Inspiring address for the upwardly mobile

THE SPIRES in Innishannon in Cork is a spot much in demand by the trading-up set. Close to Cork city, and in a strictly controlled planning area along the river Bandon, houses here sell quickly.

The scheme, mostly of larger quality dormers dating to the mid-1990s, has only a couple of dozen houses, and two are currently on the market, one for €550,000 with Bandon-based Brendan Bowe, and the other with city-based Cahalane Skuse.

Alan Browne of Cahalane Skuse is likely to tip over his €495,000-plus guide price on 7, The Spires, given the house's views and condition. The four/five-bed house is set on a quarter-of-an-acre site and is very private. It has over 2,000 sq ft of space, with three reception rooms, large kitchen/dining room, three first floor bedrooms with one en-suite, and two more rooms on the ground floor.