city, less than a mile from the Lee tunnel.

It hits the property market with Lisneys carrying an air of privacy and exclusivity, a feeling reinforced by its guide price of €2 million which, coincidentally is just the sort of price paid last week at private auction for a Georgian farmhouse Westview, at Farran. Westview House, on 100 acres, was sold at private auction by Joe McCarthy of Irish and European, for just over €2 million to a buyer who had sold land near Ballincollig for development.

Set up on a south-facing wooded hill with harbour glimpses, this latest period offering, Mount Patrick is listed with Brian Olden of Lisneys, the firm which set a c 4 million house price record for Cork two months ago.

It is in close proximity to the city, has immense privacy, with a gate lodge by the electrically operated entrance gates, and the long approach drive goes past the almost unseen flood-lit all-weather tennis court and a site where outline permission has been granted for a new dormer home.

To the rear of the house is an old courtyard with garage, former stables and with rear access from the main avenue which turns back into a gravelled drive in front of the house.

Dating back to c 1820, Mount Patrick is going to appeal to those affluent professionals who like their period properties aesthetic, original and framed with mature grounds. While it needs some spending, it is already a comfortable home, with its period details respected.

It has two fine formal reception rooms to the front, south facing, and with bay windows to the side very much a distinguishing feature.

The drawing room has an Adam fireplace, the dining room also has a fine white marble piece, and the sitting room in a rear annexe is also Adam-style. The house is over-basement, with three bedrooms at the lower level, and two at the main entry level, and the recessed wings bulk up the overall accommodation to about 3,000 sq ft.

Entry is up a flight of limestone steps with wrought iron hand railings, with a wooden porch as a weather buffer before gaining entry to the ornately detailed outer hallway, with centre rose, corniced ceiling and plaster wall panelling.

The kitchen has a bright east-facing sunny spot for breakfast overlooking a stone-flagged patio, and an attractive gas fireplace for winter warmth, while the house has oil fired central heating.